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Wisconsin American Ginseng (Panax quinquefolius) is the BEST and WILD is the best of the best - leap years ahead of the rest. Asian - or Chinese Ren Shen (Panax ginseng) is far less and is reflected in the huge price difference. Korean Ginseng or RED Ginseng is considered to be of superior quality. The natural color of the ginseng root is white. When it is simply cleaned and dried, it retains it natural color. Red ginseng, on the other hand, is the result of being steamed with a solution of herbs. Steaming greatly enhances Ginsengs quality. Which is best for you really depends on what you need. Chinese Ginseng is good for a tonic to build the body - like putting gasoline in the car. Korean Red Ginseng is like burning straight nitro. American Ginseng is prized because it drives like nitro (close but still second) without the worry of blowing your engine plus still strengthening your body for endurance like Chinese Ginseng but much stronger. Age plays a part in the price. first or second year growth is cheap while 5-7+ mature or more are worth their weight in gold. The tails or rootlets are considerable cheaper and the dust is used for the common Ginseng tea sold in the supermarkets or added to new age botanicals. Recent studies have found that 3 grams a day (Panax ginseng) will reduce blood sugar levels in non-insulin using Type 2 diabetics by 50%. There's also some evidence it improves movement in sluggish sperm ( for those infertile couples with this problem) Because of its hormone attraction Red Ginseng seems to slow down the growth of breast cancer women should take Korean Red for only 3 months at a time and then rest because it is high in testosterone and will act like testosterone. PEOPLE WITH HEART CONDITIONS MUST USE EXTREME CAUTION WITH GINSENG ! A Quote about Ginseng from the Nutrition Almanac: "Ginseng strengthens the heart and nervous system. It builds general mental and physical vitality and resistance to disease by strengthening and stimulating the endocrine glands that control all basic physiological processes including the metabolism of vitamins and minerals. Soviet researchers report that ginseng normalizes the level of arterial pressure and is effective in the treatment of both hypertension and hypotension." Ginseng is helpful in the treatment of memory loss (Alzheimer's), balance of blood sugar levels (Diabetes), slowing down the aging process, helping the immune system, stimulates rejuvenation and virility. Indications are the best long term benefits are achieved with a dosage of between 500 and 1500 mg (milligrams) per day. For therapeutic use, a dosage of 2000 mg per day is recommended. Magically Ginseng root is carried to attract love as well as to guard one's health, to money, and to ensure sexual potency. Ginseng will also bring beauty to all who carry it. Burn ginseng to ward off evil spirits and to break hexes and curses. A tea of ginseng is used as a powerful lust-inducing drink, whether alone or mixed with other like herbs. Hold a ginseng root in your hands, visualize your wish into the root, and throw it into running water. Or, carve your wish onto a root and toss into the water. Ginseng can be a substitute for the mandrake mushroom Ginseng Another 'Alternative' for Type 2 Diabetics? WebMD Medical News
April 9, 2000 (Eugene, Ore.) -- Dried ginseng root may help people with type 2 diabetes control blood sugar levels, as part of a program that should also include diet and exercise. "It is tempting to suggest that in healthy persons, [these results] may indicate a potential use of ginseng in prevention," write the authors of an article in the April 10 issue of the journal Archives of Internal Medicine.
"Our patients approach us daily with questions about the efficacy of herbs, and patients with diabetes seem to be especially interested," says Vladimir Vuksan, PhD, lead author of the article. "This is the first study to show American ginseng can affect [blood sugar levels]." Vuksan is an assistant professor of nutritional sciences at the University of Toronto and associate director of the Risk Factor Modification Centre at St. Michael's Hospital in Toronto. "This is a well-done preliminary study that looks at one of the traditional therapeutic uses for ginseng," John C. Reed MD, who was not involved in the study, tells WebMD. Reed, who is board-certified in family practice, is the medical director of American WholeHealth Inc., based in Reston, Va., which includes affiliated integrative medicine centers and national networks of complementary medicine providers.
Dried Oriental ginseng root has long been used in traditional Chinese medicine, and wild American ginseng has been gathered and shipped to Asia for medicinal use since the early 1700s. This study used cultivated American ginseng grown in Ontario, British Columbia. Participants in the research took either a capsule containing 3 grams of ground American ginseng, or a placebo. Sometimes they took the capsule 40 minutes before a standard-size sugar drink, and sometimes with the sugar drink. Then the researchers monitored blood sugar levels for up to two hours. This process is a standard way of testing how well the body breaks down sugar.
In the diabetics, ginseng lowered blood sugar 20% more than the placebo pills. Among those who did not have diabetes, there was also a similar drop in blood sugar levels. "We hope ginseng could be a useful [addition] to conventional diabetes treatment," Vuksan says. "If this effect is reproduced and sustained over a longer period of time, we are optimistic we could see long-term beneficial effects." The research team is currently conducting a longer study with a larger number of participants. A complete program for diabetes control must include diet and exercise as well as medications, says Mary Safaeian, RD, CDE, a diabetes educator for the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. "People with diabetes have high blood sugar levels, which can damage their nerves, kidneys, and eyes, even leading to blindness. That means it is very important to maintain blood sugars in an acceptable range." However, she notes, this study is not enough to determine how useful ginseng might be -- more evidence is needed. "There is a great deal of anecdotal evidence suggesting herbs may be effective, but we need to have scientific evidence before recommending them to patients. This study is one example of the kind of research that's needed, but it is not conclusive."
