Health Benefits of Ginseng

Ginseng is the root of plants in the genus Panax (meaning "all-healing" in Greek), there are many kinds of Ginseng. Korean ginseng, South China ginseng and American ginseng. Also there are many types of Ginseng, Fr​​esh ginseng also called “green ginseng”, White Ginseng is fresh ginseng which has been dried without being heated. It is peeled and dried to reduce the water content to 12% or less. Red ginseng is steamed and dried ginseng, which has reddish colour. Red ginseng is less vulnerable to decay than white ginseng.] It is ginseng that has been peeled, heated through steaming at standard boiling temperatures of 100 °C (212 °F), and then dried or sun-dried.

Benefits:
 According to Compendium of Materia Medica written by the uncrowned king of Chinese naturalists, published in 1593. Ginseng has “Qi enhancement” effect (Qi is thought to be a vital energy, a concept closely linked to immunity). It can calm the mind, tiredness, soothe the nerves, loss of appetite, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, sweating, convul​​sions, forgetfulness, dizziness, headache, frequent urination, thirst, women uterine bleeding, and all the evidence of qi and blood is insufficient. In addition to the benefits below:
1. Regulating the central nervous system: Ginseng regulates the central nervous system, improves the process of excitation and inhibition of the brain, and makes it more balanced; it can improve mental and physical labor, improve work efficiency, and have anti-fatigue effects.
2. Enhances learning and memory ability:Promote the brain's use of energy substances, can improve learning and memory ability.
3. Improve heart function: Ginseng can increase myocardial contractility, slow heart rate, increase cardiac output and coronary blood flow, and can resist myocardial ischemia and arrhythmia. It has a certain influence on heart function, cardiovascular and blood flow.
4. Hypoglycemic effect: Ginseng contains ginsenosides and ginseng polysaccharides. In particular, ginsenoside Rb2 has obvious hypoglycemic effect, and ginseng polysaccharide (or glycopeptide) is another type of hypoglycemic component in ginseng.
5. Enhance the body's immune function: ginsenosides and ginseng polysaccharides are the active components of ginseng to regulate immune function, not only for normal people, but also for people with low immune function to improve immune function.
6. Improve the ability to resist harmful stimuli, can enhance the body's ability to stress and adaptability, ginseng contains ginseng glycosides, can improve anti-stress effects. It can resist the ability of hypoxia, high temperature and low temperature.
7. Anti-tumor effect: ginsenosides, ginseng polysaccharides, panaxenols, panaxatriol and volatile oils in ginseng. These substances have a certain inhibitory effect on tumors, but the mechanism is very complicated.
8. Antioxidant effect: Ginseng contains various antioxidant substances, ginsenosides, ginseng polyacetylene compounds and ginseng glycol saponins. These compounds have anti-lipid peroxidation and are the basis of anti-aging effects. In addition to anti-aging effects, it has a  regulating effect on physiological functions such as nerves, endocrine, immune function and substance metabolism.
9.In addition, ginseng also has anti-viral, anti-shock, weight loss and other aspects.
Ginseng also has the effect of improving vision and enhancing visual dark adaptation.
 combined with other drugs, can also treat a variety of diseases.

Caution:
Although ginseng is a tonic with higher value, it is not suitable for everyone. The protein factor in ginseng can inhibit the decomposition of fat and aggravate the lipid deposition in the blood vessel wall. Therefore, coronary heart disease, hypertension, cerebral arteriosclerosis, diabetes , and vasculitis shouldn't be treated with ginseng. Increased blood viscosity will make blood flow poor, and Chinese medicine calls it blood stasis. Ginseng has the effect of promoting red blood cell growth, increased red blood cells, and higher blood station consistency.

Ginseng generally has a good safety profile and the incidence of adverse effects are minor when used over the short-term The common ginsengs (P. ginseng and P. quinquefolia) are generally considered to be relatively safe even in large amounts. Concerns exist when ginseng is used chronically, potentially causing side effects such as headaches, insomnia, and digestive problems.
 One of the most common and characteristic symptoms of an acute overdose of P. ginseng is bleeding. Symptoms of mild overdose may include dry mouth and lips, excitation, fidgeting, irritability, tremor, palpitations, blurred vision, headache, insomnia, increased body temperature , increased blood pressure, edema, decreased appetite, dizziness, itching, eczema, early morning diarrhea, bleeding, and fatigue.
Symptoms of gross overdose with P. ginseng may include nausea, vomiting, irritability, restlessness, urinary and bowel incontinence, fever, increased blood pressure, increased respiration, decreased sensitivity and reaction to light, decreased heart rate, cyanotic (blue) facial complexion, red facial complexion, seizures, convul​​sions, and delirium.

So it is very important to see a traditional Chinese medicine practitioners or herbalist before you consume.