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ARTICLES Demystifying Ginseng For thousands of years ginseng has had the distinction of being the most popular medicinal herb in northeast Asia. The root of this herb is used for it's tonic properties. It is believed to have a rejuvenating effect on the whole body and to promote longevity and sexual potency. In the modern Canadian marketplace, the name "ginseng" is generically applied to a number of different species of plants from the ginseng family. Asian ginseng (Panax ginseng) is generally marketed as Chinese or Korean ginseng. These varieties are often designated as either "red" or "white" ginseng. This is not an indication of a different species classification. It is based on the way the herb is processed. North American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius) is usually marketed as Canadian or American ginseng. Siberian ginseng (Eleutherococcus senticosus) is the popular Russian name for the herb shigoka. It is not a true ginseng, a distinction reserved for species from the genus Panax. However, Siberian ginseng is from the ginseng family (Araliaceae) and has similar medicinal properties to the true ginsengs. Russian researchers helped bring this herb to the attention of the rest of the world as a result of an exploration of the properties of local species from the ginseng family. They were looking for a cheaper, more reliable source of a herb with similar properties to the true ginsengs. There are also Chinese, Japanese and north Indian varieties of Sanchi ginseng (Panax pseudoginseng). Although popular in east Asia, this herb is not as readily available in Canada. Until recently, these herbs were virtually ignored by Western medical researchers who considered their popularity in the far East to be based more on superstition than fact. However, a growing body of research has indicated that many of the traditional claims are justified. Medical researchers had difficulty understanding the properties of these herbs because western conventional medical practice is based on the treatment of the symptoms of disease. The concept of a therapeutic agent that is "health promoting" did not exist. As a result, it was necessary to create a new category of pharmacological action to describe herbs like the ginsengs that have a non-specific stress-reducing effect. "Adaptogens" are herbs that produce a gradual increase in resistance to the negative effects of physical, chemical and psychological stress. Their properties seem to be primarily mediated through, but not limited to, their influence on the endocrine system. The term adaptogen was originally coined by the Russian researchers that were working with Siberian ginseng. Both research and clinical observation have indicated that the various ginseng species can help improve physical and mental performance while preventing infectious and stress related conditions. Their energy enhancing properties are largely due to the regenerative effect that these herbs have on the adrenal glands. Most North Americans suffer some degree of adrenal exhaustion due to living in a very stressful environment and over-consumption of stimulants such as caffeine and nicotine. Conditions that can be benefited by the use of these herbs include immune-related disorders, chronic fatigue syndrome, allergies, heart disease and other circulatory disorders. In addition, these herbs can be taken by healthy individuals as a means of boosting their overall level of vitality and preventing serious illnesses. It is important to note, however, that adaptogenic herbs like the various species of ginseng usually must be used for one or more months to experience their benefits. The tea or tincture is usually taken three times per day on an empty stomach. The best times are 20-30 minutes before meals. It is generally not recommended to take these herbs before bed as they make it more difficult for some individuals to fall asleep. In traditional Chinese medicine, ginseng is classified as a "chi tonic." It has the ability to replace depleted chi or "life force" in the meridians and organs. Meridians are energetic channels along which chi flows through a person's body. Traditionally, it was Asian ginseng that was primarily used in China because that is what was available. More recently, North American and Siberian ginseng are being used in China as well. According to traditional Chinese medical theory, Asian ginseng is a more "yang" or "heating" herb, whereas North American ginseng is more "yin" or "cooling." Siberian ginseng, on the other hand, tends to be more neutral. This has interesting implications. Since tonic or adaptogenic herbs are supposed to be very balancing or harmonizing in their actions, the more neutral properties of Siberian ginseng might lead one to believe that it is actually more adaptogenic than the true ginsengs. Modern research and herbal practice have confirmed this. However, this does not mean that this herb is necessarily superior to the true ginsengs. According to both Chinese and western herbal traditions, the best choice is determined by the requirements and constitutional type of the individual that is using the herb. Individuals that would like to try ginseng commonly ask "what is the