Ginseng benefits and side effects
Ginseng is one of the most used herbs in the world. At the moment this herb is wanted by many people around the world, but the supply of wild ginseng is not nearly enough to satisfy the growing demand. Ginseng is said to provide relief from a number of conditions, while also promoting overall good health and energy. This valuable herb grows naturally in areas where the soil is rich in nutrients and there are plenty of trees, mostly in Asian territories like Korea, China, and Siberia.
The roots of the ginseng plant (which hold the medicinal qualities) can be harvested after about three to ten years of growth. This long growth period is one of the reasons why the supply of ginseng is not meeting the demand of the public at the current moment in time. Let me introduce you to the various kinds of ginseng and then we will discuss the benefits and side effects.
There are several kinds of ginseng available, each with slightly different effects. The main types of ginseng are: American Ginseng, Asian Ginseng (Panax ginseng), Wild Ginseng and Red Ginseng. American Ginseng has been proven to increase immune function in older people, even dampening the effects of the flu in some cases. Wild Ginseng bears it’s name because it is not cultivated on a supervised farm, but rather it is found growing naturally in the wild. Red Ginseng has been said to increase sex drive and it even repairs erectile dysfunction. Asian and American Ginseng are capable of growing in the wild but it can take a very long time before the roots can be harvested – combine this fact with the fact that the demand is very high and it is not hard to see why it’s supply is limited.
The Benefits
- Improved immunity
- Lowering cholesterol
- Stress relief
- Help with erectile dysfunction
- Slows the signs of aging
The benefits of ginseng are many. Medical studies have proven that ginseng is beneficial for men experiencing impotence, even curing erectile dysfunction! Ginseng has also been shown to help with the fatigue experienced by cancer patients. It is even capable of lowering cholesterol, strengthening the immune system, providing stress relief and even slowing the appearance of aging. Some skeptics cite other studies that have claimed the benefits of ginseng to be few, if any, however the number of studies that prove it’s benefits far outweigh the studies that do not.
Possible Side Effects
- Diarrhea
- Altered Blood Pressure
- Nausea
- Problems Sleeping
Some of the reported side effects of using ginseng include high and low blood pressure, diarrhea, nausea and in some cases sleep issues. These side effects may not occur in everyone, in fact many people do not experience these side effects, however you should be aware of them before using ginseng.
Ginseng is produced and distributed in a variety of forms including capsules, tablets, liquid tincture, and tea. Of all of these forms, the best way to receive the medicinal qualities of ginseng is to drink it in a tea. This is because the ginseng is absorbed into your body more than the other forms of ingestion. Make sure you do the proper research before you decide to buy a product though, because all ginseng products are not equal.
Try to keep in mind that while ginseng has a number of great health benefits, you should not try to replace medications with ginseng, and you should always consult a physician or a doctor before you begin taking anything, including ginseng. Be sure to start out slow with anything you decide to take, this way you can observe any adverse effects that may occur.
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