Ginseng Panax quinquefolius foliage and fruit Scientific classification Kingdom: Plantae Division: Magnoliophyta Class: Magnoliopsida Order: Apiales Family: Araliaceae Subfamily: Aralioideae Genus: Panax L. Species Subgenus Panax Section Panax Series Notoginseng Panax notoginseng Series Panax Panax bipinnatifidus Panax ginseng Panax japonicus Panax quinquefolius Panax vietnamensis Panax wangianus Panax zingiberensis Section Pseudoginseng Panax pseudoginseng Panax stipuleanatus Subgenus Trifolius Panax trifolius

Ginseng field in Wisconsin

Ginseng refers to species within Panax, a genus of 11 species of slow-growing perennial plants with fleshy roots, in the family Araliaceae. Plants are living Organisms belonging to the kingdom Plantae. The flowering plants or angiosperms ( Angiospermae or Magnoliophyta) are the most widespread group Magnoliopsida is the Botanical name for a class of Flowering plants By definition the class will include the family Magnoliaceae, but its Araliaceae is a family of Flowering plants also known as the Aralia family (after its Type genus Aralia) or Ivy The Subfamily Aralioideae contains around 50 recognized genera. Carl Linnaeus (Latinized as Carolus Linnaeus, also known after his ennoblement as, May 23 new style (13 May old style 1707 who laid the foundations for Panax pseudoginseng is a Species of the genus Panax. The scientific names for the plant commonly used are either Panax notoginseng Ginseng refers to species within Panax, a genus of 11 species of slow-growing Perennial plants with fleshy roots in the family Araliaceae. Panax quinquefolius, commonly known as American Ginseng and often by its Chinese name Huaqishen ( Jyutping: faa1kei4sam1) Panax vietnamensis ( Panax vietnamensis, Vietnamese Sâm Ngọc Linh belongs to Araliaceae family is a a species of Ginseng in Nam UserPolbot. --> Panax zingiberensis is a species of Plant in the Araliaceae family Panax pseudoginseng is a Species of the genus Panax. The scientific names for the plant commonly used are either Panax notoginseng Wisconsin ( or wɪˈskɑnsɨn (French Ouisconsin) is one of the fifty United States of America, located in the north central part of the United States A perennial plant or perennial ( Latin per, "through" annus, "year" is a Plant that lives for more than Araliaceae is a family of Flowering plants also known as the Aralia family (after its Type genus Aralia) or Ivy They grow in the Northern Hemisphere in eastern Asia (mostly northern China, Korea, and eastern Siberia), typically in cooler climates; Panax vietnamensis, discovered in Vietnam, is the southernmost ginseng found. Northern Hemisphere is the half of a Planet that is North of the Equator —the word hemisphere literally means 'half ball' China ( Wade-Giles ( Mandarin) Chung¹kuo² is a cultural region, an ancient Civilization, and depending on perspective a National Korea is a geographic area composed of two sovereign countries a civilization and a former state situated on the Korean Peninsula in East Asia. Siberia (Сиби́рь Sibir) is the name given to the vast region constituting almost all of Northern Asia and for the most part currently serving Vietnam (ˌviːɛtˈnɑːm Việt Nam) officially This article focuses on the Series Panax ginsengs, which are the adaptogenic herbs, principally Panax ginseng and P. quinquefolius. The term adaptogen is used by Herbalists to refer to a natural herb product that is proposed to increase the body's resistance to Stress, trauma Panax quinquefolius, commonly known as American Ginseng and often by its Chinese name Huaqishen ( Jyutping: faa1kei4sam1) Ginseng is characterized by the presence of ginsenosides. Ginsenosides are a class of Steroid -like compounds, Triterpene Saponins, found exclusively in the plant genus Panax ( Ginseng

