| The ancient Chinese
believed that the root of the ginseng plant was the
crystallization of the essence of the earth in the shape
of a man and that ginseng had rejuvenating, recuperative,
revitalizing, and curative action. The first and
anonymous Chinese materia Medica written by Shen-nong,
stated that ginseng was used for its tonic and
tranquilizing effects; that ginseng increased alertness, brilliance, and
concentration,
and improved memory; and that ginseng
prolonged use brought about longevity.
There are two major ginseng species; Asian ginseng (panax
ginseng) and American ginseng (panax
quinquefolium) The name of panax derived from Greek,
means "all cure" (pan means all, ax means
cure). Ginseng meaning "wonder of the world",
has been known and respected by the Chinese for
centuries. It is true that ginseng possesses real value
for improvement of human health. Modern scientific
findings on ginseng have well documented many attributed
uses and therapeutic effects of ginseng. Tonic action of ginseng has been the most persistent; it is now often
described as "tonic up the cerebral cortex" and
good to relieve stress (an
"adaptogen" activity). Ginseng has a
"universal defense action" and meets all 3 requirements for adaptation
effects, which are:
-
Ginseng is not toxic and has no side effects.
It does
not cause any discomfort or disorder in the physiological
functions of the body.
-
The action of ginseng is neither local nor specific;
i.e. it increases the body's strength and ability of
resistance to adverse stress or damages (chemical,
physical or biological agents)
-
Ginseng is a regulator, exibiting normalizing effects
of the body , the regulating effects of high or low
blood pressure
More about ginseng:
- Ginseng stimulates both
physical and mental activity. These effects are found to
be more pronounced in tired and weak people.
- Ginseng greatly strengthens and protects the human body
from severe or prolonged physical or mental stress
- Ginseng increases physical and mental efficiency,
improves accuracy of work, contributes to ones
concentration, and prevents fatigue.
- Ginseng stimulates and improves the work of the brain
cells. Ginseng is well known to be a powerful regulator
of the nervous system
- Ginseng stimulates the function of the endocrine
glands.
Ginseng has been used in
traditional Asian medicine for a long long time as a
general tonic and cardiotonic agent. Scientific studies
evidence these biological effects of ginseng and also
support the uses of ginseng as an antidote, antitumor
agent, and an antidiabetic.
The usage of Asian and American ginseng is very different
according to the famous Chinese pharmaceutical compendium
and Chinese traditional medicine of Yin Yang.
American Ginseng possesses "cooling" property
to the body, while Asian ginseng possesses
"warming". Therefore, people with the
"warming" body should only take American
ginseng which is "cooling" , but people with
"cooling" body should only take Asian ginseng
instead. Otherwise, contradictions exist, particularly
for people with high blood pressure,
other diseases and weakness. It is no wonder that American ginseng is often used to reduce stress
and fatigue, but not Asian (Chinese and
Korean ) ginseng with more stimulating and depleting
effects.
Lu, Okauda and Yoshida, Lewis Muwalla and Abuirmeileh,
and Kaku et al reported that American ginseng has
insulin-like activity, influences neurologic
reactions,reduces total colesterol level
and improves heart and blood circulatory
functions. American ginseng is found to balance and tone
the biochemistry system of the body, strengthen the immune
system, provide enormous energy,
eliminate the daily fatigue, enhance the body vitality, and improve physical and mental
strength. In addition , American ginseng is
effective against high blood pressure and cardiovascular
diseases.
The differences between American and Asian ginsengs are
well documented not only by Chinese traditional doctors,
but also by modern scientists, It is found that the
differences in the active, constituents may account for
the differing medecinal uses of American and Asian
ginseng. Shibata's group and Staba and his colleagues
found that the types of saponins in American ginseng are
similar to those in Asian ginseng, the exceptions that
ginsenosides Ra and Rf found in Asian ginseng are absent
from American ginseng. There are some differences in
quantity of ginsenosides Rg and Re groups between
American ginseng and Asian ginseng. Furthermore, the
relative abundance of panaxadiols and panaxatrios differs
in the two ginseng species. American ginseng contains
very few ginsenosides with central nervous system
stimulating activity, it is regarded as a "cooling
agent".
EFFECTS OF GINSENG
ON SPORTS PERFORMANCE
Ginseng has been shown to enhance sports performance.
Athletes from beginning joggers to Olympic contenders
agree that ginseng helps them overcome the strain and
drain of exercise. A recent Swiss study conducted by Dr.
Anton Kirchdorfer shows how ginseng helps. Thirty
athletes were given exercise tests on a programmed
exercise cycling machine to assure a specific level of
muscle work. the heart rate and lactate concentration in
the blood was measured before, immediately after, and for
several minutes following the exercise.
Strong exertion for eight minutes raised the athletes
heart rate from an average value of about 70 to 155 (more
than doubled). During recuperation, their heart rate
slowly returned to normal over a period of about 20
minutes; their heart rates fell below 100 after 4-5
minutes.
The athletes were then given ginseng daily for nine
weeks. The tests were conducted again, using the same
amount of exercise. Their pulse rates this time increased
to only 140, and during recuperation their heart rates
fell blow 100 within just 3 minutes, and were back to
normal in 5 minutes.
Lactate (the substance that causes muscular pain
following exercise was measured during the same tests.
Before using ginseng, the lactate levels of the athletes
increased from 2.0 before exercise to 10.5 afterward,
without returning to normal levels even after 20 minutes.
Following nine weeks of ginseng administration, lactate
acid levels only reached 6.2 at their highest point, and
decreased to normal in about twenty minutes.
These figures show that the athletes were using oxygen
much more efficiently after taking ginseng. Thus, their
hearts did not need to pump as fast, and they did not
produce as much lactic acid, (the by-product of oxygen
use). The quicker return to normal physiologic conditions
also indicates that there is less stress to the entire
system.
The blood carries oxygen to the cells of the body. In the
cells, oxygen combines with chemicals obtained from food.
Energy produced during the process makes it possible for
each cell to perform its function in the body. Ginseng
can regulate the basal metabolic rate, often raising it
when it is too slow, to increase the breakdown and
metabolism of foods, liberating more energy and removing
more waste products.
Small protein material in ginseng are responsible for
helping sugar and fat metabolism. Also ginsenocides
significantly alter the ability of the skeletal muscles
to use free fatty acids rather than glucose for energy.
Ginseng causes a more economical use of body energy and
an extra storage of energy-producing compounds in the liver.
Ginseng
Benefits:
Increase physical stamina
and sexual prowess in both men and women
Enhance blood flow
Erection-booster - help with impotence
Helps regulate blood pressure
Slow down degeneration of cells in human body
Reduce stress
Calm the nerves
Increase metabolism
Strengthen immune system
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