Article Most Wanted: tonic

Ginseng for Tonic, Diabetes and Immune System Function

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<h1 class="chapter" id="c16">
<span class="medium"><i>Panax ginseng, P. quinquefolius</i></span></h1>
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<span class="dropcaps">G</span>inseng has been 
called the king of herbs, the root of heaven, and a wonder of the world.
 Used in China, Korea, and India for several thousand years, <i>Panax ginseng</i> is probably the most famous medicinal herb to have come out of Asia. Its North American counterpart, <i>Panax quinquefolius</i>,
 was discovered later but has similar effects and is prized almost as 
highly. Ancient Indian texts speak of ginseng as a life-giving plant 
with magical powers. Centuries ago, Koreans believed that ginseng’s 
leaves gave off a glow on moonlit nights.<br />
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Ginseng hunters scanned the 
woods for the eerie radiance and shot arrows toward its source to mark 
the plant’s location so its valuable roots could be collected the next 
day. Ginseng hunting was fraught with dangers, but the rewards were 
great. As a result, wild ginseng in China had been harvested nearly to 
extinction by the 1600s. The discovery of <i>Panax quinquefolius</i> 
in North America in the early 1700s set off a ginseng rush. Many 
pioneers made a living digging ginseng roots out of the damp soil of 
eastern woodlands. Several early American entrepreneurs and explorers, 
including John Jacob Astor and Daniel Boone, were involved in the 
profitable ginseng trade, in which countless tons of American ginseng 
were exported to Asia.</div>
<h2 class="section" id="c16-s01">
<b>Therapeutic Uses</b></h2>
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<i>Tonic</i></div>
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<i>Diabetes</i></div>
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<i>Immune system function</i></div>
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Ginseng is perhaps the best known of the herbal tonics, or adaptogens, with
 possible benefits for many different medical conditions. Adaptogens are
 often used to help strengthen the body to resist disease or to recover 
from illness. Each <i>Panax</i> species is a bit different; extracts 
of roots of different ginsengs contain different phytochemicals and thus
 have different effects. Laboratory research shows that extracts of both
 the whole root and isolated compounds act as antioxidants, affect 
immune system function, and combat inflammation.</div>
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Clinical research has been done mostly on Asian 
ginseng. While Asian ginseng doesn’t control symptoms such as hot 
flashes in menopausal women, preliminary results suggest that extracts 
may improve quality of life and lessen fatigue and psychological 
symptoms. For 36 people with type 2 non-insulin-dependent diabetes, both
 100 and 200 mg of ginseng daily for 8 weeks helped with fasting glucose
 levels. Only those taking the larger dose had improvements in 
hemoglobin A1c tests, the standard tool for comparing blood sugar 
levels. Studies show that both ginseng species reduce blood sugar levels
 in people with type 2 diabetes.</div>
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Studies also show that American ginseng reduces blood 
glucose levels in type 1 diabetics. Both species of ginseng enhance 
immune function. In one study, a specific Asian ginseng extract boosted 
immune response to the flu vaccine and reduced the number of colds.</div>
<h2 class="section" id="c16-s02">
<b>How to Use</b></h2>
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<i>Extract:</i> Standardized extracts of Asian ginseng containing 4 to 7 percent ginsenosides, dosed 100 to 200 mg daily.</div>
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<i>Tinctures:</i> 1 to 2 ml, up to 3 times daily.</div>
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<i>Tea:</i> Simmer 3 to 6 teaspoons of the root for 45 minutes in 3 to 4 cups water. Strain, cool, and drink a cup 1 to 3 times daily.</div>
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<i>Capsules:</i> 500 to 1,000 mg dried powdered root, taken 1 to 2 times daily.</div>
<h2 class="section" id="c16-s03">
<b>Precautions</b></h2>
<div class="nonindent">
<span style="background-color: #cccccc;"><a href="http://robust-chemical.com/lemari-asam-fume-hood-based-on-wooden-structure/" rel="nofollow">http://robust-chemical.com/lemari-asam-fume-hood-based-on-wooden-structure/</a> .adv </span>- Blood pressure should be monitored when taking 
ginseng. Caution is advised for diabetics because ginseng can lower 
blood sugar levels. Asian ginseng can act as a stimulant, causing 
insomnia or anxiety; some people experience mild stomach upset or 
headache.</div>
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