Get a Jump-start with Ginseng

Provides information on the therapeutic effects of ginseng. Improvement in the quality of life of people taking multivitamins with ginseng; Variety of ginseng most widely used; Effect of ginsenosides on the immune system.

By PT Staff, published on March 01, 2000

Tired of caffeine headaches? Weary of sugar highs? Why not skip your regularcoffee-and-doughnut break and try the herb ginseng as an alternative energy-booster and fatigue-fighter? Here's one good reason: According to an herbal supplement overview published in the journal Psychosomatic Medicine, a study of 625 people complaining of fatigue found that those taking multivitamins with ginseng reported a better quality of life after four months--meaning that they ultimately had more vitality and better concentration.

Of its three varieties, American (Panax quinquefolius), Asian (Panax ginseng) and Siberian (Eleutherococcus senticosus), the Asian sort is the most widely used. Ginseng contains saponins, also known as ginsenosides, which are thought to be the plant's active ingredients. While little is definitively known about how they put pep in your step, ginsenosides are thought to bolster the immune system's response to stress and fatigue. They may also influence the cardiovascular system, helping to regulate blood pressure and cardiac rhythm.

Ginseng products abound, and the quality and amount of ginseng in them varies widely. Ray Sahelian, M.D., a family physician in Marina del Ray, California, advises patients to choose a brand with a standardized extract of 3% to 7% ginsenosides, and suggests taking 100 mg of ginseng just a few mornings a week in order to fight drowsiness and boost energy. But, he cautions, patients should take the supplement for just a few weeks at a time, since overuse of the herb can cause insomnia.

PHOTO (COLOR): Get a Jump-start wit Ginseng