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Lesson 7 Topic 1
Lecture and Discussion
Saw Palmetto and Ginseng
Topic 1: History and Folk Use of Saw Palmetto
Topic 2: Saw Palmetto's Benefits: The Scientific Research
Topic 3: How to Use Saw Palmetto Confidently and Safely
Topic 4: History and Folk Use of Ginseng
Topic 5: Ginseng's Benefits: The Scientific Research
Topic 6: How to Use Ginseng Confidently and Safely
Saw Palmetto and Ginseng
This lesson highlights the premier herb for prostate problems and Chinese medicine's favorite "tonic."
History and Folk Use of Saw Palmetto
In the last 10 years, saw palmetto has become the herbal treatment for a problem that develops in virtually all middle-aged men: noncancerous prostate enlargement, or, what is known in medical terms as benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH).
Saw palmetto is a small palm tree that produces brownish berries. The tree is native to the Florida/Gulf Coast area and, in fact, cultures indigenous to this region were the first to discover that the diuretic action of saw palmetto berries could be used to treat urinary problems. Native Americans put the tree to further use by using its leaves to stuff mattresses, to make thatched roofs, and to weave into hats and baskets.
Eventually, white settlers adopted the plant and, during the 19th century, physicians throughout the South recommended preparations of saw palmetto berries to treat cough and bronchitis. Despite its other uses, saw palmetto was always used primarily as a diuretic -- this led to its use in treating benign prostate enlargement in men.
Saw palmetto was further believed to enlarge women's breasts and be an aphrodisiac. Though the herb does not generate these effects, wild claims of sexual stimulation were enough to disqualify the herb in the eyes of physicians. By the early 20th century, saw palmetto was altogether abandoned by American doctors and the public.
Fortunately, European researchers remained interested in the plant and, during the 1960s, they discovered that the Eclectics had been right -- saw palmetto fruits contain fatty acids (sitosterols) that help counteract prostate enlargement.
Lesson 7 Topic 2
Lecture and Discussion
Saw Palmetto and Ginseng
This lesson highlights the premier herb for prostate problems and Chinese medicine's favorite "tonic."
Saw Palmetto's Benefits: The Scientific Research
Most men are hardly aware of the prostate until they start developing BPH. In some men, symptoms begin to appear before age 50. In most men, they develop by age 55. BPH symptoms include the need to urinate immediately (urgency), difficulty initiating urination (hesitancy), a decreased flow of urination, difficulty in stopping urination (dribbling), and the need to urinate at night (nocturia).
With mild BPH, men may experience the need to urinate only once or twice a night. However, as the condition becomes more severe, the increased frequency of urination begins to interfere with sleep.
In men over the age of 40, it is typical for the blood level of free testosterone (the male sex hormone) to decline as other hormone levels increase. Most frequently, a hormone called prolactin increases when free testosterone decreases. When hormone changes such as these occur, the typical result is an increased level of one particular form of male sex hormone called dihydrotestosterone.
When dihydrotestosterone then comes in contact with prostate tissue, it typically causes overgrowth of prostate tissue that produces BPH. An enzyme, 5-alpha-reductase, converts testosterone to dihydrotestosterone. The pharmaceutical drugs used to treat BPH, notably Proscar, work by interfering with this enzymes action. Saw palmetto has the same biochemical action, thanks to its sitosterol compounds.
Many studies have shown that saw palmetto shrinks enlarged prostates and relieves BPH symptoms. One of the most impressive studies, conducted at 87 urology clinics in nine European countries, compared a saw palmetto extract with the prescription BPH drug, Proscar. The researchers gave the 1,098 participants either the herb (160 mg twice a day) or a standard dose of the drug (5 mg a day).
After 26 weeks, both treatments showed relative effectiveness. Proscar decreased BPH symptoms 39 percent vs. 37 percent for saw palmetto. Urine flow improved 30 percent in men taking the drug and 25 percent for those taking the herb. Saw palmetto, however, produced fewer side effects in the areas of erection problems and libido loss.
Commission E, the expert panel that judges the safety and effectiveness of herbal medicines for the German counterpart of the Food and Drug Administration, approves saw palmetto for the treatment of BPH. While saw palmetto is quite popular in Europe, prescription medications are more popular in the United States.
Neither saw palmetto nor pharmaceutical treatments cure BPH, although they can reduce prostate size and relieve the symptoms of BPH. Continued prostate enlargement may get the better of herbal or pharmaceutical treatment, and surgery may become necessary.
Lesson 7 Topic 3
Lecture and Discussion
Saw Palmetto and Ginseng
This lesson highlights the premier herb for prostate problems and Chinese medicine's favorite "tonic."
