Bottom Line Health
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| The herbal supplement ginseng enhances the body's ability to utilize oxygen. A four-week study of oxygen utilization found that people taking ginseng experienced a 29% improvement in oxygen transportation to tissues and organs.
Typical dose: 400 to 600 milligrams (mg) once daily.
Caution: Do not take ginseng if you have high blood pressure. If you are taking medication, consult your physician before trying ginseng.
Step2: Stand straight. Poorposture—rounding the shoulders, stooping forward, etc.—can inhibit oxygen intake. |
Herbert Ross, DC with Keri Brenner, L.Ac.
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 One variety, Oriental ginseng (Panax ginseng), has received a great deal of attention as a potential aid to virility, and animal studies have indeed shown that Panax ginseng increases testosterone levels.46 ginseng should not be abused, however, as serious side effects can occur, including headaches, skin problems, and other reactions. For this reason, the proper dosage for the individual should be determined and respected.
Studies indicate that Chinese wolfberry may be able to boost testosterone levels. |
Benjamin H. Natelson, M.D.
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 The reason for trying ginseng is that it is thought to be a tonic and stimulant. The ginseng trial was double-blinded. Half the patients received ginseng and the other half placebo. Both groups showed an improvement in their fatigue over the two months of the trial, but the improvement was the same for the two groups. A subgroup analysis suggested that the ginseng treatment did help those patients with less severe fatigue, but there is a problem with subgroup analyses: they tend to be done only when the primary outcome turns out to be negative. |
Jonny Bowden, M.A., C.N.S.
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 This may be why Asian ginseng is commonly used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat diabetes. In animal research, it has been shown to increase the number of insulin receptors, and recent studies showed that even nondiabetics taking American ginseng before eating had less elevated blood sugar readings after they ate.
Siberian ginseng might be worth a try if you're fatigued, or try American ginseng if you're concerned about your blood sugar. Alternatively, you can get the more stimulating Panax type, also known as Chinese or Korean ginseng. |
Benjamin H. Natelson, M.D.
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| The reason for trying ginseng is that it is thought to be a tonic and stimulant. The ginseng trial was double-blinded. Half the patients received ginseng and the other half placebo. Both groups showed an improvement in their fatigue over the two months of the trial, but the improvement was the same for the two groups. A subgroup analysis suggested that the ginseng treatment did help those patients with less severe fatigue, but there is a problem with subgroup analyses: they tend to be done only when the primary outcome turns out to be negative. |
Michael T. Murray
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 Vuksan's research team has examined hundreds of different ginseng extracts prepared from dozens of different ginseng species from around the world in order to identify other possible treatments for diabetes. Their most important finding, apart from their discoveries with American ginseng, has been in a specific extract from a certain type of Korean ginseng (Panax ginseng). This extract is unique because it appears to lower blood sugar in diabetics by increasing insulin sensitivity rather than by increasing insulin release. |
| We are working with the University of Toronto to help make their unique, pharmaceutical-grade ginseng extracts commercially available soon. We are also working with the University of Toronto to conduct further clinical research on PGX? American ginseng, and Korean ginseng at our clinic and research center, the Canadian Center for Functional
Medicine in Vancouver, Canada. In this research, we will examine the effects of various combinations of PGX? American ginseng, and Korean ginseng extracts. |
| Vuksan's research team has examined hundreds of different ginseng extracts prepared from dozens of different ginseng species from around the world in order to identify other possible treatments for diabetes. Their most important finding, apart from their discoveries with American ginseng, has been in a specific extract from a certain type of Korean ginseng (Panax ginseng). This extract is unique because it appears to lower blood sugar in diabetics by increasing insulin sensitivity rather than by increasing insulin release. |
Dr Ron Roberts
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 There are different types of ginseng: Chinese or Asian, Siberian and American. Studies have revealed that because of differing hormonal levels, Siberian ginseng is more effective for women and the Chinese/Asian ginseng for men. ginseng is available in many forms including capsules, powders, herbal teas and even chewing gum!
