Find out more about the study behind ginseng’s health benefits, such as how it can affect your mood, sexual health, energy, and much more. Plus, find out how it’s marketed and about possible side effects.
What began as a Chinese medicine used to encourage health and wellbeing, ginseng (Panax ginseng) is now popping up in more mainstream food items. The ginseng product market today includes tea mixes, bottled soft drinks, adaptogen powders, and even candies and chewing gum. Learn more about ginseng’s health benefits and possible side effects, also where to purchase it and if you should begin taking it.
What Is Ginseng?
Ginseng is a set of plants with approximately 12 species belonging to the genus Panax below the family Araliaceae. The name Panax is derived from the Greek word for panacea or cure-all. ginseng in Pakistan includes many compounds thought to possess properties that are functional. Among these, ginsenosides (ginseng saponins), which differ among the different species of ginseng in addition to one of the different areas of the plant, would be the most significant and widely researched. Many of the pharmacological properties of ginseng also have been attributed to their polysaccharides and polyacetylene alcohols.
Since the 1960s, ginseng has long been the topic of myriad scientific research. The diversity of pharmacological properties now credited to ginseng suggests that it’s complex and unique biological actions. Ginseng can influence the metabolism of a single-person cell, as well as act on whole organs or body systems. The mechanisms of action of ginseng are therefore diverse and often somewhat unclear.
Health Benefits
Boost Energy
Both Asian and American ginseng might be viable remedies for fatigue in people with chronic ailments. In one pilot study looking at ginseng supplementation and cancer-related fatigue in 290 patients for an eight-week period, over twice as many individuals on ginseng perceived a benefit compared to individuals given a placebo (learn more about 4 more natural energy-boosting foods).
Boost Disposition
Ginseng also reveals potential benefits on cognition and mood. In one double-blind study on young and middle-aged wholesome volunteers, daily ginseng supplementation for 2 days enhanced calmness and also helped with abstract thinking and math questions.
There is also evidence suggesting that ginseng can enhance cognitive performance in patients with Alzheimer’s disease, but results are conflicting. Some studies reveal that bioactive compounds in ginseng can play a part in reducing beta-amyloid levels in the brains of individuals with Alzheimer’s disease.
Related: 7 Mood-Boosting Foods
Reduce Pain
Animal models suggest ginseng may also help quell pain, including arthritis-associated pain, as well as fight inflammation and improve immunity. In one double-blind study, 60 patients presenting with mild or moderate to moderate ED were administered 1 g ginseng per day, with 66.6% reporting development. Another study in male mice given you isolated ginsenoside (Rg1) showed increases in serum testosterone concentration, indicating potential upswings in libido.
The future of research on ginseng’s advantages for menopausal women looks promising, however recent findings have been inconclusive. One systematic review indicated ginseng may have a positive impact on sexual function and stimulation in menopausal women. However, the results failed to reveal specific effects on vasomotor symptoms, hormones, biomarkers, and endometrial thickness.
The researchers noted reduced evidence for these findings as a result of unclear risk of bias–the women self-reported the favorable impacts–which might have been out of the ginseng or a placebo effect.
Possible Side Effects
Ginseng appears to be generally safe, and no serious adverse effects are reported. 1 animal study tested 500 mg per kilogram of body fat and found that doses up to 5,000 mg were well tolerated, indicating that ginseng is safe even at very substantial doses. Something to note, however, is that both the optimal dose and the ideal kind of ginseng are now unknown. Clinical trials comparing doses or forms of ginseng have yet to be published. Women should not take ginseng during pregnancy and nursing. And individuals with health conditions, particularly those with diabetes and people taking anticoagulants, are advised to discuss ginseng supplements with their physician before use.
How Is Ginseng Sold?
Although the term ginseng is used loosely to specify many distinct herbs, Asian ginseng is the most prevalent form sold in the United States. But, newer research has shown positive results from the ginseng berry too, which may contain even higher quantities of ginsenosides than the origin.
From the U.S. market, ginseng can be found as a liquid extract, ginseng tablets, powders, or capsules. Dried and fresh ginseng root is also available in certain health-food shops, and can be added to brewed tea, soup broths, and even baked goods.
However, like all herbal remedies, ginseng supplements may be mixtures of numerous pharmacologically active ingredients. When contemplating adding any complementary or alternative medicine to your routine, make sure you consult your physician first. To experiment with ginseng root in-home, buy the entire root intact and attempt it in homemade sweeteners or teas.
