What Does Ginseng Do To The Brain?

Ginseng is a famous medicinal plant with a long history in traditional medicine, which has been used forever. Ginseng is good for the brain because it boosts cognitive function.

Ginseng is a famous medicinal plant with a long history in traditional medicine, which has been used forever. Many studies have been published that show the positive effects of ginseng on brain conditions like neurological disease and mental health. This plant is common in many households, and new benefits are constantly being discovered.    

Asian ginseng is a distorted root that looks like a twisted bunch of stringy offshoots with branches. Asian ginseng supplements are made from this root. But Asian ginseng is only one of several types. The discrimination between white ginseng and red ginseng refers to the ways Asian ginseng is prepared. The two major commercial varieties are Asian (Panax ginseng) and American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius). Both have saponins and ginsenosides as active ingredients. Asian ginseng has glycans, B vitamins, polysaccharide fraction DPG-3-2, flavonoids, glycans (pannexins), maltol, peptides, and volatile oil. A third variety, Tianqi ginseng (Panax notoginseng), is less common in commercial use. You may see the term Panax ginseng commonly used to refer to both Asian and Korean ginseng.

Siberian ginseng (Eleutherococcus senticosus) is another plant type discovered when trying to find an alternative to American ginseng.

Asian ginseng (Panax ginseng) is found in the Far East. This area includes Korea, China, and Siberia in the furthest east. It has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for health purposes for thousands of years. American ginseng is a woodland plant currently threatened by overharvesting. It's increasingly grown on farms to reduce the pressure on the wild stock.

There are four categories of ginseng offered in the commercial market:

• field-grown
• woods cultivated
• wild-simulated
• truly wild

The part of ginseng most commonly used for health purposes is the root. Asian ginseng has been said to boost the immune system to aid in fighting off disease and infection. Most testing has been done on Asian ginseng. 

Ginseng contains many substances. Among the most important are ginsenosides, also known as panaxosides. The ginsenosides in American ginseng are said to lower blood sugar. Asian ginseng contains known antioxidants. Antioxidants help eliminate free radicals in the body. Free radicals are natural metabolic products that damage DNA and can lead to diabetes, heart disease, and other conditions.

In the far east, the root of the ginseng plant is used in soft drinks, tea, toothpaste, candy, gum, and cigarettes. In the marketplace, it can be bought as an extract, powder, crystal, or whole root. Ginseng products are sold in health food stores and Asian commissaries in the US. Most of the ginseng offered in the US is from Korea. The number of pounds of Korean ginseng imported equals the more expensive American ginseng that is exported. 

Cognitive function: Research shows that Asian ginseng might help improve cognitive performance on memory, concentration, mental arithmetic, and other operations. Red ginseng diminishes the release of proinflammatory mediators and damage to neurons generated by heat stress in rats. White ginseng and saponin increase 5-HT concentration and diminishes depression-like actions of mice.

Stress: Asian ginseng is said to help your body deal with mental and physical stress. Though hard to measure, there is evidence that Asian and American ginseng improves life quality due to its ability to reduce stress and improve relaxation.

Strength Endurance: Numerous studies have tested the effects of ginseng on athletic performance in people and lab animals. Some studies indicate that athletes taking Asian ginseng showed better strength and endurance, with improved reaction time and agility.

Immune Booster: Evidence shows that ginseng can help to reduce your risk of getting a cold or flu. Ginseng seems to boost the number of immune cells in your blood and accentuate the body's response to the flu vaccine.

Blood Sugar Improvement: There have been numerous studies on the beneficial effect of American ginseng on diabetes. Asian ginseng has also shown benefits in reducing blood sugar; however, both Asian and Korean Panax ginseng appear in some tests to raise blood sugar levels in those with diabetes type 2. More testing is needed.

Heart Disease: Studies suggest that Asian ginseng can help improve cardiovascular disease symptoms. It can also increase HDL cholesterol levels and decrease LDL cholesterol levels.

Cancer: Asian ginseng could reduce the risk of specific cancer types. Several studies confirm these results. In one, researchers followed thousands of people for five years. They found out that the ones taking ginseng had lower risks of liver, lung, ovarian, stomach, and pancreatic cancers.

Sexual performance: A study on men showed that Korean ginseng increased sperm count. Another showed that Asian ginseng improved sex drive and helped with erectile dysfunction. Yet another study indicated that men taking Korean ginseng thrice a day had less trouble maintaining an erection. 

Ginseng is purchased over the counter as a whole root, capsule, powder, or liquid extract. Though preparation makes the doses vary, ginseng is usually taken daily as a 200-400 mg dose. Some research has tested higher doses. 

White and red ginseng forms are both popular. White ginseng is fresh, is airdried without heat, and is often used for more extended periods. Red ginseng is steamed and dried. The effects of processing cause its reddish hue. This type is usually taken short-term. Ginseng can be consumed as tea, soup, liquor, spice, or energy drinks. 

Overall, ginseng intake is tolerated well. A few patients have side effects when taking American and Asian ginseng. These effects may include insomnia, nervousness, blood pressure changes, vaginal irritation, breast pain, mania, diarrhea, and vomiting.

In rare cases, there have been severe symptoms such as:

• Inflammation of the liver
• Steven-Johnson Syndrome
• Inflammation of brain arteries
• Anaphylactic reactions

Ginseng also interacts with other herbal goods, foods, and prescription medications. Interactions may occur with multiple agents, including:

• alcohol
• caffeine
• medications for the treatment of HIV
• diabetic medications,
• blood-thinners
• immunosuppressants
• bitter orange
• bitter mallow

If you think you or someone else has ingested too much ginseng or is having a reaction, do not persuade them to vomit. Call poison control, or go to the nearest medical facility.