Siberian ginseng (Eleutherococcus senticosus) is not a true ginseng at all. Eleutherococcus senticosus (formerly Acanthopanax senticosus) is a species of small woody Shrub in the family Araliaceae native It is another adaptogen, but a different plant that was renamed as "Siberian ginseng" as a marketing ploy; instead of a fleshy root, it has a woody root; instead of ginsenosides, eleutherosides are present, (see below). Ginsenosides are a class of Steroid -like compounds, Triterpene Saponins, found exclusively in the plant genus Panax ( Ginseng Eleutherosides are Triterpenoid saponins of the Adaptogen Eleutherococcus senticosus which are lipophilic chemicals that bind to hormonal receptors Ginseng refers to species within Panax, a genus of 11 species of slow-growing Perennial plants with fleshy roots in the family Araliaceae.

Etymology

The English word ginseng derives from the Chinese term rénshēn (simplified: 人参; traditional: 人蔘), literally "man root" (referring to the root's characteristic forked shape, resembling the legs of a man).

The botanical/genus name Panax means "all-heal" in Greek, sharing the same origin as "panacea," and was applied to this genus because Linnaeus was aware of its wide use in Chinese medicine for muscle relaxant. In Greek mythology, Panacea (Greek Πανάκεια, Panakeia) was the goddess of healing Carl Linnaeus (Latinized as Carolus Linnaeus, also known after his ennoblement as, May 23 new style (13 May old style 1707 who laid the foundations for Traditional Chinese medicine (also known as TCM,) includes a range of traditional medical practices originating in China.

Traditional uses

Both American and Panax (Asian) ginseng roots are taken orally as adaptogens, aphrodisiacs, nourishing stimulants, and in the treatment of type II diabetes, including sexual dysfunction in men. ROOT is an object-oriented program and library developed by CERN. The term adaptogen is used by Herbalists to refer to a natural herb product that is proposed to increase the body's resistance to Stress, trauma Stimulant drugs are Drugs that temporarily increase alertness and awareness Diabetes mellitus type 2 or Type 2 Diabetes (formerly called non - Insulin -dependent Diabetes mellitus (NIDDM or adult-onset diabetes is a metabolic The root is most often available in dried form, either in whole or sliced form. Ginseng leaf, although not as highly prized, is sometimes also used; as with the root it is most often available in dried form.

This ingredient may also be found in some popular Energy Drinks: usually the "tea" varieties or Functional Foods. Energy drinks are Soft drinks advertised as providing more Energy than a typical drink Usually ginseng is in subclinical doses and it does not have measurable medicinal effects. It can be found in cosmetic preparations as well, with similar lack of effect.

Ginseng root can be double steamed with chicken meat as a soup. (See samgyetang. Samgyetang (samgjetʰaŋ sometimes called chicken ginseng soup, is a Korean soup-based dish )

Modern science and ginseng

It has been difficult to verify the medicinal benefits of ginseng using science, as there are contradictory results from different studies, possibly due to the wide variety and quality of ginseng used in studies. High-quality studies of the effects of ginseng are rare. ^[1]

Ginseng is promoted as an adaptogen (a product that increases the body's resistance to stress), one which can to a certain extent be supported with reference to its anticarcinogenic and antioxidant properties,^[2] although animal experiments to determine whether longevity and health were increased in the presence of stress gave negative results. The term adaptogen is used by Herbalists to refer to a natural herb product that is proposed to increase the body's resistance to Stress, trauma ^[3]

A comparative, randomized and double-blind study at the National Autonomous University of Mexico indicates it may be "a promising dietary supplement" when assessed for an increase in quality of life ^[4]. In Grammar, the comparative is the form of an Adjective or Adverb which denotes the degree or grade by which a person thing or other entity has a property A randomized controlled trial (RCT is a type of scientific Experiment most commonly used in testing the Efficacy or Effectiveness of Healthcare The blind method is a part of the Scientific method, used to prevent research outcomes from being influenced by either the Placebo effect or the Observer The National Autonomous University of Mexico (in Spanish: Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México UNAM) is a Public university based It should be noted, however, that exclusion rates in this study were high. 124 participants were excluded from this study "due to lack of compliance with the treatment" whereas 164 participants in the control group and 338 participants in the ginseng group completed the study.

