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Korean ginseng (Panax ginseng) is the same plant as Chinese ginseng, but it is cultivated in different regions. The plant grows on moist mountain sides in the shade in China, Korea and Russia.
Ginseng comes from the Korean word insam meaning man root (root like a shape of man). The name of the herb in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is Ren Shen, which translates to the essence of the earth in the shape of a man.
Korean ginseng is considered a perennial herb and grows over two feet tall and is a member of the Araliaceae family of plants. This plant has dark green leaves that grow in a circle around a straight stem. The yellowish-green umbrella-shaped flowers grow in the center and it produces red berries.
The mature root is the medicinal part of the plant and is long and slender and resembles the shape of a human body. The older the plant is, the more valuable it is considered.
White ginseng is the dried or powdered root of Korean ginseng. Red ginseng is the same unpeeled root that has been steamed and dried in heat or sunlight. This process makes the active constituents in the root stronger and results in more stimulating properties for the body.
Ginsenosides and saponins are the main active ingredients. Korean ginseng also contains glycans (panaxans), unlike American and Siberian ginseng varieties, as well as Vitamin B, C and E.
Energy
Immune Function
Well- Being- Boosts energy & mental focus
- Supports immune system & restores balance
- Improves mood, sleep quality & endurance
Top Panax Ginseng Products* ❯Korean Ginseng Benefits
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Korean ginseng is a tonic for improving overall health and stamina. It is used particularly for the ill, weak and elderly.
It is also useful for aging conditions to help longevity and for anti-senility and memory improvement.
It is used by athletes as well for herbal support during rigorous training. This supplement is also a good tonic for the adrenal glands.
It is used by those suffering from exhaustion, burnout, or debilitation from chronic illness.
TCM also uses Korean ginseng to treat diabetes to lower blood sugar levels and to enhance the release of insulin. It is also observed to lower blood cholesterol levels. The supplement has an antioxidant effect and it increases immune system activity.
It is utilized as an herbal tonic for chronic conditions such as cancer and AIDS, however it has not been approved by the FDA for either of these uses. It is also used to treat asthma, digestive weaknesses and impotence (Erectile Dysfunction).
How Does Korean Ginseng Work?
Korean Ginseng is referred to as both an immunomodulator and an adaptogen. It is said to restore the body to balance following a disruption due to an infection or virus.
Studies have found that this supplement increases the number of immune cells in the blood, and improves the immune system’s response to a flu vaccine.
In one study, participants took ginseng for 12 weeks and received a flu vaccine after 4 weeks. The number of colds and flu were two-thirds lower in the group that took the supplement compared to a control group given a placebo.
Two studies also found that ginseng reduced the risk of catching a cold. The test group took 400 mg of ginseng daily for 4 months and this group had fewer colds during the period of the trial. In those individuals who did get a cold, it did not last as long and symptoms were not as severe compared to those given a placebo.
Research also shows that Korean ginseng increases sperm production and helps to enhance sexual activity and performance. In one study of 45 men, men were given 900 mg of Korean ginseng 3 times per day for 8 weeks. Those in the test group experienced less erectile dysfunction (ED) compared to those on the placebo.
Korean Ginseng Contraindications
Korean Ginseng supplements should be avoided if taking anticoagulants or are suffering from any bleeding conditions. This supplement should be avoided also for any auto-immune condition or for organ transplant patients.
Large doses of this supplement should be avoided, especially if taken with other stimulants. It may cause diarrhea, heart palpitations, insomnia and high blood pressure.
Korean Ginseng extract should be used with caution for people with heart conditions and diabetes. It should also be avoided for hormone-sensitive conditions such as breast, ovarian or uterine cancer. Its use is also not recommended for endometriosis or uterine fibroids conditions.
It may cause agitation if taken by people with schizophrenia or cause mania in bi-polar conditions.
Panax Ginseng is known to interact with alcohol and caffeine. It may also interact with the diuretic water pill furosemide (Lasix). Medications that change in the liver with enzyme Cytochrome P450 2D6 should also be avoided.
Anti-depressant medication may also cause interactions and should not be taken with this supplement. Stimulant drugs such as diethylpropion (Tenuate), epinephrine, phentermine (Ionamin) and pseudoephedrine (Sudafed) should also be avoided.
This supplement should not be used with the herbs danshen, devil’s claw, eleuthero, garlic, ginger, horse chestnut, papain, red clover, and saw palmetto. TCM herb Li Lu (Rhizoma et Radix Veratri Nigri) should also be avoided. Korean Ginseng supplements can increase potential side effects from theophylline, albuterol, clonidine and sildenafil citrate (Viagra).
Article last updated on: April 19th, 2018 by Nootriment