Can ginseng provide benefits for our general health?
Herbal remedies are becoming popular. Many people turn from Western medicine to alternative treatments. This reduces their exposure to toxic chemicals used in pharmaceutical drugs.
There is a significant number of herbal remedies available today. Clinical trials and scientific research back the health benefits of many remedies.
Ginseng is a herb traditionally used in Chinese medicine that has gained popularity.
There are a few different varieties of the ginseng plant. Each plant comes with health benefits that both men and women might be able to take advantage of.
Ginseng products are good for the health of the entire human body. They boost energy, help with blood sugar regulation, and more.
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What is Ginseng?
Ginseng is a plant that contains fleshy roots. The plant grows very slow compared to many of the other natural products used in these remedies.
These products take advantage of the health benefits that the plant has to offer. There are certain chemicals in the plant that has positive effects on the human body.
Ginseng has a long stalk with a fork like root. The roots of the ginseng plant possess a light color, while the leaves that grow on the stalk of the plant are green. The leaves feature an oval shape.
There are different types of ginseng plants in existence. The effects that these plants have on the body tend to be quite similar to each other.
The two primary ginseng plant varieties include Asian Ginseng and American Ginseng.
Both of these can be found in herbal supplements and are sometimes added to teas and other products. Additionally, a topic cream with ginseng is also available.
Asian ginseng is also known as Panax Ginseng. The alternative named used to refer to American ginseng is Panax quinquefolius, L.
Other varieties include Korean ginseng. This particular species of these plants are often referred to as white ginseng as well. Another alternative would be red ginseng.
The combination of chemicals that are found in ginseng is very similar among many of the plant species that have been identified. This is why the benefits and effects of ginseng can be obtained with different supplements and products. This is possible as long as one of the main ginseng plant species are used.
What are the health benefits of Ginseng?
The medicinal properties of ginseng have made this a widely used herbal remedy in the modern world.
The product comes from traditional Chinese medicine and has been used for years with many in awe of ginseng tea benefits.
Even today, ginseng continues to be an in-demand herbal remedy. It is used for several ailments and problems that the general population experience.
To understand the health benefits of ginseng and what the primary uses of the plant should be, it is essential to take a closer look at how this root plant extract works.
We will consider what exactly ginseng extract does in the human body and investigate is ginseng tea good for you. We also consider the mechanism of action by which the main chemicals in the plant works. This will give you a better idea of how the product might interact with your body and what ginseng products could do for you.
1) Improved libido in women
Studies show ginseng can provide health benefits sexually. Women experiencing low energy, fatigue, and poor libido might be able to benefit from ginseng extract. A study conducted in the Republic of Korea looked at how the use of Korean Red Ginseng affected premenopausal women.
The focus was on women with a decreased sex drive. Many of these women also complained about poor sexual performance.
41 premenopausal women were enrolled in the study and divided into two groups. The first group received a daily supplement that contains a one-gram extract of Korean Red Ginseng. The second group was a control group, provided with a daily placebo supplement.
There was a slight improvement in sexual function among women who took the Korean Red Ginseng supplement. These results were compared to the placebo group. The primary improvement among the women who took the ginseng product was in their sex drive. This is a critical element to the performance of a woman in the bedroom. This, therefore, shows ginseng can provide benefits sexually.
2) Alleviate menopausal symptoms
Another study was conducted by researchers at the Chonnam National University Medical School in Korea. Scientists looked at how the use of Korean Red Ginseng could potentially help women who are already in the menopause transition.
The focus was on experiencing improvements in their sex lives. The study had a total of 32 menopausal women who participated. Women were divided into two different groups.
There was a significant improvement in the sexual arousal ratings among women who took the ginseng supplement — particularly when compared to the group of female participants in the placebo group. The ginseng group reported no severe side effects.
3) Erectile Dysfunction
Ginseng can also have benefits sexually for men, too. There are quite a large number of studies that have focused on determining the specific effects that ginseng species may have on men with conditions like a reduced sex drive and those suffering from erectile dysfunction.
This could be as compounds in it may protect against oxidative stress in blood vessels and tissues in the penis and help restore normal function.
To provide more details on how ginseng would be useful for men with issues in the bedroom, we will turn our focus to a study that was published in the British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology.
The study looked at several previous clinical trials that were conducted on male patients. These patients complained about poor erectile function. The focus of the research was also to gain more details on how the use of ginseng would affect a male patient’s mind. In particular, if it would increase male sex drive.
The researchers behind the study found that red ginseng seems to be an effective option for men with erectile problems. The erectile function in men with previous signs of erectile dysfunction was improved.
Furthermore, the use of red ginseng also seems to offer men the ability to experience an improvement in their libido. The enhanced libido could further contribute to improved performance during sex. This would also mean more rigid erections. Erections could also last longer.
4) Inflammation
Ginseng has been found to provide a reduction in inflammation within the human body. This may also assist in providing a potential alleviation of pain when inflammation is the cause behind such symptoms.
Some test-tube studies have shown that ginseng extracts and ginsenoside compounds could inhibit inflammation and increase antioxidant capacity in cells (5Trusted Source, 6Trusted Source).