How to Use Saw Palmetto Confidently and Safely
Studies that have shown saw palmetto to reduce the symptoms of prostate enlargement have typically used the herb in a standardized extract, 320 mg a day, split into two or three doses. Recently, researchers in Brussels, Belgium, conducted a one-year study of 132 men with enlarged prostates to compare two different saw palmetto regimens: the standard two doses (160 mg each) per day, or one large dose (320 mg). The single large dose produced the same symptom improvement as the two smaller doses.
To use saw palmetto, look for a standardized extract and take 320 mg a day, either the entire amount once a day or 160 mg twice a day. If you plan to take the herb, you should be aware that it may take several months of use to notice an improvement in BPH symptoms. The possible side effects of saw palmetto, if any, are mild and may include stomach upset and headache. Allergic reactions are also possible.
Because saw palmetto has hormonal action, men with hormone disorders should consult a physician before taking it.
Consult your physician before taking saw palmetto, especially if you are already taking BPH medication.
If you are having trouble urinating or if you pass blood in your urine, consult a physician.
Who Should Take Saw Palmetto?
You should not take saw palmetto unless you've been diagnosed with BPH. See The Complete Guide to Herbal Medicines for more information.
Lesson 7 Topic 4
Lecture and Discussion
Saw Palmetto and Ginseng
This lesson highlights the premier herb for prostate problems and Chinese medicine's favorite "tonic."
History and Folk Use of Ginseng
Ginseng is an herb that is both fascinating and controversial. It has been the subject of more than 1,500 books and scientific papers, despite the fact that its effects are still hotly debated.
Advocates call ginseng the ultimate "tonic," a Chinese medical term that means general strengthener and enhancer of well-being. Advocates also claim that the herb boosts immune function, athletic performance, and liver function, and helps treat high blood pressure, diabetes, cancer, emphysema, impotence, low sperm count, loss of appetite, and possibly heart disease.
Critics say it does little, if anything.
The root of an unassuming ivy-like ground cover, ginseng is not one herb but three: Chinese or Korean (Panax ginseng), American (Panax quinquefolius), and Siberian (Eleutherococcus senticosus). The Siberian plant is not true ginseng, but it contains similar active compounds, and studies show it has similar effects. As a result, all three plants are collectively referred to as "ginseng," and used interchangeably in the West (though Chinese physicians make subtle distinctions among them).
To think about the root conceptually, you can say that that some roots resemble the human form, with limb-like branches that suggest arms and legs. The ancient Chinese noted this when naming ginseng; in recognition of the herb's fleshy, multibranched root, they called the plant "man root," or jen shen. That ancient word ultimately gave us the word "ginseng."
Ginseng figured prominently in the first great Chinese herbal, the Pen Tsao Ching (The Classic of Herbs), credited to the ancient mythological emperor/sage Shen Nung, who recommended ginseng for "enlightening the mind and increasing wisdom" and noted that "continuous use leads to longevity."
The Doctrine of Signatures, the belief that a plant's physical characteristics revealed its healing powers, did not exert as much influence in China as it did in medieval Europe.
Regardless, the resemblance between ginseng root and the human form led to the belief that it was a whole-body tonic, particularly for the elderly. Thus, ginseng was widely used to treat infirmities of old age: lethargy, impotence, arthritis, senility, menopausal complaints, and loss of sexual interest. Chinese, Koreans, and Japanese still consider ginseng a major health promoter.
As the popularity of ginseng spread throughout ancient Asia, demand soared and rampant collection nearly wiped out the wild supply. Chinese ginseng became increasingly rare -- and more valuable than gold. Unscrupulous merchants sold other roots as "ginseng." Interestingly enough, adulteration is still a problem today.
Unlike other Asian herbs that became favorites in the West (such as ginger and cinnamon), ginseng remained a mystery in Europe until the 18th century, when missionaries informed early European botanists of its reputation as a longevity herb. Europeans scoffed at such claims, while those familiar with Asia -- particularly the Jesuits -- appreciated the herb's great value.
During the early 1700s, French explorers discovered American ginseng growing in southern Canada. Jesuit missionaries began shipping it to China. Eventually, American ginseng was discovered growing as far south as Georgia, and it became one of the 13 colonies' biggest exports. Foragers scoured the countryside, and frontier scouts, surveyors, and fur trappers collected ginseng as a sideline to their other work.
By the time of the American Revolution, ginseng had virtually been wiped out along the eastern seaboard, forcing collectors into the wilderness across the Appalachian Mountains. One notable pioneer, who combined trapping and scouting with ginseng collecting, was none other than Daniel Boone. According to Scott Persons, author of American Ginseng: Green Gold, Boone lost 12 tons of wild ginseng in 1788 when his boat capsized in the Ohio River.
