GINSENG ORIENTAL GINSENG

GINSENG, ORIENTAL GINSENG (Panax ginseng C.A. Mey.) +++
 
Synonym :
- Panax schinseng T. Nees.

Regrettably, PH2 lists American ginseng (P. quinquefolius) and Siberian ginseng (Eleutherococcus enticosus) among the trade names for oriental ginseng (Panax ginseng), and lists notoginsenosides
among the chemicals, rendering the entire PH2 entry suspect as an aggregation of many species in two genera (PH2).

Activities (Ginseng) :
- Adaptogen (1; KEB; MAB; SHT; WHO); Adrenergic (1; AKT); Alterative (f; CRC; DAA; PED); Analgesic (f; CRC; DAA); Antiaging (f; AKT; MAB); Antiaggregant (1; PH2; PNC); Antialcoholic (1; KEB; MAB; PH2); Antiarrhythmic (1; KEB; PH2); Anticancer (1; PH2); Anticatecholamine (1; PH2); Anticholinergic (1; KEB; PH2); Anticonvulsant (f; FAY); Antidepressant (1; BGB); Antidiuretic (f; KEB); Antifatigue (1; BGB; PNC; WHO); Antihepatomic (1; KEB); Antiinflammatory (1; KEB); Antiischemic (1; KEB); Antimitogenic (1; DAA); Antioxidant (1; BGB; PH2); Antiprolactin (1; WHO); Antiprostatic (1; KEB); Antipsychotic (f; FAY); Antiradiation (1; MAB; WHO); Antiseptic (f; CRC; DAA); Antithromboxane (1; PH2); Antitumor (1; BGB; KEB; WHO); Antiulcer (1; APA; FAY); Antiwrinkle (f; MAB); Antiviral (1; WHO); Anxiolytic (1; BGB; KEB); Aperitif (f; CRC; DAA); Aphrodisiac (1; APA; CRC; DAA); Apoptotic (1; PH2); Bitter (f; PED); Cardiotonic (1; AKT; APA; DAA; KEB; PED); Carminative (f; CRC; DAA); Caspase Stimulator (1; PH2); Chemopreventive (1; MAB); Circulostimulant (1; PED); CNS Sedative (1; FAY; KEB; PNC); CNS Stimulant (1; KEB; PNC); Corticotrophinogenic (1; PH2); Cytotoxic (1; PH2); Demulcent (f; CRC; DAA); Diuretic (f; RC; DAA); Elevates HDL-Cholesterol (1; MAB); Emetic (f; CRC); Energizer (1; APA); Estrogenic (1; DAA; KEB; PNC); Ethanolytic (1; KEB); Expectorant (f; CRC; DAA); Fatigue (f; APA); Gonadotropic (1; CRC; KEB); Hemopoietic (1; KEB); Hepatoprotective (1; KEB; PH2; WHO); Hepatotonic (1; PED); yperglycemic (1; KEB); Hypertensive (1; PNC); Hypocholesterolemic (1; BGB; PH2); Hypoglycemic (1; DAA; KEB; PNC; WHO); Hypotriglyceridemic (1; BGB; PH2); Immunostimulant (1; APA; PED; MAB; PH2; WHO); Interferonigenic (1; KEB; PH2); Memorigenic (1; BGB; KEB); Mineralcorticoid (1; KEB); Mitogenic (1; DAA); Negative Chronotropic (1; PH2); Negative Inotropic (1; PH2); Nervine (f; CRC; PH2); Neurotonic (f; CRC; PH2); Nicotinic (1; PH2); NKC-Genic (1; PH2); NO-genic (1; BGB; PH2); Nootropic (1; KEB); Osteoprotective (1; MAB); Phagocytotic (1; KEB); Positive Inotropic (1; PH2); Radioprotective (1; BGB; FAY; HH2); Respirastimulant (f; FAY); Roborant (f; BGB); Secretagogue (1; APA); Sedative (f; APA; DAA); Serotonilytic (1; KEB); Sialagogue (f; CRC; DAA); Spermatogenic (1; KEB); Stimulant (f; CRC; PNC); Stomachic (f; CRC); Testosteronigenic (1; KEB); Thymoleptic (f; MB); Tonic (1; AKT; CRC; DAA; KOM; MAB; SHT); Tranquilizer (f; CRC; DAA); Ulcerogenic (1; FAY); Vasodilator (1; BGB).