best kind of ginseng?" What they should be asking is "what is the best kind of ginseng for me?" Individuals with a more hot, nervous or high-strung constitution, and those with high blood-pressure generally get the best results from North American ginseng. Similarly, individuals with a slower, cooler, more lethargic constitution will usually do better with Asian ginseng. Those that don't seem to fit one of these categories are more likely to get the best results from Siberian ginseng. Women generally do better on North American or Siberian ginseng. Individuals with high blood pressure should not use Asian ginseng without consulting with a qualified natural health practitioner. If you are not sure which of these herbs is likely to be the best suited to your individual needs, try starting with Siberian ginseng. If you feel great after using it for some time, continue using it. However, if your energy/vitality level doesn't seem to change significantly after several weeks of use, you might be better off with Asian ginseng. Conversely, if Siberian ginseng makes you feel agitated or hyper, try North American ginseng instead. If you experiment with these herbs and don't get any results or your health seems to get worse, your situation is probably more complex than you are aware. In this case you would be best to consult with a qualified natural health practitioner. Although different species of ginseng can work well together, products that combine many different species and varieties of ginseng tend to be formulated on the basis of marketing principles rather than sound therapeutic principles. These products tend to be misleading because they will often list Chinese and Korean and/or American and Canadian ginseng as separate ingredients as if they were different species. In general, Siberian ginseng combines well with both Asian and North American ginseng, however, combining Asian and North American ginseng doesn't provide much added benefit for most applications. There is also very little additional benefit from combining all three species as opposed to simply combining two of them. Maidenhair tree leaves, better known as ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba), is very synergistic with all three species of ginseng. In addition, I have found that combining one or two species of ginseng together with ginkgo and a circulatory stimulant like cayenne fruit (Capsicum spp.), ginger rhizome (Zingiber officinale) or rosemary leaves (Rosmarinus officinalis) will usually provide the greatest benefit for most people. Circulatory stimulants have a catalyst effect in the context of the formulation. However, they are very potent and are only used in small quantities based on their relative potency. Usually it is 1-3% for cayenne, 3-5% for ginger, and 5-10% for rosemary. They also add more heat to the formulation which may not be recommended for some individuals. There are a number of ecological/quality issues concerning ginseng products. Most of the North American, and all of the Asian ginseng products are cultivated. The potency of these herbs increases with the age of the plant. Therefore the better quality herbs are those that are five to seven years old. Since ginseng lives in a forest environment and requires soil with a high organic matter content, and since it must be grown for a number of years before it is harvested, the high density farming techniques that are used require very extensive use of agricultural chemicals, especially fungicides to prevent loss of the plants to mold. Some of the North American ginseng is "woods grown." This means that the plants are grown in a genuine woodland environment. These herbs are generally grown with less use of chemicals. Wild North American ginseng is also available. This herb has been virtually wiped out in most areas. Although in a few regions of the U.S. it may be a bit more common and there are some people wild harvesting it in an ecological manner, it is an endangered species over most of its former range and its use is therefore not recommended. There are not many sources of organically grown North American ginseng and none of Asian ginseng that I am aware of. It is preferable to use organically grown products, when available. This is particularly important for ginseng given the chemically intensive farming methods that are usually used to grow it. Otherwise I would recommend woods grown as an alternative. Most of the Siberian ginseng is wild harvested. This species is still very plentiful, however, the global demand for the herb is likely to result in its depletion if cultivated sources are not soon developed. The properties of the various species of ginseng are very multifaceted. Their health promoting qualities place them in a class of their own. These and other adaptogenic herbs have a very important role to play in the context of more holistically oriented therapeutic systems that focus on promoting health more than the treatment of disease. They have also proven themselves to be very important herbs for those of us living in the high-stress environment of the modern world. This article was originally published in Common Ground Magazine, March 1998. Back to List of Articles |
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