America's 19th-century Eclectic physicians called ginseng a stimulant for "mental exhaustion from overwork" and prescribed it for loss of appetite, indigestion, asthma, laryngitis, bronchitis, and tuberculosis. The Eclectic textbook, King 's American Dispensatory (1898), further noted that ginseng "invigorates the virile powers."
Today, controversy over ginseng still persists. Herbalists say it's a mild stimulant and tonic while critics still scoff at these claims. However, even despite its high cost, ginseng has become a popular medicinal herb in the United States. These days, ginseng is even available in soft drinks.
Lesson 7 Topic 5
Lecture and Discussion
Saw Palmetto and Ginseng
This lesson highlights the premier herb for prostate problems and Chinese medicine's favorite "tonic."
Ginseng's Benefits: The Scientific Research
Ginseng contains compounds called ginsenosides. Though their effects are not fully understood, most authorities agree that ginsenosides are mild stimulants that also have additional effects on the body.
One of the first Western scientists to investigate ginseng was Russian pharmacologist Israel I. Brekhman, Ph.D. (1921-1994) of the Academy of Sciences of the former Soviet Union. Brekhman called ginseng an "adaptogen," meaning that it helps the body adapt to physical and emotional stresses, increases resistance to disease, and exerts subtle (though indisputable) overall strengthening effects. For 30 years (starting in 1960), hundreds of studies by Brekhman and his colleagues showed that ginseng:
·Counteracts fatigue without caffeine and improves physical stamina
·Counteracts the damage caused by physical and emotional stress
·Prevents the depletion of stress-fighting adrenal hormones
·Enhances memory
Basically, the Russian researchers concurred with what Asian herbalists had been saying for thousands of years: ginseng is a whole-body tonic. Furthermore, recent research supports the idea that ginseng has stimulant action.
The Studies
European researchers studied 232 people between the ages of 25 and 60 who complained of persistent fatigue. Half of the group was given a daily placebo while the other half was given a formula that contained 80 mg of ginseng, nine vitamins, and eight minerals. After seven weeks, all participants were evaluated using standard tests of fatigue. The ginseng-supplement group showed significantly less lethargy. The study authors concluded that ginseng combats fatigue by supporting the adrenal glands.
This stimulant action appears to play a key role in ginseng's ability to boost feelings of health. At the Medical School of the National Autonomous University of Mexico, researchers gave 501 people a questionnaire asking about their general health, well-being, pain, moods, energy level, sex life, sleep quality, and personal satisfaction with life. The researchers gave a daily multivitamin/mineral supplement to 162 members of the group, while 338 were given the same supplement plus ginseng (standardized extract, 80 mg a day). After four months, all of the participants again completed the quality-of-life survey. While both groups reported an improved quality of life, those taking the ginseng claimed a more significant improvement.
Like caffeine, the stimulants in ginseng enhance athletic performance. For decades, Russian, Chinese, and Korean Olympic athletes have used ginseng in their training. Some American athletes have also adopted the herb. It appears to work. In an Italian study, researchers gave 50 male physical education teachers, aged 21 to 47, either a placebo or a combination of ginseng, vitamins, and minerals, and then had them run on a treadmill. Subsequently, the two groups were switched so that those who initially took the placebo received the ginseng-supplement combination and visa versa. While using the ginseng-supplement, the men's stamina increased significantly as their hearts and lungs were able to work more efficiently.
Ginseng also improves mental acuity. Danish researchers gave 112 healthy, middle-aged adults a battery of cognitive function tests that assessed their memory, reaction time, and ability to learn, concentrate, and reason abstractly. The researchers then gave the participants either a placebo or ginseng extract (400 mg a day) for nine weeks. When re-tested, the ginseng group showed significant improvement in two of the tests: reaction time and abstract thinking.
A separate study has shown ginseng to boost the immune system. German researchers gave 36 healthy volunteers either a placebo or ginseng (about two teaspoons of tincture) three times a day for four weeks. Those taking the ginseng showed an increased activity of T-lymphocytes (T-cells), one type of infection-fighting white blood cell. Enhanced immune function means greater resistance to illness, speedier recovery, and improved general health -- results that cumulatively support the Chinese belief that ginseng is a tonic.
Commission E approves ginseng for invigoration, convalescence, and support of work capacity and concentration.
Other research hints that ginseng may also improve appetite, reduce high blood pressure, control blood sugar in diabetics, protect the liver from drug damage, and aid in prevention and treatment of certain cancers.