P. ginseng appear to inhibit some characteristics associated with cancer in animal models; nevertheless, this effect is unclear in humans. ^[5]

There are references in literature, including authoritative compendiums, that show interactions with ginseng. Herbalist Jonathan Treasure of the United States National Institute of Mental Health traces the growth of misinformation on an alleged adverse herb-drug interaction between the monoamine oxidase inhibitor phenelzine and Asian ginseng (P. ginseng C. The National Institute of Mental Health ( NIMH) is part of the federal government of the United States and the largest research organization in the world specializing in Phenelzine (sold as Nardil) is a Monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI used as an Antidepressant drug. Ginseng refers to species within Panax, a genus of 11 species of slow-growing Perennial plants with fleshy roots in the family Araliaceae. A. Meyer). This originally was mentioned in a 1985 editorial by Shader and Greenblatt in the Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology. Shader and Greenblatt devoted a couple of lines to the case of 64 year-old woman who took an undisclosed dose for an undisclosed time of a dietary supplement product called “Natrol High” while concurrently taking phenelzine 60 mg qd. Phenelzine (sold as Nardil) is a Monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI used as an Antidepressant drug. She experienced symptoms of “insomnia, headache, and tremulousness”. Treasure contacted Natrol by email and discovered within ten minutes that there was no P. ginseng in the formula, but instead Eleutherococcus which was then called by the popular name "Siberian ginseng" and it was given in a subclinical dosage mixed with a variety of other herbs. Eleutherococcus is a genus of 38 species of thorny Shrubs and Trees in the family Araliaceae. The purported interaction effects are well-known side effects of phenelzine alone, which had been given in a high dosage and are not at all suggestive of Eleutherococcus. However this misinformed article with a misidentified herb has been picked up in literature searches, megastudies and is now documented by conventional medical authorities such as Stockley’s, and is repeated in several botanical monographs e. g. World Health Organization (WHO 1999). ^[6][7][8]

Ginseng and reproductive activity

A 2002 study by the Southern Illinois University School of Medicine (published in the annals of the New York Academy of Sciences) found that in laboratory animals, both Asian and American forms of ginseng enhance libido and copulatory performance. Libido in its common usage means Sexual desire however more technical definitions such as those found in the work of Carl Jung, are more general referring to libido These effects of ginseng may not be due to changes in hormone secretion, but to direct effects of ginseng, or its ginsenoside components, on the central nervous system and gonadal tissues^[9] In males, ginsenosides can facilitate penile erection. ^[10] This is consistent with traditional Chinese medicine and Native American medicinal uses of ginseng. Traditional Chinese medicine (also known as TCM,) includes a range of traditional medical practices originating in China. For indigenous peoples in the United States other than Hawaii and Alaska see also Native Americans in the United States.

Ginseng is known to contain phytoestrogens. Phytoestrogens, sometimes called "dietary estrogens" are a diverse group of naturally occurring non steroidal plant compounds that because of their structural similarity with ^[11][12][13]

Side effects

One of P. ginseng's most common side-effects is the inability to sleep. Insomnia is a symptom of a sleeping disorder characterized by persistent difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep despite the opportunity ^[14] Other side-effects can include nausea, diarrhea, euphoria, headaches, epistaxis, high blood pressure, low blood pressure, and mastalgia. Nausea ( Latin: Nausea, Greek:, " Sea-sickness " also called wamble) is the sensation of unease and discomfort In Medicine, diarrhea, also spelled diarrhoea (see spelling differences) is frequent loose or liquid Bowel movements Acute diarrhea Euphoria is a medically recognized emotional state related to Pleasure and Happiness. A headache ( cephalalgia in medical terminology is a condition of pain in the Head; sometimes Neck or upper back pain may also be interpreted Epistaxis (or a nosebleed in Plain English) is the relatively common occurrence of Hemorrhage from the Nose, usually noticed when the blood drains Blood pressure is also the title of a short story by Damon Runyan in Guys and Dolls and Other Stories Blood pressure is also the title of a short story by Damon Runyan in Guys and Dolls and Other Stories Mastodynia, mastalgia or mammalgia are names for a medical symptom that means - pain in the breast (from the Greek masto-, breast ^[15]

