Guest guest Posted April 7, 2005 Report Share Posted April 7, 2005 Panax Ginseng Family: Araliaceae. Part used: Generally, the root. The leaves, although milder in action, can also be used. Collection and habitat: A native of eastern Asia (Korea, Russia, China), panax ginseng is rare in the wild because of overharvesting. Occasionally, plants over 100 years old are still found; these sell for up to $20,000 per ounce. The herb is now extensively commercially cultivated; the roots are harvested in the fall of the fifth year. The older the roots, the better medicines they are considered to be. Actions: Tonic, adaptogen, stimulant, immunomodulator, immune system stimulant, blood pressure and sugar regulator, cerebral circulation stimulant, cognitive function enhancer, adrenal tonic, antitumor. Functions in liver disease: Helps alleviate general weakness, fatigue, low libido, exhaustion, brain fog, and lack of appetite. Enhances immune function, interferon production, and phagocytosis. Modulates white blood cell counts. Potentiates almost all liver functions, including RNA and DNA repair and production of vital proteins. Lowers liver enzyme levels in the blood. Hepatoprotective, antiviral, antitumor. About Panax Ginseng Panax ginseng is probably the most famous of Chinese herbs and has been used in TCM for thousands of years. It has been administered alone or in combination for general weakness, sexual debility, lack of appetite, anemia, forgetfulness, immune deficiency, high and low blood pressure, and adrenal deficiency. Medical research on ginseng can and does fill several large volumes with exceptionally tiny type. What follows is only a sample of the problems associated with hepatitis. In both human and laboratory studies, ginseng has been found to be strongly protective of the liver, to lower liver enzyme levels, to positively affect cholesterol and lipid metabolism, and to be radioprotective, antitumor, antioxidant, and antiviral. Panax ginseng has shown antiviral activity in vitro against HBV One human trial reported that ginseng, along with multivitamins, can significantly reduce chronic liver disease in elderly patients within 12 weeks. Ginseng has been shown to be hepatoprotective in vivo against liver disease induced by CC14, chloroform, galactosamine, and ethanol. Other in vivo studies showed that it protected the liver from ethanolinduced hyperlipidemia. It also reduced cellular swelling, congestion, bile pigmentation, and elevated aminotransferase levels; reduced liver enzyme levels; prevented dexamethasone-induced increases in aminotransferase levels; and protected against ethanol-induced mitochondrial swelling and disruption, pyknosis and fat deposition, depression of phospholipid synthesis, and stimulation of triglyceride synthesis. A combination of ginseng and bupleurum given in vivo before CC14 injection significantly reduced cellular-level liver damage in mice. More than 500 published scientific papers have addressed the actions of ginseng. Some of the most noted areas of activity concern the herb's immune-enhancing, radioprotective, and antitumor properties. Ginseng has been found to enhance antibody response, natural killer cell action, interferon production, and overall power and strength of the immune system. Many studies on the use of ginseng in cancer treatment in China showed that ginseng possesses strong antitumor actions. Treated panax (called red or kirin ginseng) showed the strongest activity. Ginseng has also been reported to have a strong ability to protect living organisms from the effects of radiation. Preparation and Dosage As powder or tincture. Powder: 1-2 tsp (5-10 mL) per day. Tincture: 1:5 in 70 percent alcohol. White root, 20-40 drops; red cured root (Chinese of Korean), 5-20 drops, both up to 3 times per day. American species (Panax quinquefolium): woodsgrown, 10-20 drops up to 3 times per day. Contraindications and Side Effects Men younger than age 40 should use Siberian ginseng, not panax ginseng. Contraindicated in high blood pressure, excessive menstrual bleeding, and pregnancy. May cause high blood pressure, irritability, insomnia, muscle tension, headache, and restlessness. Excerpted from Hepatitis C and the Liver by Stephen Harrod Buhner Copyright © 2000 Used with permission from Storey Publishing, LLC (www.story.com Photo by Harvey Robinson PANAX (OR ASIAN) GINSENG (Panax ginseng) Family: Araliaceae. Part used: Generally, the root. The leaves, although milder in action, can