Siberian ginseng and AIDS

[Guest guest]

Hi there! You may also find it interesting that a good deal of Russian

research concerned the radiation-protection feature of ginseng.

Something I learned, working with a T.C.M. doctor for a time, is that

ginseng should never be taken during an active infection, even a cold --

as it'll just get worse (the germs will benefit from ginseng's energy).

It was part of a herbal combination formula used with HIV patients in

Vancouver (1990-96), in the days when AIDS affected primarily the gay

male community. " American " (Canada/U.S.) grown ginseng was found to be

superior for gay men with AIDS, due to its greater yin energies (yin

deficiency is part of the syndrome, and yin (female) energies are often

absent in the lives of gay men). Korean & Siberian ginseng have greater

yang energies, not desirable for this particular situation. Dr. Shen

also said that ginseng should be used with HIV patients only when an

antiviral is also being used (herbal or pharmaceutical), so it's not

wise for someone with HIV to just take ginseng without consulting a

specialist. This herb is wonderful for reversing fatigue, and this is

clearly part of the picture for many illnesses, though it needs to be

used judiciously. It's available in chocolates too -- good medicine! Steve

 

Frank wrote:

 

>http://www.aidsmap.com/treatments/ixdata/english/4763CD2D-0224-42F5-8D14-EFF67C\

8ECA8E.htm

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>Siberian ginsengUpdated: Aug 01, 2003 Siberian ginseng (“Eleutherococcus

senticosus”) is described as an adaptogen, a compound thought to be able to

normalise the functioning of the body whatever form of disease is present. It

should not be confused with forms of panax ginseng (Chinese or Korean) available

in health food shops.

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>All the research into Siberian ginseng has been carried out in the former

Soviet Union. Siberian ginseng has been shown to stimulate the activity of

killer and helper T-cells (CD8 and CD4). It has also been shown to reduce

chemotherapy side-effects and appears to increase resistance to viral

infections.

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>“Eleutherococcus” has been shown to produce cases of insomnia, morning

diarrhoea, nervousness, depression, confusion, skin rash and high blood

pressure. Ginseng is also known to increase the effects of a family of

anti-depressant drugs called monoamine oxidase inhibitors (prescribed as

“Marplan”, “Nardil”, “Parnate” and “Manerix”), and patients taking these drugs

should refrain from taking ginseng. In addition, women taking ginseng sometimes

experience swollen and tender breasts as well as the absence of periods,

probably due to the small amounts of oestrogen in these plants.

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>References

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>Report of the use of eleutherococcus with breast cancer patients in

Eleutherococus Clinical Data, USSR Foreign Trade Publications, Medexport, 1970.

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>Shechezhin AK et al. Tentative data on the mass Eleutherococcus prophylaxis of

influenza at the main assembly line and metallurgical plant of the Volga

Automobile plant. Second All-Union Conf of the Adaptation of Man, 1977.

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