Indications (Ginseng) :
- Aging (1; CRC; DAA); Alcoholism (1; KEB; MAB; PH2); Amnesia (f; APA; CRC; DAA); Anemia (f; AKT; CRC; FAY); Angina (f; KEB); Anorexia (f; APA; BGB; DAA; PH2); Anxiety (1; BGB; KEB; MAB; PH2); Arrhythmia (1; DAA; KEB; PH2); Asthma (f; CRC; DAA; KEB; MAB); Atherosclerosis (f; CRC; DAA); Bleeding (f; CRC); Bite (f; CRC); Boil (f; CRC); Bruise (f; CRC); Cachexia (2; CRC; KOM; PH2; SHT); Cancer (1; APA; BGB; CRC; DAA; KEB; JLH; PH2; WHO); Cancer, breast (f; JLH); Cancer, lung (1; KEB); Cancer, stomach (f; JLH); Carcinoma (f; JLH); Cardiopathy (f; KEB); Chemotherapy (f; AKT); Cold (f; JAD); Colitis (f; APA); Convalescence (1; KOM; SHT; WHO); Convulsion (f; CRC; DAA; FAY; MAB); Cough (f; CRC; WHO); Debility (2; FAY; KOM; PH2; SHT; WHO); Depression (1; BGB; KEB); Diabetes
(1; CRC; KEB; PH2; WHO); Divination (f; CRC); Dysentery (f; CRC; DAA); Dysmenorrhea (f; CRC; DAA); Dyspepsia (f; CRC; DAA; MAB); Dyspnea (f; DAA; KEB; MAB; WHO); Enterosis (f; CRC; DAA); Epilepsy (f; CRC; DAA); Epistaxis (f; CRC; DAA); Fatigue (2; AKT; CRC; DAA; KOM; PH2; SHT; WHO); Fear (f; CRC; DAA); Fever (f; CRC; DAA; WHO); Flu (f; PH2); Gas (f; CRC; DAA); Gastrosis (1; CRC; PH2; WHO); Gonadotrophy (f; DAA); Hangover (f; CRC; DAA); Headache (f; APA; DAA); Heart (f; CRC); Hemoptysis (f; DAA; PH2); Hepatoma (1; KEB; HH2); Hepatosis (2; WHO); High Blood Pressure (f; CRC; DAA); High Cholesterol (1; BGB; KEB; PH2); Hyperglycemia (f; CRC; DAA); Hypoglycemia (1; KEB); Hypothermia (f; WHO); IDDM (1; WHO); Immune Dysfunction (1; JAD); Immunodepression (1; APA; PED; MAB; PH2;
WHO); Impotence (1; BGB; DAA; PH2; SHT; WHO); Infection (f; KEB); Infertility (1; BGB; KEB; MAB; PH2); Inflammation (1; KEB); Insomnia (1; APA; CRC; DAA; PH2); Leukopenia (1; KEB); Longevity (1; KEB); Low Blood Pressure (1; CRC; DAA; PNC); Malaria (f; CRC); Menopause (f; KEB); Menorrhagia (f; CRC); Mental Derangement (f; KEB); Morning Sickness (f; WHO); Nausea (f; CRC); Nephrosis (f; CRC); Nervousness (f; APA; CRC; DAA); Neuralgia (f; MAB); Neurasthenia (f; CRC; DAA); Neurosis (f; KEB; PH2; WHO); NIDDM (1; BGB; MAB; WHO); Obesity (1; PH2); Pain (f; CRC; DAA); Palpitation (f; CRC; DAA; KEB); Polyuria (f; CRC; DAA); Post-Menopause (f; BGB); Proctosis (f; CRC); Prolapse (f; KEB; MAB); Radiation Sickness (1; KEB); Respirosis (f; AKT); Rheumatism (f; APA; CRC; DAA; PH2; WHO); Senile Dementia (1; APA; KEB); Sheehans Syndrome (1; KEB); Shock (1; DAA; MAB); Slow Thinking
(1; SHT); Sore (f; CRC; JLH); Spermatorrhea (f; CRC); Splenosis (f; BGB; CRC; DAA); Sting (f; CRC); Stress (2; KOM; MAB; PHR); Swelling (1; CRC; DAA; JLH); Thirst (f; CRC); Tuberculosis (f; WHO); Tumor (1; BGB; KEB; WHO); Ulcer (1; APA; FAY; WHO); Vertigo (f; CRC; DAA); Virus (1; PH2; WHO); Vomiting (f; PH2); Water Retention (f; CRC; DAA); Wrinkle (f; FAY; MAB). (Commission E approves as a tonic for invigoration and fortification in times of fatigue and debility, for declining capacity for work and concentration, also during convalescence (KOM); reading that reinforces my contention, in my ginseng book, that carrots could do a lot of the same thing at less than 1% of the price. I still feel that much of the literature on ginseng and soy comes from selective publications of sponsored research, making them look undeservedly better than carrot and black beans, for example.)

