Ginseng: prince of tonics - The Herbalist

Vegetarian Times, March, 1997 by Jennie O. Collura

Ginseng, the most lucrative legal crop in the world, has been used for thousands of years to prevent and cure an extraordinary catalog of human ailments, from the ravages of old age, to waning libido, flagging stamina and cancer. A substantial body of scientific literature, published primarily in Korea, Japan, China and Russia, supports traditional beliefs about ginseng's effectiveness. Yet, despite this, ginseng enjoys far greater acceptance in Europe than in the United States, quite possibly because European physicians, unlike their American colleagues, routinely prescribe botanical remedies, including ginseng.

One of ginseng's best known roles is as an adaptogen, a type of herb that boosts the body's defenses against stress. Adaptogens help the body three ways: by counter-acting mental and physical fatigue, offsetting some of the metabolic imbalances created by stress and balancing out the abnormalities caused by either hormonal deficiencies or excesses. Ginseng's adaptogen activity is mainly related to the functioning of the adrenal glands, the organ that is the body's first line of defense against stress.

"Adaptogens help the body regulate itself," says Harriet Beinfield, a licensed acupuncturist and Chinese herbalist who co-authored Between Heaven and Earth: A Guide to Chinese Medicine (Ballantine, 1991) with husband Efrem Korngold, a doctor of Oriental medicine, and co-directs a Chinese medical clinic in San Francisco. For example, she said, a person with low blood sugar will find an adaptogen raises their blood sugar toward a more normal level. Likewise, the same adaptogen taken by a person with high blood sugar will see a decrease toward normal levels. Same substance, different reaction.

GREAT STUFF BUT NOT FOR

EVERYONE

Manufacturers and marketers of commercial ginseng preparations have tended to emphasize its energizing properties, but ginseng is much more than a pep pill. It reportedly helps to build strength and endurance, improves immune competence, balances the endocrine system, combats some effects of radiation and has various anti-aging properties. Ginseng's ability to help regulate the body's reactions to stress has been compared to the workings of a thermostat that controls temperature by adjusting it upward or downward until the right (critical) temperature is achieved. For example, Panax (Asian) ginseng is noted for "heating" qualities and therefore, is useful for older people who chill easily.

As helpful as ginseng may be for some, for others it may be of little or no benefit at all. Just how is it that one person's panacea is another's waste of money? Well, for one thing, not everyone needs it. "I never recommend Panax ginseng to young people. It's like giving Geritol to a toddler, " says medical herbalist Amanda McQuade Crawford, who in 1996 co-founded the National College of Phytotherapy in Albuquerque, N. M. and is a graduate of the College of Herbal Medicine in England. "But for those who are 45 and older, it can help people age more gracefully. "

Another reason why ginseng may not be effective is that some people may choose the wrong variety for their particular needs. There are three broad classes of ginseng, each with somewhat different properties: Panax, American and Siberian ginsengs.

Panax ginseng, also known as Asian ginseng, is a perennial belonging to the ivy family. It has been used in China for some 4,000 to 5,000 years and has been scientifically studied for over 40 years. Researchers have reported that Panax ginseng improves stamina, is a powerful antioxidant, helps to normalize blood sugar, increases alertness and powers of concentration and helps to normalize breathing and coordination. Panax ginseng is generally found in two forms, called "white" and "red" ginseng. The colors relate to the method used to preserve the ginseng root.

* White gensing is made from dried ginseng root and is recommended for people with general weakness, poor endurance and who are easily fatigued and prone to illness. It is also said to be helpful to people with weak hearts and digestive systems. It is not suggested for people who tend to feel hot or overheated, have high blood pressure, headaches, or show signs of Type A (aggressive, highly competitive) personalities.

Red ginseng is made from "cured" Panax ginseng root and is considered stronger than white ginseng. It is usually given to people who are in very weakened conditions and have difficulty getting warm and energized.

Both red and white ginseng are contraindicated during acute phases of inflammatory conditions such as colds, flu, allergy reactions, migraines or bronchitis. Some herbalists urge more caution before using either red or white Panax ginseng, often opting for the milder American or Siberian ginseng.

American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius) is a close cousin to Asian ginseng. Historically, some native American tribes used ginseng as a natural medicine for reducing pain of childbirth, increasing fertility, treating shortness of breath, curing nosebleed, for upset stomachs and to improve mental sharpness. It is generally well tolerated by people who tend to feel warm or overheated and are prone to high blood pressure and headaches and are aggressive, high energy types.