6 Health Benefits of Ginseng (Panax ginseng)

December 11, 2023 Agric4Profits

Ginseng also known as Panax ginseng, is a very medicinal plant. Other species, such as Siberian ginseng, and crown prince ginseng have distinctly different uses because only the Panax genus contains actual ginseng plants.

In the past, China employed ginseng as a herbal remedy. Even recorded accounts of its properties go as far back as the year 100 A.D.

It became so well-liked by the 16th century that ownership of the ginseng fields became a problem. Today, it is marketed in over 35 nations, with sales of over $2 billion, with South Korea accounting for half of those sales.

There are 11 different types of ginseng, all of which are members of the Araliaceae family’s Panax genus. Greek for all-heal, Panax is the botanical name.

Ginsenosides, the distinctive and advantageous chemicals of the Panax species, are currently the subject of a clinical study to examine their potential for medical use. Ginsenosides are present in both Asian and American ginseng, but they are present in varying degrees and various forms.

6 Health Benefits of Ginseng (Panax ginseng)

1. Improves Brain Function

Ginseng increases focus and cognitive abilities by stimulating brain cells. There is proof that ingesting Panax ginseng root every day for 12 weeks will help Alzheimer’s patients perform better mentally.

An investigation of the impact of ginseng on Alzheimer’s disease patients’ cognitive function was conducted by the Department of Neurology at the Clinical Research Institute in South Korea.

The subjects displayed benefits following ginseng therapy, and this upward pattern persisted for three months. The improvements regressed to control group levels after the medication was stopped.

This implies that ginseng may help with cognitive health and Alzheimer’s symptoms. One exploratory study suggested that a combination of American ginseng and ginkgo Biloba may help patients with ADHD, while further research is required in this area.

Using a combination of omega-3 supplements and Korean red ginseng improved ADHD symptoms and cognitive function in children, including attention, memory, and executive function, according to a study of kids aged 6 to 12 who had ADHD symptoms.

2. Anti-inflammatory

An intriguing Korean study examined the advantages of Korean red ginseng for kids who had undergone chemotherapy or a stem cell transplant for advanced cancer. 19 patients participated in the trial and got 60 mg of Korean red ginseng every day for a year.

Every six months, blood samples were taken to monitor the effects of the treatment. Cytokines, or small proteins, which are in charge of signaling to the brain and controlling cell growth, rapidly decreased after the treatment. The difference from the control group was sizable.

According to this study, Korean red ginseng after chemotherapy may stabilize the inflammatory cytokines in children with cancer.

The effect that Korean red ginseng has on inflammatory cytokines was also examined in a 2011 study. Korean red ginseng extract was administered to rats for seven days at a dose of 100 milligrams, and the results showed that it dramatically reduced inflammation and repaired brain damage that had previously been done. The herb’s anti-inflammatory benefits were also examined in an animal study.

3. Helps With Weight Loss

The potential of ginseng to function naturally as an appetite suppressor is yet another pleasant effect. Additionally, it increases metabolism and speeds up fat burning in the body.

Panax ginseng berry’s effects on diabetes and obesity were examined in adult rats in a study at the Tang Center for Herbal Medicine Research in Chicago. For 12 days, the mice received injections of 150 milligrams of ginseng berry extract for every kilogram of body weight.

The mice receiving the extract had noticeably decreased fasting blood glucose levels by day five. The mice’s tolerance to glucose rose after day 12, and their overall blood glucose levels dropped by 53%. The mice who were given the therapy also lost weight, starting at 51 grams and finishing at 45 grams.

According to a study, Panax ginseng is essential to the anti-obesity impact on mice. This indicates the clinical significance of using this herb to treat obesity and associated metabolic disorders better.

4. Improves Lungs Health

Ginseng therapy has been proven to drastically reduce lung bacteria, and research on rats has demonstrated that it can also slow the progression of cystic fibrosis, a common lung illness. In a study, ginseng was injected into rats, and after two weeks, the treated group displayed noticeably increased lung bacterial clearance.

Another advantage of ginseng, according to research, is its capacity to cure chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a lung condition characterized by persistently inadequate airflow that often gets worse with time. According to studies, consuming Panax orally appears to enhance lung function and some COPD symptoms.

5. Lowers Blood Sugar Levels

One investigation at the Human Cognitive Neuroscience Unit in the UK revealed that Panax lowers blood glucose levels an hour after glucose consumption, supporting the notion that ginseng has glucoregulatory effects.

The body’s inadequate response to insulin is one of type 2 diabetes’s main challenges. Another study found that Korean red ginseng increases insulin sensitivity, further supporting the herb’s capacity to benefit people with type 2 diabetes and lower blood sugar levels.

6. Boosts Immunity

Ginseng’s capacity to strengthen the immune system, aiding the body in fending off illness and infection, is another well-researched advantage. The leaves, stems, and roots have been utilized to boost resistance to disease or infection and maintain immunological homeostasis.

American ginseng enhances the functionality of immune system cells, according to numerous clinical trials. All immune cell types, including macrophages, natural killer cells, dendritic cells, T cells, and B cells, are regulated by it.

Ginseng extracts generate antibacterial substances that serve as a line of defense against viral and bacterial illnesses. Its polyacetylene molecules have been shown in studies to be beneficial against bacterial infections.