Ginseng - American Ginseng Root and Ginseng Capsules

Here are answers to questions that people often ask about ginseng and our products. If you have any other questions, please contact us and we will do our best to answer them!

The questions are grouped under the following categories:

What is ginseng?
What can ginseng do for me?
How should I take ginseng?

What is ginseng?

Question: What is American Ginseng?
Answer: American ginseng (Panax quinquefolium) is a small plant originating from the deciduous forests of North America. It is a true ginseng, being in the Panax genus and containing the full range of bioactive ginsenosides that result in ginseng's unique effect. Initially prized by Native Americans, it is now recognized as one the world's most remarkable and valued medicinal herbs.
American ginseng should not be confused with herbs sold as Siberian, Indian and Brazilian ginseng - these are not from the Panax genus and do not contain any of ginseng's bioactive substances or botanical characteristics.

Question: Why should I choose Simply Ginseng products?
Answer: Simply Ginseng products are unique in that they are made from ginseng roots that are grown using organic or biodynamic methods. This ensures that there are no chemical residues in our products. Our Ginseng 500 capsules are manufactured in Australia in a facility that is licensed with the Therapeutic Goods Administration. This ensures safety and purity of product. Our capsules contain 500mg of pure American ginseng - nothing else. We specialise in American ginseng - we grow, import, manufacture and sell it. We market direct to our customers, and place a high value on customer service and satisfaction.

Question: Why should I choose organic ginseng?
Answer: Ginseng is a very valuable crop that takes 5 to 6 years to gain a high medicinal value. Because it is susceptible to fungi and other pathogens, it is usually sprayed with chemical pesticides many times throughout the growing period. A recent study of Korean and American ginseng published in the Journal Food Additives and Contaminants found pesticides in 80% of samples tested. Further, 43% of all samples tested did not comply with the maximum residue limits (MRL) for several chemical pesticides. Almost all ginseng sold today is grown using chemicals.
Using organically grown ginseng means these chemicals will not be present.

Question: How does ginseng work?
Answer: Ginseng is an adaptogen - which means it acts to normalize body functions. It contains many bioactive substances that work to help bring the body back to its normal state. Ginseng does not improve an already healthy body, but helps to maintain health in the face of illness, stress, and chemical or physical assault. It can therefore help protect the body from the negative effects of carcinogens, radiation, and chemicals. It helps guard against infections by strengthening the immune system. It also helps balance disturbances in metabolism, including blood glucose.

Question: What are the active substances in American ginseng?
Answer: The main active components of American ginseng are a group of over 30 different saponins known as ginsenosides. An additional bioactive substance is an acidic polysaccharide known as "Ginsan", which has marked immune-stimulating activity. Some ginsenosides have complementary actions, and these are believed to be responsible for the remarkable balancing Yin and Yan effects of ginseng that have been appreciated by the Chinese for many centuries.

What can ginseng do for me?

Question: Why should I take American Ginseng?
Answer: American ginseng will help maintain and improve your health. It is widely used to enhance the overall feeling of well being and vitality, and for its preventative and restorative functions. It helps the body cope with stress, boosts the immune system, relieves fatigue and enhances brain function. It is also useful in helping to regulate various metabolic disturbances including blood sugar and lipid levels. Ginseng also acts as an antioxidant, scavenging free radicals in the body - this has an anti-aging and anticancer effect. American ginseng's popularity as an aphrodisiac may be associated with its effect on vitality. The Chinese use American ginseng to benefit the Qi, nourish the Yin and relieve symptoms of Yin deficiency.

Question: What are the traditional uses of American ginseng?
Answer: Native Americans used it to treat a wide range of ailments associated with the aging process. Other medicinal uses included menstrual problems and fertility, nausea, indigestion, vomiting, stomach problems, bronchitis, earaches, bleeding, asthma, headaches, relief of fevers and as an aphrodisiac.

Question: How does American ginseng help with stress?
Answer: Stress lies at the heart of many diseases. The overproduction of stress hormones can damage the body, interfere with many body systems and weaken the body's defences to a range of diseases. American ginseng works to reduce the amount of stress hormones that the body produces. This helps alleviate feelings of stress and reduces the damage to the body caused by excess of these hormones.

Question: Can American ginseng strengthen my immune system?
Answer: Ginseng stimulates the immune system by increasing the number of white blood cells and antibodies in the blood. These help protect the body from disease and fight infection.

Question: Can American ginseng help the brain?
Answer: American ginseng helps activate the brain and maintain normal learning and memory. Its antioxidant effects are useful in combating brain aging. Some studies have found that it helps protect nervous tissue when the supply of oxygen is suddenly reduced (as occurs during strokes).

Question: Can American ginseng help with cancer?
Answer: American ginseng does not cure cancer, but can help prevent it. It also helps reduce the side effects of some conventional cancer treatments. Ginseng is an antioxidant and helps remove free radicals in the body that are a major cause of cancer. Studies from Korea indicate that taking ginseng regularly markedly reduces the risk of cancer. American ginseng has also been used to reduce the effective dosage (and hence side effects) of chemotherapy.

