Legends were spawned from ginseng’s reputation as an aphrodisiac. There was a time in Chinese history that ginseng was valued so highly that only the emperor was permitted to gather the herb. Today, though you do not need to be an emperor to have access to ginseng, plenty of men continue to take it with the same hopes.
Ginseng must be allowed to grow for 4-6 years before its complex mix of active ingredients are ready to do their magic. Then, ginseng must be cured properly before it is ready to be used. As a result, good ginseng is expensive and plenty of inferior ginseng, with little of the potency of quality ginseng, is sold.
Ginseng is called the “man root” because it is shaped like a person.
1) Ginseng is used as an energy booster.
2) Antioxidant properties are thought to be contained in ginseng.
3) Ginseng is used to counter stress and strengthen the immune system.
4) Ginseng is a stimulant, so it should not be taken at bedtime.
5) People who are already on stimulant medications, such as Adderall, should be careful of becoming overly stimulated with the addition of ginseng.
6) Because it is one of the more powerful herbs and ginseng’s long-term effects are unknown, it is generally advised that people do not take ginseng for more than 12 consecutive weeks.
7) Some people see ginseng as a natural alternative to drugs like viagra.
8) Because the strength of ginseng varies widely (based on its quality), caution must be used because an amount of one form of ginseng can be much more, or less, powerful than another brand of ginseng.
9) Ginseng has been growing in popularity with athletes looking for a legal edge.
10) Too much ginseng can contribute to high blood pressure.
Because ginseng has stimulant properties and is more potent than most other herbs, it should be approached carefully in general, and in particular if medications are going to be taken along with ginseng. The possibility of negative interactions between ginseng and a variety of drugs has been noted, though there are no statistics on how often ginseng sparks them. Individuals taking antidepressants, antipsychotics, heart medications, diuretics, or diabetes medication are advised to consult a physician before undertaking a ginseng regimen.
Ginseng by itself in doses that are too high may cause insomnia, headache, nervousness, and skin lesions. Again, be sure to get good medical input before taking ginseng, or deciding how much ginseng to consume.
Copyright © Dennis Becker, 2004.
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