Dosages (Ginseng) :
- Tea 3 - 4 ×/day, 3 - 4 weeks (PH2); 0.33 - 0.66 g root 3 ×/day; 0.6 - 3.0 g root 1 - 3 ×/day, 3 weeks - 3 months (AHP); 0.5 - 1 g root daily, 15 - 20 days (CAN); 1 - 2 g root/day (PH2); 1 - 9 g root (FAY); 1 - 10 g root/day (MAB); 0.4 - 0.8 g root/day, long term (CAN); 1 - 2 g Asian root/day (APA); 0.5 tsp dried Asian root/cup water 1 - 2 ×/day (APA); 1 tbsp fresh root (PED); 0.5 - 2 g dry root (WHO); 2 g dry root:10 ml alcohol/10 mg water (PED); 0.5 - 3 g dry root/day or 1 - 6 ml fluid extract (1:2) (KEB); 1 - 2 g dry root (KOM; PED); 0.5 - 1 g powdered root (PNC); 3 - 9 g powdered ginseng/day (AKT); 3 (550 mg) capsules 3 ×/day (Korean); 1 - 4 (250 mg) StX capsules (5 - 9% ginsenosides) (APA); 100 mg StX (4 - 7% ginsenosides) 1 - 2 ×/day; 1 (535 mg) StX 2 ×/day (Korean).

Contraindications, Interactions, and Side Effects (Ginseng) :
- Class 2d. Contraindicated for high blood pressure (AHP). The ginseng monograph published in 1991 says none known regarding contraindications, drug interactions, or side effects (KOM). Contraindicated in acute infections, asthma, and high blood pressure (KEB). High doses may aggravate or cause creased sexual function, dysmenorrhea, euphoria, headaches, high blood pressure, insomnia, irritability, morning diarrhea, palpitations, skin eruptions, and tremors (KEB). The worst and most erroneous studies of ginseng were reported in JAMA, which accepted no corrections from the herbal industry, trying to get the reports straight. Most commonly reported side effects of ginseng are nervousness and excitation, which usually diminish (LRNP, September 1990). Foster (1996) reports GI distress, overstimulation, breast tenderness, dysmenorrhea. Though estrogenic side effects are reported in both premenopausal and postmenopausal women, clinical studies have demonstrated that a standardized ginseng extract does not cause a change in male and female hormonal status (WHO). Avoid if hypertensive or pregnant. Possible insomnia, mastalgia, vaginal bleeding, and insomnia. Contraindicated for patients with perkinesis, hysteria, mania, schizophrenia, or those who are nervous or tense. Not to be taken with stimulants, including coffee, antipsychotic drugs, or during treatment with hormones. Use cautiously in cardiopathy, diabetes, high blood pressure, hypotension, and with all steroid therapy. In Russia, it is even suggested that healthy people under age 40 should not take ginseng, but that middle-aged people can take small doses on a regular basis (CAN). Because of hormonal activity, its use in pregnancy and lactation is to be avoided (CAN). Caution with insulin, warfarin, phenylzine, and loop diuretics (PH2). Three newborns were intoxicated after an intake of 0.3 - 0.6 g ginseng decoction; one died (Oriental studies translated by AHP.). Blumenthal suggests it may potentiate MAOIs (MAB). Use should be estricted to 3 months (SHT). It has been found to increase counts of total lymphocytes, T-Helper cells, and T4 and T8 subsets, and to improve NKC activity. Positive as all this sounds, OBrien cautions that headaches may result from chronic use. Do not take with digitalis (OBrien, 1998).

Extracts (Ginseng) :
- Ginsenosides stimulate insulin release and increase insulin receptors to exert a hypoglycemic response (PH2). Root LD50 = 2000 mg/kg orl mouse (CAN); root LD50 = >5000 mg/kg orl mouse (CAN); LD50 (mixed saponins) = 500 - 900 mg/kg ipr mouse; 367 mg/kg ivn mouse; >5000 mg/kg orl mouse (HH2). CAN probably devotes more pages (pp.145 - 149) to the pharmacological effects of ginseng than the other herbs they treat more cursorily, many of the pharmacological actions documented for ginseng directly oppose one another (hardly my usual synergy (JAD)) and this has been attributed to the actions of the individual ginsenosides. For example, ginsenoside Rb1 exhibits CNS-depressant, hypotensive and tranquilizing actions; while ginsenoside Rg1 exhibits CNS-stimulant, hypertensive, and antifatigue actions. These opposing actions are thought to explain the adaptogenic reputation of ginseng, that is the ability to increase the overall resistance of the body to stress and to balance bodily functions. PH2 states it even more narrowly, A single ginsenoside may initiate multiple or opposing actions in the same tissue (PH2). My speculation is even stronger. The homeostatic human body is able to selectively sequester needed compounds from the homeostatic plant and, to an extent, exclude the unneeded compounds. Thus the hypotensive human who coevolved with ginseng might selectively use the needed hypertensive ginsenoside, while the hypertensive human might adaptogenically sequester the hypotensive ginsenoside. Something for whatever ails you. Remember, this herb, like all herbs contains all the compounds essential for plant life, and many of those essential for human life. Carrots are considerably cheaper.