Question: Can American ginseng help with diabetes?
Answer: Type-2 diabetes is usually managed by a combination of diet, exercise and daily insulin injections if necessary. However the value of two herbs, American ginseng and Coccinia, are being increasingly recognised. Because they have different modes of action, they complement each other and both can be taken together.

American ginseng modulates glucose uptake by cells in the body, and acts to reduce and stabilise blood glucose at normal levels. Coccinia enables glucose to be absorbed from the small intestine over a longer period of time, thus reducing glucose spikes.

The literature indicates that people tending towards diabetes should maintain sensible dietary and exercise habits, and also start taking American ginseng once or twice daily. As well as American ginseng, we suggest you also consider Coccinia. Please note that diabetes is a serious and potentially life-threatening condition and you should consult a medical health professional before changing your treatment regime. If your professional is not aware of the benefits of American ginseng, we suggest they consult some of the many research papers published in the US by V Vuksan and/or JL Sievenpiper, or a review published by scientists from the Harvard Medical School in Diabetes Care (Yeh GY et al, Apr 2003, 26(4):1277-94).

Question: Does American ginseng improve male sexual function?
Answer: Ginseng was traditionally used for sexual impotency, to invigorate virile powers, and as an aphrodisiac. This may be due to its adaptogenic effect - it enhances vitality and helps bring the body back towards normal. Some scientific studies have found that American ginseng has more specific effects, such as facilitating penile erection and increasing sperm quality.

Question: Can American ginseng help with for menopause?
Answer: American ginseng s main function during menopause is to support the general wellbeing of the woman. It may bring relief to the symptoms of depression and mood swings experienced, but it does not influence hot flushes and other physical changes that occur at this stage of life.

How should I take ginseng?

Question: Who should take American ginseng?
Answer: Ginseng can improve and maintain health in adults of any age. Because of its action, most people over the age of 40 are likely to benefit. If your health is good, the preventative and balancing actions of ginseng against such conditions as diabetes, heart and circulatory diseases, and cancers can be helpful, even if you perceive no direct effect. Its capacity to help protect the brain from the aging process is of benefit to everyone. A regular course of American ginseng is particularly recommended for those who find themselves in stressful situations, wish to boost their immune system, or are who recovering from an illness.

Question: How much and how often should I take American ginseng?
Answer: The recommended daily adult dose is 1 gram of American ginseng powder. This can be increased to 2 grams per day during times of stress or sickness. American ginseng is perhaps best taken once per day after breakfast with a glass of liquid. For improved blood glucose control, some studies suggest that the daily dose should be divided - half in the morning and half in the evening. Older people, and people experiencing ongoing stress or poor health (or who need to normalise blood glucose levels), obtain maximum benefit by taking American ginseng every day. It is generally recommended that younger adults take American ginseng every day for about 100 days, and then have a rest period of 30 to 100 days before the next 100 day treatment period. Treatment and rest periods are then alternated. Vary these periods if desired, depending on your stress and health levels and whether you feel you need it (listen to your body!).

Question: How quickly does American ginseng work?
Answer: Unlike many pharmaceutical medicines, ginseng has a gentle action and its effects may not be felt immediately. Although some people feel a greater sense of wellbeing and improved mental clarity almost straight away, most people do not feel the benefits for several weeks. However, the benefits also appear to last several weeks after you cease to take ginseng. The more balanced and healthy your body is to begin with, the less likely you are to feel the effects.

Question: What is the best way to take ginseng - roots or capsules?
Answer: Either is fine. American ginseng has a uniquely bitter/sweet taste, and many people prefer to take it in capsule form. Taking capsules containing a precise amount of root powder is probably the best and most convenient way to take ginseng. Dried root powder can also be mixed in a small glass of orange juice or milk. Leave it to stand for about 10 minutes before taking to allow the water-soluble ingredients to dissolve. If you like the unique taste of ginseng, hold fresh or dried root slices under the tongue for several minutes before chewing and swallowing (using one gram of dried or three grams of fresh root). Fresh and dried root is also frequently used as an ingredient in cooking.

Question: Can I take too much or too little American ginseng?
Answer: American ginseng has a very high safety margin. However there is little additional benefit in taking more than the recommended dose. Taking too little ginseng will not produce the desired effect. The recommended dose for adults is 0.5 to 3 grams per day, and most people find that 1 gram daily is effective.

Question: Is there any reason that I should not take American ginseng?
Answer: Generally, American ginseng is very well tolerated. It may however interfere with the action of some pharmaceutical drugs and you should inform your health care professional if you decide to take a course of ginseng. Caution is advised if you have uncontrolled high blood pressure, with warfarin, oral hypoglycaemic agents, insulin, phenelzine and antidepressants. It is advisable not to take ginseng (or any other medicine) if you know you are pregnant. Ginseng should also be avoided if you have an acute illness; wait a few days before starting a course to support your body in the healing phase.
There is also some evidence to suggest that large amounts of caffeine taken in conjunction with ginseng may cause nervousness and sleeplessness. Interestingly, in the absence of high caffeine levels, American ginseng helps ease nervousness and promotes natural sleep.

Ginseng - Australian grown American Ginseng root | American Ginseng 500 capsules