For example, one test-tube study found that Korean red ginseng extract reduced inflammation and improved antioxidant activity is skin cells from people with eczema (7Trusted Source).
The results are promising in humans, as well.
One study investigated the effects of having 18 young male athletes take 2 grams of Korean red ginseng extract three times per day for seven days.
The men then had levels of certain inflammatory markers tested after performing an exercise test. These levels were significantly lower than in the placebo group, lasting for up to 72 hours after testing.
5) Cognitive function
The use of ginseng might also have a positive effect on the brain. Some people have noticed an improvement in cognitive function. This could be helpful for people with Alzheimer’s disease, as well.
One study followed 30 healthy people who consumed 200 mg of Panax ginseng daily for four weeks. At the end of the study, they showed improvement in mental health, social functioning and mood.
However, these benefits stopped being significant after 8 weeks, suggesting that ginseng effects might decrease with extended use
6) Blood pressure
Some preliminary studies have suggested that ginseng intake may have a neutral vascular effect, which could be beneficial for lowering blood pressure. One study found that taking Panax ginseng in three divided doses daily for 8 weeks slightly reduces blood pressure in people with high blood pressure. However, results remain inconsistent. And, therefore, further research is required.
7) Cancer risk
Some studies have shown a possible reduction in the risk of cancer among those who frequently use ginseng supplements.
Ginsenosides in this herb have been shown to help reduce inflammation and provide antioxidant protection.
The cell cycle is the process by which cells normally grow and divide. Ginsenosides could benefit this cycle by preventing abnormal cell production and growth.
A review of several studies concluded that people who take ginseng may have a 16% lower risk of developing cancer.
So, cancer-related fatigue can be alleviated. Those people who often find that they run out of energy in the middle of the day may find that the chemicals in ginseng help them get through the day more effectively.
8) Blood sugar
Ginseng has also been found to help lower blood sugar levels in individuals with type 2 diabetes. American and Asian ginseng can improve pancreatic cell function, boost insulin production, and enhance the uptake of blood glucose in tissues.
One study assessed the effects of 6 grams of Korean red ginseng, along with the usual anti-diabetic medication or diet, in 19 people with type 2 diabetes.
Importantly, they could maintain good blood sugar control throughout the 12-week study. They also had an 11% decrease in blood glucose levels, a 38% decrease in fasting insulin, and a 33% increase in insulin sensitivity.
9) Increased energy
If you find yourself struggling with fatigue and low energy levels, ginseng may be the natural solution you need. Studies have found that ginseng may help to support energy production and reduce tiredness. A 2023 medical study found that ginseng benefits adults who have experienced chronic fatigue for longer than six months. The researchers concluded that “Our results provide the first evidence of the antifatigue effects of Panax ginseng in patients with idiopathic chronic fatigue, and we submit that these changes in antioxidant properties contribute in part to its mechanism. “Taken together, these data lead us to conclude that Panax ginseng can be used to combat chronic fatigue.”
Side effects
Asian and American Ginseng is usually well tolerated and does not tend to have negative side effects for most people. However, some people can experience:
- Nervousness
- Insomnia
- Mania
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Breast pain
- Vaginal bleeding
- Menstrual changes
Long-term use of ginseng or high doses can also lead to headaches, dizziness, and an stomach upset.
If you are taking medications, it is important to consult with your Doctor before taking ginseng. This is particularly important if you are taking medication for diabetes, as ginseng may affect blood sugar levels.
Best ways to take Ginseng
There are different ways in which a person can take health supplements that take advantage of ginseng extract. The specific route of administration tends to depend on why you are looking to use these supplements.
For example, when using ginseng for erectile dysfunction or perhaps to assist with the control of blood sugar, you may choose to use a supplement that contains extracts of the plant.
On the other hand, when you decide to use this plant extract for certain purposes, such as ejaculation problems, then a topical product might be an ideal option.
When it comes to asking how can ginseng be taken, there are a few potential routes of administration:
- Dietary pills
- Teas with ginseng extract
- Topical creams
Most people who use ginseng tend to take a supplement in the form of a pill. This is a quick and convenient way to get a daily dose of ginseng into your body.
Further, many supplements exist that will provide you with a combination of different ginseng extracts. This is a good way of gaining the benefits of varying ginseng plants, such as the popular Panax ginseng, the Korean Red ginseng, and the American ginseng.
A high-quality supplement that contains a matrix of ginseng extracts can sometimes reach for quite a high price tag.
When using ginseng as a way of fighting against erectile dysfunction or boosting libido, then a dietary pill that uses this plant extract as an active ingredient might yield better results.
It is also important to consider the doses of ginseng. In most cases, a daily dose of between one and three grams is advised. This is the appropriate amount of ginseng extract to take to see benefits sexually and achieve effective improvement in sexual arousal.
Conclusion
Ginseng supplements, and even raw extracts from the medicinal plants are becoming popular among the population.
In addition to being useful for enhancing overall health, ginseng supplements can improve your energy levels, sexual health, blood pressure and even cognitive function. Have you tried incorporating ginseng to your diet? If so, let us know in the comment box below!
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