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| Properties: |
Stimulant*
Tonic*
Breath*
Adaptogens*
Circulation*
Immunostimulant*
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| Parts Used: |
root |
| Constituents: | Hormone-like saponins,(ginsenosides), volatile oil, sterols, starch, sugars, pectin, vitamins Bl, B2 and B12, choline, fats, minerals |
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Ginseng may improve
memory and mental focus.
Ginseng is one the best known and widely prescribed herbs in Chinese medicine as a general adaptogenic and restorative tonic. Adaptogenic herbs such as ginseng are especially useful in debilitated persons suffering from exhaustion, fatigue, liver disease, stress and wasting from chronic disease. Unfortunately, the fame of ginseng has led to misconceptions about its use and to low grade or adulterated products being sold as ginseng in the West.
Panax, the generic name is derived from the Greek Panakos (a panacea), in reference to the miraculous virtue ascribed to it by the Chinese, who consider it a sovereign remedy in almost all diseases. The word Ginseng is said to mean wonder of the world,however, it is not universally applicable in every illness. It should not be taken during acute inflammatory disease or bronchitis since it can drive the disease deeper and make it worse. Moreover, in China, ginseng is rarely used on its own, but is usually combined with other herbs, such as licorice or Chinese dates, which temper its powerful nature.
Mabey, Richard ,28 |
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Related Species
American ginseng, Panax quinquefolium ,
In appearance, American ginseng is a smaller version of its more famous Asian cousin.
American ginseng is a "cooler" alternative to Chinese (also known as red or Korean) ginseng (Panax ginseng) for persons who have high blood pressure or for treatment during summer months.
Siberian ginseng Eleutherococcus senticosus is not a ginseng at all. It is another adaptogen, but a different species altogether. |
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Prep Methods :Typical dosage:Steep 1/2 teaspoon of powdered root in 1 cup of hot water, up to 2 cups of tea per day.
- Show All
- Hot Flashes Tea
- Memory and Focus Tea
- Morning Circulation Tonic
- Rosemary -Ginseng cold tea
- Wild oats aphrodisiac tea
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In Chinese traditions, American ginseng is considered to be more yin, helping to reduce the heat of the respiratory and digestive systems. Asian ginseng is stronger and more yang, a heat raising tonic for the blood and circulatory systems, as understood in TCM.
Foster, Steven
Grades of ginseng. Not all ginseng is created equal. Wild ginseng, like many other herbs is preferred over cultivated varieties. Cultivated ginseng comes in two varieties, white and red. The red is cured by steaming which gives it its colour and reputedly a warmer nature than the white. Most Korean ginseng is of the red variety and is stronger or more yang in nature than that from China.
Mabey, Richard ,28 |
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 Ginseng does not produce a quick fix and must be used regularly for several months before its effect becomes noticeable.
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Brain/Memory/Focus |
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Ginseng may boost mood, improve memory and attention, lengthen physical and mental endurance, improve test scores, and ease anxiety. Although the exact mechanisms of activity are not known, it is likely that ginseng protects a portion of the brain known as the hippocampus from the effects of stress hormones. This prevents memory problems, a common complaint among people under stress. This mechanism would also explain the usefulness of ginseng in preventing loss of memory and cognitive ability in people who suffer from bipolar disorder, depression, and a disorder of the adrenal glands known as Cushing's disease. (Duke, James A, Ph.D. ) |
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Chronic Fatigue |
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Ginseng has been scientifically shown to lengthen physical and mental endurance, and is widely prescribed for chronic fatigue. |
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Hypertension HBP |
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Ginseng's adaptogen action helps the body to balance blood pressure, reducing high blood pressure and raising low blood pressure. Ginseng contains compounds that regulate both the strength of the heartbeat and blood pressure. If the body is deficient in potassium, these saponins slow the rate at which heart muscle fibers contract. If there is excess potassium, the saponins increase the
ing optimal potassium levels also eases high blood pressure. Laboratory tests show that American ginseng also lowers blood pressure by stimulating the conversion of the amino acid arginine to nitric oxide (NO), which causes the walls of blood vessels to relax. This action prevents the release of a protein known as endothelin, which can cause blood vessels to constrict during a heart attack. (Phyllis A. Balch, CNC ) |
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Sexual tonics |
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Ginseng has multiple effects, It acts as a tonic system balancer, a stimulant, and an aphrodisiac. Like ginkgo, it relaxes the arteries to improve blood pressure and circulation. Ginseng traditionally has been used to restore sex drive in men. Although scientific studies involving human volunteers would be extremely difficult to conduct, experiments with laboratory animals indicate that ginseng increases interest in sex by altering the action of the neuro-transmitter dopamine in the brain. Ginseng does not increase testosterone, which could increase aggression and aggravate prostate disorders. |
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Stress |
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Helping the body deal with chronic stress is the very definition of an adaptogenic herb, and ginseng may be the most effective herb in this category. Taken over a course of one to three months, ginseng regulates the body's production of stress hormones. Most herbalists recommend taking periodic rests from ginseng, and it can raise anxiety levels in some people. (White,Linda B., M.D. ) |
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Menopause/Perimenopause |
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Ginseng is an adaptogenic herb that helps the body copy with the stress of hormonal changes |
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| Side Effects: |
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| Do not use during pregnancy or if you have high blood pressure |
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Panax quinquefolium -Millspaugh, Charles F.[70]
- Flowers:Scented yellow-green flowers. The fruits, which follow the blossoms, are two-seeded red berries.
- Stem:One to two foot high
- Leaves: leaves are divided into three to seven sharp-toothed, lance-shaped leaflets
- Root: Large fleshy root - part used medicinaly. A good-quality root has first a sweet and then a bitter flavor as it is chewed.
- Preferred Habitat:
- Flowering Season:June - July
- Distribution:American ginseng is found from Maine to Georgia and from Oklahoma to Minnesota. Unfortunately, it is now an endangered species in much of this area. Asians highly value the ginseng grown in Wisconsin.
A heavy concentration of ginseng was once found in the Appalachian mountains, in fact plant geographers have recognized a phenomena know as the "disjunct eastern Asiatic-eastern North American range. There are about one hundred genera of plants that only occur in eastern Asia and Eastern North America, including well-known plant groups such as sassafras,
witch hazel, hickory,
blue cohosh, and the most famous example, ginseng. These patterns of plant disjunctions, where plant populations are separated by dozens or even thousand of miles, are believed to be remnants of an ancient forest that covered much of the northern hemisphere about 70 million years ago Foster, Steven
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 The roots are called, by the natives of China, Jin-chen, meaning 'like a man', in referance to their resemblance to the human form. The American Indian name for ginseng, garantoquen, has the same meaning. |
Common Misspellings: Ginsing
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Essential Oils
