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American ginseng

American ginseng is a plant whose root is used to make medicine.

American ginseng is used for stress, to promote the function of the immune system and as a general tonic and stimulant.

American ginseng is often used to fight infections such as colds and flu. There is some evidence to suggest that it may help prevent colds and flu and may make symptoms milder when infections do occur.

American ginseng is also used for other infections including AIDS/HIV and intestinal infections such as dysentery and Pseudomonas infections, which are common in people suffering from cystic fibrosis. Some people use American ginseng for loss of appetite and to improve digestion, as well as for intestinal inflammation, gastritis and vomiting. In addition, American ginseng is used for anemia, diabetes, sleep problems, nerve pain, erectile dysfunction, fever, hangover symptoms, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), bleeding disorders, cancer, painful joints, dizziness, headaches, cramps, fibromyalgia, arteriosclerosis and memory loss, as well as an anti-aging agent. American ginseng is contained in some soft drinks. Oils and extracts made from American ginseng are used as ingredients in soaps and cosmetics. American ginseng should not be confused with Siberian ginseng (Eleutherococcus senticosus) or Asian ginseng (Panax ginseng). These three plants have different medicinal effects. Wild American ginseng is becoming increasingly rare due to its popularity and many possible applications. In some states in the USA, American ginseng has already been declared an endangered species because so many people are trying to harvest wild American ginseng.

How does American ginseng work?

American ginseng contains ginsenosides, which appear to affect insulin levels in the body and may lower blood sugar levels. Other chemicals called polysaccharides may affect the immune system.

How effective is American ginseng?

American ginseng may be effective in the following applications:

  • Lowering blood sugar levels after a meal in people suffering from type 2 diabetes. Oral ingestion of 3 grams of American ginseng up to two hours before a meal can significantly lower post-meal blood glucose levels in people suffering from type 2 diabetes. Interestingly, higher doses do not appear to lower blood sugar levels more. Different American ginseng products may have different effects. Scientists think that this is because these products contain different amounts of the active ingredients - ginsenosides.
  • Prevention of respiratory infections such as the common cold or flu in adults. Some evidence suggests that taking a specific extract of American ginseng (CVT-E002) at a dosage of 200 mg twice daily for 3 to 4 months during the flu season may slightly help prevent flu and cold symptoms in adults aged 18 to 65 years. People over 65 years of age appear to need a flu shot in month 2 of the flu and cold season along with this treatment to reduce their risk of getting the flu or cold. The extract mentioned also appears to help relieve symptoms and reduce the duration of symptoms when such infections occur. Some evidence suggests that the extract may not reduce the likelihood of getting the first cold of the season, but it does appear to reduce the risk of getting repeated colds during the cold season.

There is not enough scientific data to draw any conclusions about the effectiveness of American ginseng for the following conditions:

  • Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). There are preliminary study results suggesting that a specific combination product (AD-fX, Afexa Life Sciences, Canada) containing American ginseng in combination with ginkgo leaf extract may alleviate ADHD symptoms such as anxiety, hyperactivity and impulsivity in children aged 3 to 7 years.
  • Breast cancer. Some studies conducted in China suggest that breast cancer patients treated with a form of ginseng (American ginseng or Panax ginseng) feel better. However, this is not necessarily a result of taking ginseng. It is difficult to assess how many of the benefits can be attributed to taking ginseng.
  • Improvement in athletic performance. Taking 1600 mg of American ginseng orally for 4 weeks does not appear to improve athletic performance, although laboratory tests confirm that American ginseng may reduce muscle damage during exercise.

There is also insufficient scientific data on the effectiveness of American ginseng for stress, anemia, insomnia, gastritis, impotence, fever, HIV/AIDS and fibromyalgia.

Further scientific research is needed to evaluate the effectiveness of American ginseng in these applications.

Safety and side effects

American ginseng is potentially safe for adults and children when used for short periods of time. It can cause some side effects including diarrhea, itching, insomnia, headaches and nervousness. In some people, American ginseng can also cause rapid heartbeat, increased or decreased blood pressure, breast tenderness, vaginal bleeding and other side effects. Unusual side effects such as a serious skin rash called Steven-Johnson syndrome, liver damage and severe allergic reactions have also been reported.

Precautions and warnings

Pregnancy and lactation: American ginseng may not be safe and safe during pregnancy. One of the chemicals found in Panax ginseng, a plant related to American ginseng, has been linked to possible birth defects. For this reason, American ginseng should not be used during pregnancy.

Not enough is known about the safety of American ginseng during breastfeeding, so breastfeeding women should avoid American ginseng to be on the safe side.

Diabetes: American ginseng may lower blood sugar levels, and taking American ginseng in conjunction with diabetes medications may lower blood sugar levels too much, so diabetics should carefully monitor their blood sugar levels when using American ginseng.

Hormone-sensitive conditions such as breast cancer, uterine cancer, ovarian cancer and endometriosis: Preparations of American ginseng that contain chemicals called ginsenosides could act like estrogen. Therefore, if you suffer from a disease that could be aggravated by estrogen, you should not use American ginseng that contains ginsenosides. However, there are products made from American ginseng from which the ginsenosides have been removed (Cold-fX, Afexa Life Sciences, Canada). Such American ginseng products, which either contain no ginsenosides or only a low concentration of ginsenosides, do not appear to act like estrogen.

Sleep problems: High dosages of American ginseng have been linked to insomnia. If you suffer from sleep problems, you should therefore be careful when using American ginseng.

Schizophrenia: High doses of American ginseng have been linked to sleep problems and agitation in people suffering from schizophrenia. For this reason, care should be taken when using American ginseng if you suffer from schizophrenia.

Surgeries: American ginseng may affect blood sugar levels and there are therefore concerns that American ginseng may interfere with blood sugar control during and after surgery. For this reason, you should stop taking American ginseng two weeks before any upcoming surgery.

Interactions

American ginseng should not be used in combination with the following medications:

Medications for depression (monoamine oxidase inhibitors / MAOIs).

American ginseng could stimulate the body. Some medications used for depression can also stimulate the body. Taking American ginseng in conjunction with these medications for depression could cause side effects such as anxiety, headaches, restlessness and insomnia.

Diabetes medications

American ginseng may lower blood sugar. Diabetes medications are also used to lower blood sugar levels. Taking American ginseng in combination with diabetes medication could result in an excessive drop in blood sugar levels. For this reason, blood glucose levels should be carefully monitored. It is possible that the dosage of diabetes medication may need to be adjusted.

Dosage

The following dosages have been investigated in scientific studies.

Oral:

  • To reduce blood glucose levels after a meal in people suffering from type 2 diabetes: 3 grams up to 2 hours before a meal. American ginseng should be taken within 2 hours before a meal. If it is taken too long before a meal, blood sugar could drop too low.
  • To prevent respiratory infections such as colds or flu. An extract of American ginseng called CVT-E002 (Cold-fX, Afexa Life Sciences, Canada) was taken at a dosage of 200 mg twice daily for a period of 3 to 4 months.

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