Panax Ginseng

Introduction

This fact sheet provides basic information about Panax ginseng. Panax ginseng is a member of the Araliaceae family of plants, which includes the closely related American ginseng and less similar Siberian ginseng. Panax ginseng commonly grows on mountain slopes and is usually harvested in the fall. The root of panax ginseng is used preferably from plants older than six years of age. Unlike American ginseng and Eleuthero or Siberian Ginseng, panax has been a part of Chinese medicine for thousands of years.

Common Names

Panax Ginseng

Latin Names

Panax vietnamensis

What It Is Used For

• Ginseng is popularly used for its adaptogenic, antineoplastic, immunomodulatory, cardiovascular, CNS, endocrine, and ergogenic effects, but these uses have not been confirmed by clinical trials.

How It Is Used

Panax ginseng may be taken by mouth or applied topically. It can be applied directly to the penis in treatment for erectile dysfunction in men. It is available in capsules, dried root powder, fresh root, liquid extracts, and teas.

Tea may be made by soaking chopped fresh root or 1500 mg (1.5 grams) of dried root powder in about 5 ounces of boiling water for 10 to 15 minutes. Strain to remove solid particles. You may wish to sweeten the tea or flavor it with other herbs to make it more enjoyable.

What the Science Says

• It has been difficult to verify the medicinal benefits of ginseng using science, as there are contradictory results from different studies, possibly due to the wide variety and quality of ginseng used in studies. High-quality studies of the effects of ginseng are rare.

Side Effects and Cautions

• It is encouraged to discontinue use after 3 months for a period of 2-3 weeks if using panax ginseng continuously.

Sources

• Drugs.Com Web site. Accessed on February 7, 2009.
• From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Accessed on February 7, 2009.