Overdose

The common adaptogen ginsengs (P. The term adaptogen is used by Herbalists to refer to a natural herb product that is proposed to increase the body's resistance to Stress, trauma ginseng and P. quinquefolia) are generally considered to be relatively safe even in large amounts.

P. ginseng is not recommended within Chinese Medicine to be administered along with anti-infective herbs unless a person is quite debilitated, because of the fear that the pathogen will be tonified. Herbalists in China believed this and according to Xu Dachun in his brief essay on ginseng (1757 A. D. , during the Qing Dynasty): "if one administers Ginseng of a purely supplementing nature, then one will merely supplement the evil influences and help them settle down. In minor cases, the evil influences will, as a result of such mistaken therapy, never leave the body again. In serious cases, death is inevitable. "^[16]

Common classification

Ginseng roots in a market in Seoul, 2003

P. quinquefolius American ginseng (root)

Ginseng that is produced in the United States and Canada is particularly prized in Chinese societies, and many ginseng packages are prominently colored red, white, and blue. Seoul ( soʊl is the Capital and largest City of South Korea. Panax quinquefolius, commonly known as American Ginseng and often by its Chinese name Huaqishen ( Jyutping: faa1kei4sam1) The United States of America —commonly referred to as the Country to "Dominion of Canada" or "Canadian Federation" or anything else please read the Talk Page China ( Wade-Giles ( Mandarin) Chung¹kuo² is a cultural region, an ancient Civilization, and depending on perspective a National

According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, American Ginseng promotes Yin energy, cleans excess Yang in the body, calms the body. Traditional Chinese medicine (also known as TCM,) includes a range of traditional medical practices originating in China. The reason it has been claimed that American ginseng promotes Yin (shadow, cold, negative, female) while East Asian ginseng promotes Yang (sunshine, hot, positive, male) is that, according to traditional Chinese medicine, things living in cold places or northern side of mountains or southern side of rivers are strong in Yang and vice versa, so that the two are balanced. Traditional Chinese medicine (also known as TCM,) includes a range of traditional medical practices originating in China. Chinese/Korean ginseng grows in northeast China and Korea, the coldest area known to many Koreans in traditional times. Thus, ginseng from there is supposed to be very Yang. Originally, American ginseng was imported into China via subtropical Guangzhou, the seaport next to Hong Kong, so Chinese doctors believed that American ginseng must be good for Yin, because it came from a hot area. Guangzhou ( Jyutping: Gwong²zau¹; Yale: Gwóngjàu) is the Capital and a Sub-provincial city Hong Kong ( officially the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, is a territory located on China 's south coast on the Pearl River Delta, and borders However they did not know that American ginseng can only grow in temperate regions. Nonetheless the root is legitimately classified as more Yin because it generates fluids. ^[17]

The two main components of ginseng are in different proportions in the Asian and American varieties, and may well be the cause of the excitatory versus tonic natures. [2]

The ginseng is sliced and a few slices are simmered in hot water to make a decoction. A decoction is a method of extraction of Herbal or plant material which includes but is not limited to Stems roots bark and Rhizomes Some

Most North American ginseng is produced in the Canadian provinces of Ontario and British Columbia and the American state of Wisconsin, according to Agri-food Canada. Ontario (ɒnˈtɛrioʊ is a province located in the central part of Canada, the largest by population and second largest after Quebec British Columbia (ˌbrɪtɨʃ kəˈlʌmbiə ( BC) ( (la Colombie-Britannique C Wisconsin ( or wɪˈskɑnsɨn (French Ouisconsin) is one of the fifty United States of America, located in the north central part of the United States P. quinquefolius is now also grown in northern China.