The herb may even have some sex-enhancing effects. Korean research gave 90 men with erection impairment one of three treatments: a placebo, a pharmaceutical antidepressant, or ginseng. The placebo and antidepressant groups both showed 30 percent improvement in erection rigidity and girth, and sexual desire. But those in the ginseng group improved 60 percent. This study supports the traditional Chinese belief that ginseng can enhance sex.
Strangely enough, many studies have shown that ginseng has no beneficial effects. What gives? Adulteration appears to be a big part of the answer. Because of ginseng's rarity and enormous value, adulteration has been a problem for centuries. It still is today. It's quite possible that some researchers have used "ginseng" that contained little or none of the herb. One study in the mid-1980s evaluated 54 "ginseng" products available in U.S. health food stores. The researchers judged 60 percent "worthless" because they contained too little of the herb to have any biological effect; 25 percent contained no ginseng at all.
Rx for Ginseng
Even if you start with real ginseng, it may not provide medicinal benefits if it is not mature. Ginseng roots should not be harvested until they are six years old. Oftentimes younger roots are mixed in to stretch the amount, a form of adulteration that may render the herb useless. Finally, processing can also decrease ginseng quality. Researchers urge consumers to take "great care in selecting ginseng products."
Unfortunately, the only way to be absolutely certain of ginseng purity and age is to grow it yourself -- this is easier said than done. If you buy ginseng, read labels carefully. Look for products identified by species made with whole, unprocessed, six-year-old roots.
Ginseng has a taste that is sweet and slightly aromatic. To take advantage of ginseng's many healing benefits, use root powder, teas, capsules, or tablets, all of which are available at health food stores, herb shops, supplement centers, and some pharmacies.
Use one-half to one teaspoon of powdered root per cup of boiling water. Simmer for approximately 15 minutes. Drink up to two cups a day.
When using a tincture or any other commercial preparation, follow package directions.
Ginseng is now even available in some soft drinks -- most promise a lift similar to caffeine.
If you plan to use ginseng long-term, most herbalists recommend taking it daily for a month, then taking a month off.
Lesson 7 Topic 6
Lecture and Discussion
Saw Palmetto and Ginseng
This lesson highlights the premier herb for prostate problems and Chinese medicine's favorite "tonic."
How to Use Ginseng Confidently and Safely
Problems with ginseng are rare, but the medical journals contain a few dozen reports. The herb may cause insomnia, breast soreness, allergic reactions, asthma attacks, increased blood pressure, and disturbances in heart rhythm (cardiac arrhythmias). People with insomnia, hay fever, and fibrocystic breasts should use it only with caution. Anyone with fever, asthma, high blood pressure, or cardiac arrhythmia should not use it.
In addition, ginseng has some anticoagulant action -- it impairs blood clotting. Do not use ginseng if you have a clotting disorder. Stop using ginseng two weeks before having surgery.
If you are diabetic, check with your physician before taking ginseng -- the herb lowers blood sugar levels.
Ginseng Abuse?
Some experts claim that overuse of ginseng leads to something called ginseng abuse syndrome, while others disagree as to whether this syndrome even exists. See The Complete Guide to Herbal Medicines for more information.
Lesson 7 Assignment
Activity: Saw Palmetto and Ginseng
Visit your local health food store, supplement center, or herb shop -- any place that sells medicinal herbs. Explore all the different saw palmetto and ginseng products. Buy one or more, if you wish, or simply decide which one you would buy if you needed either herb. That way, if you do decide to use either herb, you can go right to the product you want.
In your textbook, read the sections on these two herbs.
Lesson 7 Review
Activity: Saw Palmetto and Ginseng
1. Why did American doctors abandon saw palmetto in the early 20th century?
A. It was shown to have no medicinal value
B. It caused vomiting
C .It had a reputation as an aphrodisiac breast enlarger
D. It triggered asthma attacks
2. Compared with Proscar, the main pharmaceutical treatment for benign prostate enlargement, how effective is saw palmetto?
A. Nowhere near as effective.
B. Less effective
C. About as effective
D. More effective
3. The best way to take saw palmetto is in a:
A. Tea
B. Infusion
C. Tincture
D. Standardized extract
4. In Chinese medicine, a "tonic" herb:
A. Restores hair
B. Improves general well-being
C. Aids in weight loss
D. Relieves thirst
5. Which of the following has ginseng not been shown to do?
A. Improve feelings of well-being
B. Improve athletic performance
C. Enhance immune function
D. Restore hair
6. Why should you stop taking ginseng two weeks before surgery?
A. It impairs blood coagulation
B. It impairs wound healing
C. It causes incontinence
D. It interferes with the action of anesthesia
Lecture and Discussion
Saw Palmetto and Ginseng
Topic 1: History and Folk Use of Saw Palmetto
Topic 2: Saw Palmetto's Benefits: The Scientific Research
Topic 3: How to Use Saw Palmetto Confidently and Safely
Topic 4: History and Folk Use of Ginseng
Topic 5: Ginseng's Benefits: The Scientific Research
Topic 6: How to Use Ginseng Confidently and Safely
Saw Palmetto and Ginseng
This lesson highlights the premier herb for prostate problems and Chinese medicine's favorite "tonic."
