What are the benefits of ginseng?

Ginseng is a slow-growing perennial medicinal herb that consists of several different members of the plant family Araliaceae, with Asian ginseng (Panax ginseng) and American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius) being the most well-known. The terms red ginseng and white ginseng refer to Asian ginseng roots prepared in two different ways. Ginseng is believed to have a wide variety of health benefits, such as boosting energy, improving brain function, reducing stress and inflammation, and lowering blood sugar levels, although not all have been well supported by research.

Another name for Ginseng is man-root because its sturdy fleshy taproot resembles a human body with stringy arms and legs. The taproot takes 5 to 7 years to mature and is typically the part of the plant used in herbal medicines. The leafy plant generally dies back in the fall.

Asian Ginseng Benefits

Asian ginseng (also known as Panax ginseng, Chinese ginseng, Korean ginseng, Red ginseng, or white ginseng) typically grows on mountain slopes and is native to the Far East, including China, Manchuria, Korea, and far-eastern Siberia. It has been used in Asian medicine for thousands of years, as a general tonic for a wide range of health conditions, to improve well-being, or to help combat stress. It is usually made into tea and has a sweet aromatic flavor. Asian ginseng may have beneficial effects for improving:

• Aging
• Cardiovascular function
• Cold and flu symptoms
• Concentration
• Fatigue
• General well being
• Immune function
• Increased sex drive and decreased erectile dysfunction
• Memory and learning
• Mental performance
• Menopausal hot flashes
• Mood, particularly depression and anxiety
• Physical stamina
• Premature ejaculation (topical use)
• Respiratory function
• Sensory awareness
• Some cancers
• Stress
• Type 2 diabetes

The substances thought to hold the most important medicinal benefits in Asian ginseng are steroidal and triterpenoid saponins, (ginsenosides, ginpanaxosides, and protopanaxatriol). These are thought to work by increasing the brain’s adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) activity without involving the adrenal glands. Pharmacologically, Asian ginseng has a nonspecific, normalizing effect and is sometimes called an adaptogen.

Red Ginseng Benefits

Red ginseng is Asian ginseng (also called Panax ginseng) that has been harvested after 6 years and prepared in a specific way – that is by steaming first and then drying the unpeeled ginseng root in heat or sunlight. White ginseng is dried ginseng that has been harvested between 4 to 6 years. It reportedly contains the most varieties of ginsenosides compared to other types of ginseng and is considered to have a warmer nature than other forms of ginseng because it helps to promote blood circulation. This means it may leave the user flushed but does not increase body temperature. It is considered a yang tonic and should be avoided in times of acute stress. Use of Red ginseng in Korea dates to the early 1000s.

Red ginseng may have beneficial effects for improving:

• Aging
• Blood circulation
• Cardiovascular function
• Cold and flu symptoms
• Concentration
• Fatigue
• General well being
• Immune function
• Increased sex drive and decreased erectile dysfunction
• Memory and learning
• Mental performance
• Menopausal hot flashes
• Mood, particularly depression and anxiety
• Physical stamina
• Premature ejaculation (topical use)
• Respiratory function
• Sensory awareness
• Some cancers
• Stress
• Type 2 diabetes.

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Korean Ginseng Benefits

Korean ginseng is another name for Asian ginseng or Panax ginseng and it may have beneficial effects at improving:

• Aging
• Cardiovascular function
• Cold and flu symptoms
• Concentration
• Fatigue
• General well being
• Immune function
• Increased sex drive and decreased erectile dysfunction
• Memory and learning
• Mental performance
• Menopausal hot flashes
• Mood, particularly depression and anxiety
• Physical stamina
• Premature ejaculation (topical use)
• Respiratory function
• Sensory awareness
• Some cancers
• Stress
• Type 2 diabetes.

American Ginseng Benefits

American ginseng (also known as Panax quinquefolius), is similar to Asian ginseng in its appearance and its uses. It is mainly grown in North America but has become endangered due to over-harvesting. Wrinkles around the neck of the root tell how old it is and it is not ready for use until it has grown for about 6 years.

American ginseng, like Asian ginseng, also contains ginsenosides and polysaccharide glycans (quinquefolans A, B, and C), which are thought to work as adaptogens.

American ginseng root remains one of the most popular herbs in the United States and has been used to treat headaches, fever, indigestion, and infertility. Laboratory and animal studies have also found it beneficial for boosting the immune system and as an antioxidant. But the majority of research involving ginseng has studied Asian ginseng (Panax ginseng). American ginseng is thought to have anti-inflammatory effects and is considered a cooling/calming or yin tonic. Several human studies have shown that it lowers blood sugar levels in people with type 2 diabetes and can help control rises in blood glucose levels.

American ginseng may inhibit tumor growth with one laboratory study showing powerful anti-cancer effects on colorectal cancer cells.

Preliminary studies have suggested beneficial effects for cold and flu recurrence, cognition, and ADHD symptoms.

American ginseng appears to be more relaxing than Asian ginseng, which may have stimulating effects.

Siberian Ginseng Benefits

Siberian Ginseng, also called Eleuthero (Eleutherococcus senticosus), is a completely different plant to Asian or American ginseng, although it is distantly related. It does not have the same active ingredients nor effects as Asian or American ginseng, although the root of the plant is still the main plant part used.

Studies on Siberian Ginseng have mainly been conducted in Russia, and found benefits for:

• Cold and flu symptom relief
• Herpes viral infection
• Mental performance
• Physical performance
• Quality of life.