Panax ginseng (Ginseng)

Question 1

How do you recognise Panax?

Answer 1

Native to humid uplands in East Asia and Russia. Leaves palmate with 5 leaflets (3 larger, 2 smaller). Has red flowers and red berries. A low growing herbaceous perennial.
Panax ginseng L. , known as Korean ginseng, “Ren Shen” and Bai Shen.

Question 2

What are Panax’s main constituents?

Answer 2

Constituents:
* Ginsenosides and ginpanoxosides - steroidal & triterpene saponins – credited with many actions, some of which are the opposite of others (eg vasodilation/vasoconstriction) which
may explain the plant’s amphoteric actions. Effects include corticosteroid-like action & affecting levels of some neurotransmitters.
* Polysaccarides – with hypoglycaemic and antineoplastic actions.
* Acetyl alcohols – panoxyrol & panoxydol.
* Sesquiterpenes.
* Flavonoids (anti inflammatory)
* Panaxans A-U – peptidoglycans with hypoglycaemic and insulin production stimulating actions.

Question 3

What family is Panax in?

Answer 3

Member of the Araliaceae

Question 4

What is Panax good for?

Answer 4

Summary: Traditionally used to ”tonify the qi” – to revitalise the elderly & promote longevity. For anorexia and digestive problems associated with nervous exhaustion. Bendle uses it as a background building adaptogen rather than use for anything acute. A panacea?

Actions:
* Adaptogen.
* Immune modulator/stimulant.
* Adrenal restorative.
* Chemoprotective - protects against things we take into our bodies.
* Hepatoprotective.
* Anti-oxidant.
* Aphrodisiac.
* Nerve tissue trophorestorative.
* Anti-neoplastic (used in treatment of cancer)
* Promotes wound healing.

Applications:
* To increase mental alertness and physical endurance.
* To reduce effects of psychological and physiological stress
* Chronic fatigue.
* Irritability.
* In immunodeficiency.
* Adjunct to cancer treatment – reduces side effects of chemotherapy & radiotherapy.
* Type 2 diabetes.
* Low fertility in men.
* Poor memory.
* Dementia.
* COPD and asthma
* Promoted wound healing, and possibly oesterogenic

Question 5

What is Panax’s Latin name?

Answer 5

Panax ginseng

Question 6

What parts of Panax do you use?

Answer 6

Part used: roots, ideally harvested at > 4 years old. If you chew it, a complex taste.

White ginseng is unprocessed, red ginseng has been steamed and dried. Red is considered more warming, white more cooling.

Question 7

What safety issues might Panax have?

Answer 7

Generally seen as being safe but overdose may cause palpitations, insomnia, headache and chest pain. May be more stimulting than eleuthero, but also more expensive.

Question 8

What useful research does Panax have?

Answer 8

External links:
* The Difference between White and Red Ginseng: Variations in Ginsenosides and Immunomodulation
* List of human trials from American Botanical Council
* Physiological and pharmacological features of the non-saponin components in Korean Red Ginseng

Question 9

What remedies might you use Panax in?

Answer 9

Dose circa 20ml 1:3 tincture/week.
Sometimes swapped out for eleuthero due to cost.