Vuksan agrees. "This was just a preliminary study, so we cannot give a definite recommendation for consumers at this time. We will have more evidence when our next study is completed. On the other hand, I certainly wouldn't tell anyone to stop taking ginseng, because it does seem to be useful. We are very encouraged by the results we saw in our initial study." The only report of side effects during this study came from one person who experienced mild insomnia on one occasion after taking ginseng. The herb has traditionally been widely used as a tonic, and by itself it is "very safe," says Reed. "People do sometimes get in trouble when ginseng has been combined with stimulant herbs, such as ephedra or other caffeine substitutes. People can overdose on these herbal combinations just as they can overdose on any stimulant."
Another great herb - very similar to American Ginseng (except in price) is Dang Shen (Codopsttitis). This herb is very often substituted for Ginseng in Traditional Chinese Medicine and achieves wonderful results and is well respected. Most herbalist believe that Dang Shen can be readily substituted for Ginseng in almost all cases - buy not all and that is where the differences in the different types and quality of ginseng together with the
Siberian Ginseng (Eleutherococcus senticosis) or Ci Shia Wu (Chinese) Siberian ginseng, Is NOT a true ginseng. It is though, related to the ginseng group as they both are in the Araliaceae family of plants, a very large grouping, including devil's club and sarsasparilla. Siberian ginseng does not have the chemicals called ginsenocides in its root but are said to have chemicals that do similar things. It is very cheap and is a wonderful herb in its own right
And one gaining in popularity is Ji aogulan the “herb of immortality” Chemically Jiaogulan is similar to Ginseng and less expensive. Popular n both China and Japan because of its effectiveness as an adaptogen and cardiovascular and liver tonic. Traditionally to treat jaundice and chronic bronchitis. It has the classic function of clearing away heat and toxic material. Jiaogulan, (Gynostemma pentaphyllum) is used as medicine in the southeastern provinces of China for centuries. Literary reference to the herb dates back to the Ming Dynasty (1368 A.D. to 1644 A.D). In China it is praised as “herb of immortality” or as “Miracle Herb” due to its many health-giving qualities and anti-aging effects.Jiaogulan is reputed to: Regulates
Cholesterol, Reduces Blood Sugar, Regulates Blood Pressure,
Sedative Effects, Improves Circulation, Relaxing Spasms, Stimulates
Liver Function, Increase Stamina and Endurance, Strengthens the Immune,
Strengthens the Nervous System. Jiaogulan is a powerful
Adaptogen. Adaptogens are substances that Precautions: In studies of animals, gynostemma may have caused birth defects in some of the babies born to mothers given gynostemma during pregnancy. Although no reports of similar effects have been reported in humans, women who are pregnant are advised to avoid gynostemma. very little information is available on how gynostemma might affect an infant or a small child. Therefore, its use is not recommended while breast-feeding or during early childhood.
Nausea -- sometimes described as serious -- has been associated with taking gynostemma. Also reported is a possible increase in the number of bowel movements.
Avoid in PG, breast feeding Possible birth defects, searious nauseau and increrased bowel movements
other Adaptogens in Chinese Herbs. wu wei zi, siberian ginseng, Gan Cao, Shu Di huang, Codonopsis, Atractylodes, Astragalus, Gotu Kola, Aswagandha. and reshi mushrooms.
Rarely do Chinese herbalist use one single herb as a prescription for health for an individual. Rather they see an individual as a serendipitous journey and although the focus may be on a specific kodak moment the view is of the complete journey.
Kombucha IMO is an Adaptogensas it works in the same way as defined by Russian scientists N.V. Lazarev who coined the term But is not a plant but a tea. Adaptogens are well within the TCM framework of naturally balancing the body.
What is an Adaptogen? In 1947, the Russian scientists N.V. Lazarev coined the word 'adaptogen' for the unique effect certain isolated substances in plants such as, ichizancYa chinem.is and Rhnctiala rinea, or what is properly know as Arctic Root, had in increasing, in an "unspecified" way, the human body's natural resistance to physical and emotional stress, fatigue, depression and organic illness. In 1958, after clinical studies in China and Russia that indicated Adaptogens could increase keenness of sight and a widened field of vision, improve concentration, co-ordination and endurance, plus resistance to fatigue and muscular pain, the Russian researcher Professor Israel Brekman established the definition of Adaptogens now in use today buy such leading researchers as the University of Munich's H, Wagner (Adaptogen Research, number 29/1993, pg, 20). Adaptogens, Brekrnan clarified, are harmless and have no side effect's: they increase the general capacity of the human body to adjust and increase resistance in general - not localized to a specific body organ; and they have a "normalizing" elect, restorative rather than curative, on irregular bodily imbalance - as a result of physicallernotional stress Horn depression, anxiety, noise and occupational tension, biological stress from infection, chemical stress from alcohol, salt and environmental toxins and even changes in external conditions such as high altitude, extreme climate or irregular day rhythms. Based on extensive clinical trials and sustained successful use by Swedish hockey, cross-country ski and women's soccer teams, the Olympic cycling team of Canada, over the counter use by Swedish families for the past 20 years and his own personal experience, Professor Wikman believes that Swedish Herbal Adaptogens are "far superior to Ginseng, both faster and more reliable in the effect of heightening the general resistance of the human body to infections, chemical poisons and stress, as well as safely increasing muscle strength and mental capacity. " Wikman is both chairman and president of Swedish Herbal Institute here, INTERSTAM in Moscow and advisor to the Russian Spaceflight Program, including last December's launch of the space station "MlR." Cosmonaut Valery Polyakov, now on his second voyage, will spend one entire year in space, aided by Adaptogens. Only one, however, in 4,000 plants is an Adaptogen, now a registered trademark of Swedish Herbal Institute AB.
Ed Kasper LAc
Acupuncture Herbs Homeopathy
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