History and Folk Use of Saw Palmetto
In the last 10 years, saw palmetto has become the herbal treatment for a problem that develops in virtually all middle-aged men: noncancerous prostate enlargement, or, what is known in medical terms as benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH).
Saw palmetto is a small palm tree that produces brownish berries. The tree is native to the Florida/Gulf Coast area and, in fact, cultures indigenous to this region were the first to discover that the diuretic action of saw palmetto berries could be used to treat urinary problems. Native Americans put the tree to further use by using its leaves to stuff mattresses, to make thatched roofs, and to weave into hats and baskets.
Eventually, white settlers adopted the plant and, during the 19th century, physicians throughout the South recommended preparations of saw palmetto berries to treat cough and bronchitis. Despite its other uses, saw palmetto was always used primarily as a diuretic -- this led to its use in treating benign prostate enlargement in men.
Saw palmetto was further believed to enlarge women's breasts and be an aphrodisiac. Though the herb does not generate these effects, wild claims of sexual stimulation were enough to disqualify the herb in the eyes of physicians. By the early 20th century, saw palmetto was altogether abandoned by American doctors and the public.
Fortunately, European researchers remained interested in the plant and, during the 1960s, they discovered that the Eclectics had been right -- saw palmetto fruits contain fatty acids (sitosterols) that help counteract prostate enlargement.
Lesson 7 Topic 2
Lecture and Discussion
Saw Palmetto and Ginseng
This lesson highlights the premier herb for prostate problems and Chinese medicine's favorite "tonic."
Saw Palmetto's Benefits: The Scientific Research
Most men are hardly aware of the prostate until they start developing BPH. In some men, symptoms begin to appear before age 50. In most men, they develop by age 55. BPH symptoms include the need to urinate immediately (urgency), difficulty initiating urination (hesitancy), a decreased flow of urination, difficulty in stopping urination (dribbling), and the need to urinate at night (nocturia).
With mild BPH, men may experience the need to urinate only once or twice a night. However, as the condition becomes more severe, the increased frequency of urination begins to interfere with sleep.
In men over the age of 40, it is typical for the blood level of free testosterone (the male sex hormone) to decline as other hormone levels increase. Most frequently, a hormone called prolactin increases when free testosterone decreases. When hormone changes such as these occur, the typical result is an increased level of one particular form of male sex hormone called dihydrotestosterone.
When dihydrotestosterone then comes in contact with prostate tissue, it typically causes overgrowth of prostate tissue that produces BPH. An enzyme, 5-alpha-reductase, converts testosterone to dihydrotestosterone. The pharmaceutical drugs used to treat BPH, notably Proscar, work by interfering with this enzymes action. Saw palmetto has the same biochemical action, thanks to its sitosterol compounds.
Many studies have shown that saw palmetto shrinks enlarged prostates and relieves BPH symptoms. One of the most impressive studies, conducted at 87 urology clinics in nine European countries, compared a saw palmetto extract with the prescription BPH drug, Proscar. The researchers gave the 1,098 participants either the herb (160 mg twice a day) or a standard dose of the drug (5 mg a day).
After 26 weeks, both treatments showed relative effectiveness. Proscar decreased BPH symptoms 39 percent vs. 37 percent for saw palmetto. Urine flow improved 30 percent in men taking the drug and 25 percent for those taking the herb. Saw palmetto, however, produced fewer side effects in the areas of erection problems and libido loss.
Commission E, the expert panel that judges the safety and effectiveness of herbal medicines for the German counterpart of the Food and Drug Administration, approves saw palmetto for the treatment of BPH. While saw palmetto is quite popular in Europe, prescription medications are more popular in the United States.
Neither saw palmetto nor pharmaceutical treatments cure BPH, although they can reduce prostate size and relieve the symptoms of BPH. Continued prostate enlargement may get the better of herbal or pharmaceutical treatment, and surgery may become necessary.
Lesson 7 Topic 3
Lecture and Discussion
Saw Palmetto and Ginseng
This lesson highlights the premier herb for prostate problems and Chinese medicine's favorite "tonic."