A randomized, double-blind study shows that an extract of American ginseng reduces influenza cases in the elderly when compared to placebo. A randomized controlled trial (RCT is a type of scientific Experiment most commonly used in testing the Efficacy or Effectiveness of Healthcare The blind method is a part of the Scientific method, used to prevent research outcomes from being influenced by either the Placebo effect or the Observer ^[1]

The treasured aromatic root resembles a small parsnip that forks as it matures. The plant grows 6 to 18 inches tall, usually bearing three leaves, each with three to five leaflets 2 to 5 inches long.

Panax ginseng Asian ginseng (root)

According to Traditional Chinese Medicine Panax Ginseng promotes Yang energy, improves circulation, increases blood supply, revitalizes and aids recovery from weakness after illness, stimulates the body. Ginseng refers to species within Panax, a genus of 11 species of slow-growing Perennial plants with fleshy roots in the family Araliaceae. This is an article about the rock music band "Circulatory System" Panax Ginseng is available in two forms:

The form called white ginseng is grown for four to six years, and then peeled and dried to reduce the water content to 12% or less. White Ginseng is air dried in the sun and may contain less of the therapeutic constituents. It is thought by some that enzymes contained in the root break down these constituents in the process of drying. Drying in the sun bleaches the root to a yellowish-white color.

The form called red ginseng is harvested after six years, is not peeled and is steam-cured, thereby giving them a glossy reddish-brown coloring. Steaming the root is thought to change its biochemical composition and also to prevent the breakdown of the active ingredients. The roots are then dried.

Red ginseng

Red ginseng

Red ginseng (Korean=홍삼, simplified Chinese: 红蔘; traditional Chinese: 紅蔘), is P. ginseng that has been heated, either through steaming or sun-drying. It is frequently marinated in an herbal brew which results in the root becoming extremely brittle. This version of ginseng is traditionally associated with stimulating sexual function and increasing energy. Red ginseng is always produced from cultivated roots, usually from either China or South Korea.

In 2002, a preliminary double-blind, crossover study of Korean red ginseng's effects on impotence reported that it can be an effective alternative for treating male erectile dysfunction. See also 2002 (disambiguation Year 2002 ( MMII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. The blind method is a part of the Scientific method, used to prevent research outcomes from being influenced by either the Placebo effect or the Observer ^[18]

A study shows that Red ginseng reduces the relapse of gastric cancer versus control^[19]

A study of ginseng's effects on rats show that while both White ginseng and Red ginseng reduce the incidence of cancer, the effects appear to be greater with Red ginseng. ^[20]

Falcarinol, a seventeen-carbon diyne fatty alcohol was isolated from carrot and red ginseng, shown to have potent anticancer properties on primary mammary epithelial (breast cancer) cells. Falcarinol (19-heptadecadiene-46-diyn-3-ol is a natural pesticide and Fatty alcohol found in Carrots and red Ginseng (Panax ginseng which protects them The polyynes are a group of Organic compounds with alternating single and triple bonds, for example buta-13-diyne ( Diacetylene) C4H2 Fatty alcohols are Aliphatic Alcohols derived from natural Fats and Oils originating in plants but also synthesized in animals and Algae The carrot ( Daucus carota subsp sativus, Etymology: Middle French carotte, from Late Latin carōta, from Greek karōton Mammary glands are the organs that in Mammals produce Milk for the sustenance of the young In biology and medicine epithelium is a tissue composed of cells that line the cavities and surfaces of structures throughout the body ^[21] Other acetylenic fatty alcohols in ginseng (panaxacol, panaxydol, panaxytriol) have antibiotic properties. ^[22]

