American ginseng has a unique action on many body systems, which allows it to
reduce stress, protect the body against aging, resist illness, and improve
general wellbeing. The main specific effects are briefly described below - for
further information please refer to the "medicinal" page. Please note to refer
to the "glossary" page for unfamiliar words and their meaning.
AdaptogenAmerican ginseng is often used to enhance the overall feeling of well being and
for the prevention of diseases that result from today's hectic pace of life. It
contains a complex array of bioactive substances that, acting in unison, become
an adaptogen. An adaptogen is a substance that enables the body to normalize its
own systems when affected by negative influences, be they physical, chemical or
mental stresses. American ginseng has both a calming and a stimulating effect as
the different active ingredients (ginsenosides) come into play depending on the
body's need. In particular, American ginseng acts on the hypothalamus - this is
the part of the mid-brain that controls the hormonal and neural processes that
balance the various body systems.
StressAmerican ginseng helps the body cope with the stresses of daily living. It acts
to nullify the negative side effects caused by overproduction of stress
hormones, and helps prevent stress-associated disease. It also works directly on
the central nervous system to help the mind remain calm and work effectively.
AntioxidantAmerican ginseng is an antioxidant, and helps protect body tissues against the
damaging effects of free radicals and other harmful chemicals. It has also been
used in the prevention and treatment of some types of cancer.
Nervous systemAmerican ginseng helps protect the brain (and other nervous tissue) from the
aging process via several different mechanisms. It improves the way neural
messages are transmitted throughout the nervous system, partly by enabling
messages to pass from one nerve cell to another more efficiently. This results
in improved mental processes such as memory, concentration and learning.
American ginseng also helps protect the nervous system from the damage caused by
oxygen starvation and subsequent overproduction of free radicals, as occurs
during strokes.
CardiovascularAmerican ginseng helps prevent hardening of the arteries by blocking the
formation of oxidated low density lipid (LDL) protein and reducing blood fat
levels. It also helps protect heart muscle from damage caused by lack of oxygen,
as occurs during heart attacks.
Immune systemAmerican ginseng stimulates the immune system and helps protect the body from
infectious disease. It boosts the production of white blood cells and
antibodies.
Metabolic systemsAmerican ginseng helps to normalize blood sugar levels in both diabetic and
non-diabetic people. It does this by modifying the transport of glucose across
cell membranes. American ginseng has traditionally been associated with
increased stamina and endurance - this is thought to be due to increased
utilization of free fatty acids during exercise.
Male sexual functionGinseng has been traditionally used to increase virility. In China, American
ginseng is considered a panacea for impotency. The Chinese and Native Americans
used it as an aphrodisiac.
It is increasingly being used for this purpose - the Guardian Weekly recently
rated American ginseng "the world's bestselling aphrodisiac." As well as acting
on the hormonal system, constituents of American ginseng have also been shown to
directly induce vasodilation in penile erectile tissue.
Female sexual systemNative Americans used ginseng to increase fertility and treat menstrual
problems. American ginseng has gentle estrogenic properties that may be useful
in treating menopause symptoms, but without the potential side effects of
estrogenic drugs (such as cancer, stroke, and thromboembolism)