How to Use Saw Palmetto Confidently and Safely
Studies that have shown saw palmetto to reduce the symptoms of prostate enlargement have typically used the herb in a standardized extract, 320 mg a day, split into two or three doses. Recently, researchers in Brussels, Belgium, conducted a one-year study of 132 men with enlarged prostates to compare two different saw palmetto regimens: the standard two doses (160 mg each) per day, or one large dose (320 mg). The single large dose produced the same symptom improvement as the two smaller doses.
To use saw palmetto, look for a standardized extract and take 320 mg a day, either the entire amount once a day or 160 mg twice a day. If you plan to take the herb, you should be aware that it may take several months of use to notice an improvement in BPH symptoms. The possible side effects of saw palmetto, if any, are mild and may include stomach upset and headache. Allergic reactions are also possible.
Because saw palmetto has hormonal action, men with hormone disorders should consult a physician before taking it.
Consult your physician before taking saw palmetto, especially if you are already taking BPH medication.
If you are having trouble urinating or if you pass blood in your urine, consult a physician.
Who Should Take Saw Palmetto?
You should not take saw palmetto unless you've been diagnosed with BPH. See The Complete Guide to Herbal Medicines for more information.
Lesson 7 Topic 4
Lecture and Discussion
Saw Palmetto and Ginseng
This lesson highlights the premier herb for prostate problems and Chinese medicine's favorite "tonic."
History and Folk Use of Ginseng
Ginseng is an herb that is both fascinating and controversial. It has been the subject of more than 1,500 books and scientific papers, despite the fact that its effects are still hotly debated.
Advocates call ginseng the ultimate "tonic," a Chinese medical term that means general strengthener and enhancer of well-being. Advocates also claim that the herb boosts immune function, athletic performance, and liver function, and helps treat high blood pressure, diabetes, cancer, emphysema, impotence, low sperm count, loss of appetite, and possibly heart disease.
Critics say it does little, if anything.
The root of an unassuming ivy-like ground cover, ginseng is not one herb but three: Chinese or Korean (Panax ginseng), American (Panax quinquefolius), and Siberian (Eleutherococcus senticosus). The Siberian plant is not true ginseng, but it contains similar active compounds, and studies show it has similar effects. As a result, all three plants are collectively referred to as "ginseng," and used interchangeably in the West (though Chinese physicians make subtle distinctions among them).
To think about the root conceptually, you can say that that some roots resemble the human form, with limb-like branches that suggest arms and legs. The ancient Chinese noted this when naming ginseng; in recognition of the herb's fleshy, multibranched root, they called the plant "man root," or jen shen. That ancient word ultimately gave us the word "ginseng."
Ginseng figured prominently in the first great Chinese herbal, the Pen Tsao Ching (The Classic of Herbs), credited to the ancient mythological emperor/sage Shen Nung, who recommended ginseng for "enlightening the mind and increasing wisdom" and noted that "continuous use leads to longevity."
The Doctrine of Signatures, the belief that a plant's physical characteristics revealed its healing powers, did not exert as much influence in China as it did in medieval Europe.
Regardless, the resemblance between ginseng root and the human form led to the belief that it was a whole-body tonic, particularly for the elderly. Thus, ginseng was widely used to treat infirmities of old age: lethargy, impotence, arthritis, senility, menopausal complaints, and loss of sexual interest. Chinese, Koreans, and Japanese still consider ginseng a major health promoter.
As the popularity of ginseng spread throughout ancient Asia, demand soared and rampant collection nearly wiped out the wild supply. Chinese ginseng became increasingly rare -- and more valuable than gold. Unscrupulous merchants sold other roots as "ginseng." Interestingly enough, adulteration is still a problem today.
Unlike other Asian herbs that became favorites in the West (such as ginger and cinnamon), ginseng remained a mystery in Europe until the 18th century, when missionaries informed early European botanists of its reputation as a longevity herb. Europeans scoffed at such claims, while those familiar with Asia -- particularly the Jesuits -- appreciated the herb's great value.
During the early 1700s, French explorers discovered American ginseng growing in southern Canada. Jesuit missionaries began shipping it to China. Eventually, American ginseng was discovered growing as far south as Georgia, and it became one of the 13 colonies' biggest exports. Foragers scoured the countryside, and frontier scouts, surveyors, and fur trappers collected ginseng as a sideline to their other work.
By the time of the American Revolution, ginseng had virtually been wiped out along the eastern seaboard, forcing collectors into the wilderness across the Appalachian Mountains. One notable pioneer, who combined trapping and scouting with ginseng collecting, was none other than Daniel Boone. According to Scott Persons, author of American Ginseng: Green Gold, Boone lost 12 tons of wild ginseng in 1788 when his boat capsized in the Ohio River.