LIQUORICE
Hippocrates extolled the virtues of liquorice as an aid for asthma, throat and chest problems. The herb was known elsewhere in the world: the American Indians used liquorice as tea, as a cough remedy and as a soothing elixir for the throat. |
Ben-Erik van Wyk
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 Of lesser importance are the southern Asian sanchi (P. pseudoginseng) and the North American dwarf ginseng (P. trifolius).
Origin & history The plant occurs naturally in the mountain forests of Korea and northeastern China. ginseng has been used as a dietary supplement since ancient times. It is grown commercially in China, Japan, Korea and Russia. American ginseng is found in eastern North America (USA and Canada) where it is also cultivated on a large scale for export to China and for local use in the health food industry. Parts used The fleshy roots. |
Dr Ron Roberts
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| Despite many tests to which modern scientists have subjected ginseng, no ill effects have been demonstrated to result from taking it.
Ginseng has a strong influence on the immune system and contains substances that are similar to steroids (a type of hormone in the human body) and also Vitamins Bl, B2, and D. ginseng is therefore recognised as a useful treatment for asthma and respiratory disorders, especially chronic coughs which often accompany asthma, and it is also used for exhaustion, nervous disorders, tuberculosis and circulatory problems. |
| Studies have revealed that because of differing hormonal levels, Siberian ginseng is more effective for women and the Chinese/Asian ginseng for men. ginseng is available in many forms including capsules, powders, herbal teas and even chewing gum!
LIQUORICE
Hippocrates extolled the virtues of liquorice as an aid for asthma, throat and chest problems. The herb was known elsewhere in the world: the American Indians used liquorice as tea, as a cough remedy and as a soothing elixir for the throat. |
David Heber, M.D., Ph.D.
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 Chinese ginseng is also called panax ginseng and is different from Korean ginseng. While ginseng is native to the woodlands of northern China, much of the Chinese ginseng we know is grown in the red soil of Wisconsin, where it is a valuable crop.
Ginseng has been used by the Chinese for more than five thousand years. This is documented in the oldest existing written accounts of traditional Chinese medicine. In Shen Nung's Materia Medica, written in a.d. |
Dr Ron Roberts
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| The Chinese and Koreans have used the ginseng root for more than 5000 years. Despite many tests to which modern scientists have subjected ginseng, no ill effects have been demonstrated to result from taking it.
Ginseng has a strong influence on the immune system and contains substances that are similar to steroids (a type of hormone in the human body) and also Vitamins Bl, B2, and D. |
Gary Null and Amy McDonald
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 An Herbal Prescription, S-l 13m, Consisting of Biota, ginseng, and Schizandra, Improves Learning Performance in Senescence Accelerated Mouse. Nishiyama N; etal. Biological and Pharmaceutical Bulletin, 1996 March, 19(3):388-393.
Ginseng containing herbal prescription improved memory retention disorder in the senescence accelerated mouse on a passive avoidance test and increased conditioned avoidance rate in a lever press test.
Panax ginseng Extract Improves the Performance of Aged Fischer 344 Rats in Radial Maze Task but Not in Operant Brightness Discrimination Task. Nitta H; etal. |
Michael T. Murray
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| Their most important finding, apart from their discoveries with American ginseng, has been in a specific extract from a certain type of Korean ginseng (Panax ginseng). This extract is unique because it appears to lower blood sugar in diabetics by increasing insulin sensitivity rather than by increasing insulin release. Also, this specific extract from Korean ginseng exerts some effects that are similar to, yet more powerful than the drug Viagra. Although formal double-blind studies have not been done, it appears that Dr. |
J. Douglas Bremner
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 HERBS
Asian ginseng (Panax ginseng) has traditionally been used for male impotence, though no current studies support this usage. ginseng is safe, although the mechanism by which it is purported to work is not clear. Damiana (Turnera diffusa) is a flowering shrub that was traditionally used as an aphrodisiac and as a treatment for various sexual disorders; there are no current studies to confirm its effectiveness, although it is apparently safe. Ginkgo biloba increases arterial blood flow, which may have a positive effect on male sexual function. |
Dr Ron Roberts
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| Studies have revealed that because of differing hormonal levels, Siberian ginseng is more effective for women and the Chinese/Asian ginseng for men. ginseng is available in many forms including capsules, powders, herbal teas and even chewing gum!