also be used. Collection and habitat: A native of eastern Asia (Korea, Russia, China), panax ginseng is rare in the wild because of overharvesting. Occasionally, plants over 100 years old are still found; these sell for up to $20,000 per ounce. The herb is now extensively commercially cultivated; the roots are harvested in the fall of the fifth year. The older the roots, the better medicines they are considered to be. Actions: Tonic, adaptogen, stimulant, immunomodulator, immune system stimulant, blood pressure and sugar regulator, cerebral circulation stimulant, cognitive function enhancer, adrenal tonic, antitumor. Functions in liver disease: Helps alleviate general weakness, fatigue, low libido, exhaustion, brain fog, and lack of appetite. Enhances immune function, interferon production, and phagocytosis. Modulates white blood cell counts. Potentiates almost all liver functions, including RNA and DNA repair and production of vital proteins. Lowers liver enzyme levels in the blood. Hepatoprotective, antiviral, antitumor. About Panax Ginseng Panax ginseng is probably the most famous of Chinese herbs and has been used in TCM for thousands of years. It has been administered alone or in combination for general weakness, sexual debility, lack of appetite, anemia, forgetfulness, immune deficiency, high and low blood pressure, and adrenal deficiency. Medical research on ginseng can and does fill several large volumes with exceptionally tiny type. What follows is only a sample of the problems associated with hepatitis. In both human and laboratory studies, ginseng has been found to be strongly protective of the liver, to lower liver enzyme levels, to positively affect cholesterol and lipid metabolism, and to be radioprotective, antitumor, antioxidant, and antiviral. Panax ginseng has shown antiviral activity in vitro against HBV One human trial reported that ginseng, along with multivitamins, can significantly reduce chronic liver disease in elderly patients within 12 weeks. Ginseng has been shown to be hepatoprotective in vivo against liver disease induced by CC14, chloroform, galactosamine, and ethanol. Other in vivo studies showed that it protected the liver from ethanolinduced hyperlipidemia. It also reduced cellular swelling, congestion, bile pigmentation, and elevated aminotransferase levels; reduced liver enzyme levels; prevented dexamethasone-induced increases in aminotransferase levels; and protected against ethanol-induced mitochondrial swelling and disruption, pyknosis and fat deposition, depression of phospholipid synthesis, and stimulation of triglyceride synthesis. A combination of ginseng and bupleurum given in vivo before CC14 injection significantly reduced cellular-level liver damage in mice. More than 500 published scientific papers have addressed the actions of ginseng. Some of the most noted areas of activity concern the herb's immune-enhancing, radioprotective, and antitumor properties. Ginseng has been found to enhance antibody response, natural killer cell action, interferon production, and overall power and strength of the immune system. Many studies on the use of ginseng in cancer treatment in China showed that ginseng possesses strong antitumor actions. Treated panax (called red or kirin ginseng) showed the strongest activity. Ginseng has also been reported to have a strong ability to protect living organisms from the effects of radiation. Preparation and Dosage As powder or tincture. Powder: 1-2 tsp (5-10 mL) per day. Tincture: 1:5 in 70 percent alcohol. White root, 20-40 drops; red cured root (Chinese of Korean), 5-20 drops, both up to 3 times per day. American species (Panax quinquefolium): woodsgrown, 10-20 drops up to 3 times per day. Contraindications and Side Effects Men younger than age 40 should use Siberian ginseng, not panax ginseng. Contraindicated in high blood pressure, excessive menstrual bleeding, and pregnancy. May cause high blood pressure, irritability, insomnia, muscle tension, headache, and restlessness. Excerpted from Hepatitis C and the Liver by Stephen Harrod Buhner Copyright © 2000 Used with permission from Storey Publishing, LLC (www.story.com -- Diana Gonzalez Nothing wastes more energy than worrying - the longer a problem is carried, the heavier it gets. Don't take things too seriously - live a life of serenity, not a life of regrets. -Unknown Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You are posting as a guest. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.