America's 19th-century Eclectic physicians called ginseng a stimulant for "mental exhaustion from overwork" and prescribed it for loss of appetite, indigestion, asthma, laryngitis, bronchitis, and tuberculosis. The Eclectic textbook, King 's American Dispensatory (1898), further noted that ginseng "invigorates the virile powers."
Today, controversy over ginseng still persists. Herbalists say it's a mild stimulant and tonic while critics still scoff at these claims. However, even despite its high cost, ginseng has become a popular medicinal herb in the United States. These days, ginseng is even available in soft drinks.
Lesson 7 Topic 5
Lecture and Discussion
Saw Palmetto and Ginseng
This lesson highlights the premier herb for prostate problems and Chinese medicine's favorite "tonic."
Ginseng's Benefits: The Scientific Research
Ginseng contains compounds called ginsenosides. Though their effects are not fully understood, most authorities agree that ginsenosides are mild stimulants that also have additional effects on the body.
One of the first Western scientists to investigate ginseng was Russian pharmacologist Israel I. Brekhman, Ph.D. (1921-1994) of the Academy of Sciences of the former Soviet Union. Brekhman called ginseng an "adaptogen," meaning that it helps the body adapt to physical and emotional stresses, increases resistance to disease, and exerts subtle (though indisputable) overall strengthening effects. For 30 years (starting in 1960), hundreds of studies by Brekhman and his colleagues showed that ginseng:
·Counteracts fatigue without caffeine and improves physical stamina
·Counteracts the damage caused by physical and emotional stress
·Prevents the depletion of stress-fighting adrenal hormones
·Enhances memory
Basically, the Russian researchers concurred with what Asian herbalists had been saying for thousands of years: ginseng is a whole-body tonic. Furthermore, recent research supports the idea that ginseng has stimulant action.
The Studies
European researchers studied 232 people between the ages of 25 and 60 who complained of persistent fatigue. Half of the group was given a daily placebo while the other half was given a formula that contained 80 mg of ginseng, nine vitamins, and eight minerals. After seven weeks, all participants were evaluated using standard tests of fatigue. The ginseng-supplement group showed significantly less lethargy. The study authors concluded that ginseng combats fatigue by supporting the adrenal glands.
This stimulant action appears to play a key role in ginseng's ability to boost feelings of health. At the Medical School of the National Autonomous University of Mexico, researchers gave 501 people a questionnaire asking about their general health, well-being, pain, moods, energy level, sex life, sleep quality, and personal satisfaction with life. The researchers gave a daily multivitamin/mineral supplement to 162 members of the group, while 338 were given the same supplement plus ginseng (standardized extract, 80 mg a day). After four months, all of the participants again completed the quality-of-life survey. While both groups reported an improved quality of life, those taking the ginseng claimed a more significant improvement.
Like caffeine, the stimulants in ginseng enhance athletic performance. For decades, Russian, Chinese, and Korean Olympic athletes have used ginseng in their training. Some American athletes have also adopted the herb. It appears to work. In an Italian study, researchers gave 50 male physical education teachers, aged 21 to 47, either a placebo or a combination of ginseng, vitamins, and minerals, and then had them run on a treadmill. Subsequently, the two groups were switched so that those who initially took the placebo received the ginseng-supplement combination and visa versa. While using the ginseng-supplement, the men's stamina increased significantly as their hearts and lungs were able to work more efficiently.
Ginseng also improves mental acuity. Danish researchers gave 112 healthy, middle-aged adults a battery of cognitive function tests that assessed their memory, reaction time, and ability to learn, concentrate, and reason abstractly. The researchers then gave the participants either a placebo or ginseng extract (400 mg a day) for nine weeks. When re-tested, the ginseng group showed significant improvement in two of the tests: reaction time and abstract thinking.
A separate study has shown ginseng to boost the immune system. German researchers gave 36 healthy volunteers either a placebo or ginseng (about two teaspoons of tincture) three times a day for four weeks. Those taking the ginseng showed an increased activity of T-lymphocytes (T-cells), one type of infection-fighting white blood cell. Enhanced immune function means greater resistance to illness, speedier recovery, and improved general health -- results that cumulatively support the Chinese belief that ginseng is a tonic.
Commission E approves ginseng for invigoration, convalescence, and support of work capacity and concentration.
Other research hints that ginseng may also improve appetite, reduce high blood pressure, control blood sugar in diabetics, protect the liver from drug damage, and aid in prevention and treatment of certain cancers.
