Dropping some knowledge on Ginseng

Ginseng: you’ve heard of the plant before, likely from healthy food or drink products. But what is it and why is it so celebrated among the health community? The history, use, and importance of ginseng is rich in detail. The plant has been cultivated for centuries and people have been praising its health effects for just as long. While a serious “western” approach to studying ginseng has not been pursued with the vigor seen behind other topics, the plant has already developed a name for itself as a potential aid to many diseases. Using Ginseng for Ages: The Root of Power Ginseng comes from the plant genus Panax – “pan” meaning all, and “ax” being derived from “axos” or cure all. The word ginseng stems from the Chinese word “rensheng,” which means “human.” Panax ginseng, then, translates roughly into “the human’s cure all.” This is a root of healing, a root of vitality, a root of power. Because of its properties, ginseng has been cultivated as far back as 11 B.C., but with a medical history dating back 5,000 years. Often referred to as a tonic (or adaptogen), ginseng is thought to increase resistance to stress, trauma, anxiety, and fatigue. What’s more, it has been known to regenerate one’s “Qi”. Over time, this lifeforce energy can become collapsed, diminished, or tarnished. Ginseng enhances that crippled energy, protecting one from stress and circumstances that challenge the body’s vitality. To practitioners who use ginseng, it also helps the physical and mental fitness of a person, both through the replenishment of Qi and through its natural healing properties. It can help one reach mental balance, strengthen the body, and increase longevity. Modern Science on Ginseng So what does modern science have to say about ginseng? By and large, there is a shortage of literature on the root, but the literature that does exist has been able to find some impressive results stemming from ginseng. Boosting Cognition with Ginseng For one, ginseng use has been correlated with improved cognitive performance, both for those without major problems and for those suffering from diseases like Parkinson’s. It has been found, for example, that ginseng and its components – ginsenosides (also know as ginseng saponin, or compounds that help hydrolosis of glycoside) – have a wide range of actions in the central nervous system. Without getting too deep in medical terminology, infusion of these ginsenosides help rescue hippocampal neurons from damage of cellular hypoxia. Likewise, it has shown to help protect against other neurotoxic effects. What’s more, ginseng has shown to have positive effects on one’s cognitive skills regarding learning and memory. With regular ginseng use, users see anti-aging effects and even enhancing effects for these areas. In one series of tests, it ameliorated learning deficits in gerbils. Cardiovascular Health and Longevity Ginseng has also proven itself to be potentially useful for one’s cardiovascular health, and indeed general health and wellness of the body. To one study, a strand of ginseng seemed to help decreased systemic blood pressure, leading to relaxing effects and enhancing vasodilatation (better blood flow). It has also been reported that ginseng helps cerebral blood flow, which may help explain some of the cognitive benefits mentioned above. Overall, reports seem to suggest – at least at these early stages – that ginseng strands may have unique abilities such as reducing blood pressure and supressing the formation of thrombin in blood coagulation. The list continues. Ginseng, according to reports, also has beneficial results as an anti-inflammatory, anti-allergic medicine. It, in one study, helped stimulate the immune system of dairy cows, helping them recover from mastitis. It also seems to help defend against infections in the first place by improving one’s resistance to infections and fever symptoms. There is also an anti-carcinogenic effect, though, too. Put broadly, panax ginseng has help defend against lung, gastric, liver, and colorectal tumors and, as a result, has proven to potentially help reduce the incidence of cancer. This is further reinforced by its clinical use to improve cardiac function and increase the survival of patients during post-op chemotherapy. Living Ginseng for the Living Person With all this considered, it’s hard to argue with the benefits of ginseng. Potentially, this plant has the power to extend our lives, improve the quality of our lives, and even cure the afflictions we currently suffer from. Of course, ginseng is not without its disbelievers. Some reports still question the efficacy of ginseng in comparison to modern drugs, and there is a predictable bias to Eastern medicine in Western science. That won’t stop us from testing the benefits though! Grab some ginseng today and find out how it can work for you!