LIQUORICE
Hippocrates extolled the virtues of liquorice as an aid for asthma, throat and chest problems. The herb was known elsewhere in the world: the American Indians used liquorice as tea, as a cough remedy and as a soothing elixir for the throat. |
Jack Challem
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 Several studies have found that American ginseng (also called Panax ginseng and Panax quinquefolius) can significantly lower blood sugar in both healthy and diabetic subjects. Researchers at the University of Toronto found that 3 to 9 grams of ginseng reduced blood-sugar levels by 20 to 38 percent after a glucose-tolerance test. Similar reductions in blood sugar are likely after meals. Because the difference between the doses wasn't significant, save yourself some money and stick with the lower dose. Try 3 grams daily.
N-acetylcysteine (NAC). |
Bottom Line Health
See book keywords and concepts |
| A four-week study of oxygen utilization found that people taking ginseng experienced a 29% improvement in oxygen transportation to tissues and organs.
Typical dose: 400 to 600 milligrams (mg) once daily.
Caution: Do not take ginseng if you have high blood pressure. If you are taking medication, consult your physician before trying ginseng.
Step2: Stand straight. Poorposture—rounding the shoulders, stooping forward, etc.—can inhibit oxygen intake. |
Jack Challem
See book keywords and concepts |
| Several studies have found that American ginseng (also called Panax ginseng and Panax quinquefolius) can significantly lower blood sugar in both healthy and diabetic subjects. Researchers at the University of Toronto found that 3 to 9 grams of ginseng reduced blood-sugar levels by 20 to 38 percent after a glucose-tolerance test. Similar reductions in blood sugar are likely after meals. Because the difference between the doses wasn't significant, save yourself some money and stick with the lower dose. Try 3 grams daily.
N-acetylcysteine (NAC). |
Peter J. Whitehouse and Daniel George
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 Widely used in Asia for its stimulant properties, although, as with ginkgo, ginseng's mechanism of action and therapeutic effects are not clear, ginseng is obtained from various plants from the Panax genus (provocatively translated as "all healing" in Latin), including some used by indigenous peoples in North America. There was a small spike in the popularity of ginseng after it was reported that rats fed high doses of the herb learned the layout of a maze quicker than rats in a control group. |
Jack Challem
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 The dosages were either 60 mg of ginkgo extract and 100 mg of a standardized ginseng extract twice daily, 120 mg of ginkgo and 200 mg of ginseng in one daily dose, or placebos. The researchers reported in the journal Psychopharmacology that the people taking the herbs "were remembering more information than those taking placebo."
Dosage: Take 100 to 200 mg of a standardized ginseng extract daily. Rhodiola
Principal use: For chronic stress. |
Herbert Ross, DC with Keri Brenner, L.Ac.
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| Cabot's recommended daily supplements for andropause:
* Vitamin E: 500 IU
¦ Magnesium: 500 mg
¦ Zinc: 50 mg
¦ Selenium: 50 meg
¦ Manganese: 5 mg
¦ Ginseng: 2 to 4 grams
These supplements, taken daily, are designed to help the male body cope with the natural decline of testosterone. Vitamin E and magnesium strengthen the heart and circulation, including blood supply to the pelvic region. Zinc can boost male virility and reduce prostate problems such as swelling. ginseng, for example, acts as a glandular tonic, helping to improve the function of the testicles. |
Jonny Bowden, M.A., C.N.S.
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| Siberian ginseng might be worth a try if you're fatigued, or try American ginseng if you're concerned about your blood sugar. Alternatively, you can get the more stimulating Panax type, also known as Chinese or Korean ginseng.
5-HTP
This supplement (a metabolite of the amino acid tryptophan) has been found to have an effect on weight loss in several impressive studies, even
89 sometimes without dietary changes. 5-HTP (5-hydroxytryptophan) is the immediate precursor to serotonin and has been found very useful as an antidepressant. |
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