American ginseng
Part of the Ginseng family
Other names : Anchi Ginseng, Baie Rouge, Canadian Ginseng, Ginseng, Ginseng à Cinq Folioles, Ginseng Américain, Ginseng Americano, Ginseng d'Amérique, Ginseng D’Amérique du Nord, Ginseng Canadien, Ginseng de l’Ontario, Ginseng du Wisconsin, Ginseng Occidental, Ginseng Root, North American Ginseng, Occidental Ginseng, Ontario Ginseng, Panax Quinquefolium, Panax quinquefolius, Racine de Ginseng, Red Berry, Ren Shen, Sang, Shang, Shi Yang Seng, Wisconsin Ginseng, Xi Yang Shen.
Special Precautions of American ginseng
- Do not use while pregnant or breastfeeding.
- Use of American ginseng may lead to a number of side effects, including insomnia, nervousness, rapid heart rate, headache, and low blood sugar.
- May produce harmful effects when combined with certain medications (such as blood thinners and drugs used to treat high blood pressure). Individuals requiring anti-coagulant therapy such as warfarin should avoid use of American ginseng.
- Not recommended for individuals with impaired liver or renal function.
- Other adverse effects include: headaches, anxiety, trouble sleeping and an upset stomach.
The benefits of American ginseng are
Milder than its Chinese cousin, American Ginseng is also good for assisting the immune system in fighting off infections such as cold and flu. It is also favoured for treating fatigue due to illness and coughs. American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius) is an herb said to offer numerous health benefits, including treatment of conditions like diabetes and cancer.
- Cancer : Laboratory research shows that ginsenosides (compounds found in American ginseng) may stimulate the immune system and inhibit the growth of cancer cells.
- Used in Fu Zheng Therapy
- American Ginseng and Diabetes : American ginseng may help regulate blood sugar, according to a 2000 study published in Archives of Internal Medicine. In a small experiment involving nine diabetes patients and 10 people without diabetes, researchers found that taking American ginseng supplements prior to eating helped keep post-meal blood sugar levels in check.Maintaining normal blood sugar levels is important for both diabetes prevention and diabetes management. However, it should be noted that there is a lack of larger studies testing American ginseng's effects on blood sugar.
- Common Cold : American ginseng may offer cold-fighting benefits, a 2005 study from the Canadian Medical Association Journal suggests. For the study, researchers told 323 adults to take two capsules of either American ginseng or a placebo every day for four months. Study results showed that members of the American ginseng group had fewer colds over the course of cold season. When they did come down with colds, those given American ginseng had less severe symptoms and shorter duration of sickness (compared to those assigned to the placebo).
- Fatigue : In a 2010 study from Supportive Care in Cancer, cancer patients who took American ginseng supplements daily for eight weeks showed greater improvements in vitality (compared to those assigned to a placebo). Other research suggests that American ginseng may fight mental fatigue during prolonged mental activity (such as taking a test).
- American ginseng may be a potential therapeutic agent in preventing colon cancer.