The herb may even have some sex-enhancing effects. Korean research gave 90 men with erection impairment one of three treatments: a placebo, a pharmaceutical antidepressant, or ginseng. The placebo and antidepressant groups both showed 30 percent improvement in erection rigidity and girth, and sexual desire. But those in the ginseng group improved 60 percent. This study supports the traditional Chinese belief that ginseng can enhance sex.
Strangely enough, many studies have shown that ginseng has no beneficial effects. What gives? Adulteration appears to be a big part of the answer. Because of ginseng's rarity and enormous value, adulteration has been a problem for centuries. It still is today. It's quite possible that some researchers have used "ginseng" that contained little or none of the herb. One study in the mid-1980s evaluated 54 "ginseng" products available in U.S. health food stores. The researchers judged 60 percent "worthless" because they contained too little of the herb to have any biological effect; 25 percent contained no ginseng at all.
Rx for Ginseng
Even if you start with real ginseng, it may not provide medicinal benefits if it is not mature. Ginseng roots should not be harvested until they are six years old. Oftentimes younger roots are mixed in to stretch the amount, a form of adulteration that may render the herb useless. Finally, processing can also decrease ginseng quality. Researchers urge consumers to take "great care in selecting ginseng products."
Unfortunately, the only way to be absolutely certain of ginseng purity and age is to grow it yourself -- this is easier said than done. If you buy ginseng, read labels carefully. Look for products identified by species made with whole, unprocessed, six-year-old roots.
Ginseng has a taste that is sweet and slightly aromatic. To take advantage of ginseng's many healing benefits, use root powder, teas, capsules, or tablets, all of which are available at health food stores, herb shops, supplement centers, and some pharmacies.
Use one-half to one teaspoon of powdered root per cup of boiling water. Simmer for approximately 15 minutes. Drink up to two cups a day.
When using a tincture or any other commercial preparation, follow package directions.
Ginseng is now even available in some soft drinks -- most promise a lift similar to caffeine.
If you plan to use ginseng long-term, most herbalists recommend taking it daily for a month, then taking a month off.
Lesson 7 Topic 6
Lecture and Discussion
Saw Palmetto and Ginseng
This lesson highlights the premier herb for prostate problems and Chinese medicine's favorite "tonic."
How to Use Ginseng Confidently and Safely
Problems with ginseng are rare, but the medical journals contain a few dozen reports. The herb may cause insomnia, breast soreness, allergic reactions, asthma attacks, increased blood pressure, and disturbances in heart rhythm (cardiac arrhythmias). People with insomnia, hay fever, and fibrocystic breasts should use it only with caution. Anyone with fever, asthma, high blood pressure, or cardiac arrhythmia should not use it.
In addition, ginseng has some anticoagulant action -- it impairs blood clotting. Do not use ginseng if you have a clotting disorder. Stop using ginseng two weeks before having surgery.
If you are diabetic, check with your physician before taking ginseng -- the herb lowers blood sugar levels.
Ginseng Abuse?
Some experts claim that overuse of ginseng leads to something called ginseng abuse syndrome, while others disagree as to whether this syndrome even exists. See The Complete Guide to Herbal Medicines for more information.
Lesson 7 Assignment
Activity: Saw Palmetto and Ginseng
Visit your local health food store, supplement center, or herb shop -- any place that sells medicinal herbs. Explore all the different saw palmetto and ginseng products. Buy one or more, if you wish, or simply decide which one you would buy if you needed either herb. That way, if you do decide to use either herb, you can go right to the product you want.
In your textbook, read the sections on these two herbs.
Lesson 7 Review
Activity: Saw Palmetto and Ginseng
1. Why did American doctors abandon saw palmetto in the early 20th century?
A. It was shown to have no medicinal value
B. It caused vomiting
C .It had a reputation as an aphrodisiac breast enlarger
D. It triggered asthma attacks
2. Compared with Proscar, the main pharmaceutical treatment for benign prostate enlargement, how effective is saw palmetto?
A. Nowhere near as effective.
B. Less effective
C. About as effective
D. More effective
3. The best way to take saw palmetto is in a:
A. Tea
B. Infusion
C. Tincture
D. Standardized extract
4. In Chinese medicine, a "tonic" herb:
A. Restores hair
B. Improves general well-being
C. Aids in weight loss
D. Relieves thirst
5. Which of the following has ginseng not been shown to do?
A. Improve feelings of well-being
B. Improve athletic performance
C. Enhance immune function
D. Restore hair
6. Why should you stop taking ginseng two weeks before surgery?
A. It impairs blood coagulation
B. It impairs wound healing
C. It causes incontinence
D. It interferes with the action of anesthesia