Wild ginseng

Wild ginseng is ginseng that has not been planted and cultivated domestically, rather it is that which grows naturally and is harvested from wherever it is found to be growing. It is considered to be superior to field farmed ginseng by various authorities, and it has been shown to contain higher levels of ginsenoside. Ginsenosides are a class of Steroid -like compounds, Triterpene Saponins, found exclusively in the plant genus Panax ( Ginseng Wild ginseng is relatively rare and even increasingly endangered, due in large part to high demand for the product in recent years, which has led to the wild plants being sought out and harvested faster than new ones can grow (it requires years for a ginseng root to reach maturity). Wild ginseng can be either Asian or American and can be processed to be red ginseng.

There are woods grown American ginseng programs in Maine, Tennessee, Virginia and North Carolina. ^[23][24] and United Plant Savers has been encouraging the woods planting of ginseng both to restore natural habitats and to remove pressure from any remaining wild ginseng, and they offer both advice and sources of rootlets. United Plant Savers is a group founded to protect native Medicinal plants of the United States and Canada and their native habitat while ensuring an abundant renewable supply Woods grown plants have comparable value to wild grown ginseng of similar age.

Ginseng alternatives

These mostly adaptogenic plants are sometimes referred to as ginsengs, but they are either from a different family or genus. The term adaptogen is used by Herbalists to refer to a natural herb product that is proposed to increase the body's resistance to Stress, trauma Family denotes a group of People affiliated by consanguinity affinity or co-residence A genus (plural genera from Γένος Latin genus "descent family type gender" is a low-level Taxonomic Only Jiaogulan actually contains compounds closely related to ginsenosides, although ginsenosides alone do not determine the effectiveness of ginseng. Since each of these plants have different uses, one should research their properties before using. Descriptions and differentiation can be found in David Winston and Steven Maimes book Adaptogens^[25]

• Gynostemma pentaphyllum (Southern ginseng, aka Jiaogulan)
• Eleutherococcus senticosus (Siberian ginseng)
• Pseudostellaria heterophylla (Prince ginseng)
• Withania somnifera (Indian ginseng, aka Ashwagandha)
• Pfaffia paniculata (Brazilian ginseng, aka Suma)
• Lepidium meyenii (Peruvian ginseng, aka Maca)
• Oplopanax horridus (Alaskan ginseng)

Other plants which are referred to as ginsengs may not be adaptogens (although notoginseng is in the Panax Series):

• Angelica sinensis (Female ginseng, aka Dong Quai)
• Panax notoginseng (Known as san qi, tian qi or tien chi, hemostatic ingredient in Yunnan Bai Yao)

References

See also

• Adaptogen
• Cold fX
• Eleutherococcus senticosus
• Chinese medicine
• Herbalism
• Food therapy
• Salvia miltiorrhiza "Poor man's ginseng"

External links

• MedlinePlus-Ginseng
• Phytochemicals in Korean Ginseng
• The Journal of the American Botanical Council HerbalGram. The term adaptogen is used by Herbalists to refer to a natural herb product that is proposed to increase the body's resistance to Stress, trauma Cold-fX is a product derived from the roots of North American Ginseng (Panax quinquefolius Eleutherococcus senticosus (formerly Acanthopanax senticosus) is a species of small woody Shrub in the family Araliaceae native Traditional Chinese medicine (also known as TCM,) includes a range of traditional medical practices originating in China. Herbalism is a traditional Medicinal or Folk medicine practice based on the use of Plants and Plant extracts Herbalism is also known as Chinese food therapy ( is a practice of healing using natural foods instead of medications "Red sage" redirects here Lantana camara (Spanish Flag is sometimes called thus in error 2003;57:35 American Botanical Council
• Overdose and Safety information
• Ginseng Abuse Syndrome disputed
• Drugs & Supplements - Mayo Clinic
• Panax ginseng - American Family Physician
• [3]