American Ginseng - Health Benefits and Side Effects

Botanical Name of American Ginseng: Panax quinquefolius.

Other Common Names:
Canadian ginseng, western ginseng, tartar root, ginseng, five-fingers, red berry, occidental ginseng.

The scientific name Panax quinquefolius means "universal medicine with five blades", which refers to the plant's great reputation as a medicinal plant.

There are at least ten species of the genus Panax, which are found in North America and in eastern and southwestern parts of Asia. Chinese or Asian ginseng (Panax ginseng) is closely related to American ginseng. Eleuthero (Eleutherococcus senticosus) also known as Siberian ginseng is not a member of the genus Panax but is often sold as ginseng even if it does not contain the same active ingredients.

Habitat:
American ginseng is found wild in the northeastern part of the United States and in Canada, from Quebec to Alabama. Due to overexploitation of the plant in the wild it is unfortunately becoming an endangered species. In 1947 the cultivation of American ginseng began in China, but large-scale cultivation did not start until around 1980. The plant requires a fertile soil with high humus content and full shade.

Plant Description:
American ginseng is a perennial plant that can grow up to 75 cm in height. The aromatic root is fleshy with stringy shoots. The plant has usually three large compound leaves in a wreath around the stem. It blooms in June or July and the flowers are small, green and white in color and slightly fragrant. The fruits, which develop in late summer, are kidney-shaped berries with two seeds. The roots are not ready to be used as a medicinal herb until the plant is at least five years old.

Plant Parts Used:
The root and sometimes the leaves.

American Ginseng
(Panax quinquefolius)
(Click on image to enlarge)

American Ginseng Root, Powder and Extract

American Ginseng 500 mg Capsules by Starwest Botanicals American Ginseng Extract by Herb Pharm

Therapeutic Uses, Benefits and Claims of American Ginseng

• The active ingredients found in American ginseng are saponins, various acids, beta-sitosterol, tannin, magnesium, vanadium, zinc and trace amounts of germanium which may be partially responsible for the herbs health benefits. The rootstocks also contain some essential oil.

The Herb American Ginseng
(Panax quinquefolius)
• The Native Americans have a long historical tradition using the herb both as herbal medicine and in spiritual and ceremonial practices.
• American ginseng has been used as an herbal remedy for stress and mental, emotional and physical exhaustion. It is also thought to be a helpful herb for general weakness, poor appetite, indigestion, constipation, nausea, vomiting, poor memory, nervous agitation, irritability, anemia, impotence, vaginal dryness, blood sugar disorders, colds, night sweats, AIDS, expectoration of blood, coughs, bronchitis, respiratory problems, tuberculosis, rheumatism, headaches and cystitis.
• Modern research indicates that the American ginseng could be helpful for adrenal fatigue and as a regulator for the endocrine system. The herb is an adaptogen and could be useful for mild to moderate impairments in the adrenal glands.
• American ginseng has been used to boost a weakened immune system.
• The herb has been used to treat allergies and allergic asthma. It has been used as a treatment for insomnia associated with chronic fatigue syndrome, and to alleviate many of the symptoms of jet lag.
• The herb is thought to be able to increase endurance by increasing the amount of available oxygen in the muscles and it has been used to increase the physical performance of athletes. Some studies indicate that American ginseng could improve concentration.
• When American ginseng is taken over a period of 1-3 months it is thought to regulate the production of stress hormones in a favorable way by reducing stress response. Although the exact mechanism responsible for the herb stress-reducing effect is not known, it is likely that the herb protects an area of the brain called the hippocampus against stress hormones. This mechanism may also explain why American ginseng may be useful to prevent memory loss and loss of cognitive abilities in people who suffer from bipolar disorder, depression and a disorder of the adrenal glands known as Cushing's disease.
• American ginseng may be of particular value as a treatment for some symptoms associated with menopause such as hot flashes and for women with breast cancer by increasing the effect of medication used in chemotherapy.
• It has been shown that American ginseng could effectively protect against spikes in blood glucose levels after ingestion of carbohydrate-rich meals in both healthy subjects and in patients with type 2 diabetes (non insulin dependent diabetes) when the herb is taken with or immediately after meals. Scientists therefore believe that American ginseng might be a good alternative to conventional treatment of type 2 diabetes. They believe that the herb has the same potential as insulin or other medications to help to control or prevent diabetes. Both men and women with type 2 diabetes could benefit from American ginseng in relatively high doses.
• American ginseng contains substances that regulate both the strength of the heartbeat and blood pressure. If the body has a deficit of potassium, the saponins in the herb curb the rate at which the heart muscle fibers contract. If there is a surplus of potassium, the saponins increase the strength of contraction of heart muscle fibers. To have optimal levels of potassium will also alleviate high blood pressure. Laboratory experiments have shown that American ginseng can lower blood pressure by stimulating the conversion of the amino acid arginine to nitric oxide, which makes the blood vessel walls relax. This action prevents the release of a protein known as endothelin, which can cause blood vessels to constrict during a heart attack.
• American ginseng has been used traditionally to restore sexual desire in men. Although scientific studies involving human test subjects in this context can be difficult to implement, experiments with laboratory animals indicated that American ginseng increases interest in sex by influencing the action of the neurotransmitter dopamine in the brain.
• Different tribes of Native Americans have used American ginseng to treat infertility in women. Although no clinical studies have confirmed that the herb has any value for this purpose. However, it is known that American ginseng has some active ingredients, just like Asian ginseng, that stimulate the pituitary gland which in turn stimulates the lining of the uterus.
• Some in vitro experiments have shown that American ginseng can inhibit the growth of cancer.

Dosage and Administration

Short term use of American ginseng is thought to have little effect and it is usually recommended to use the herb for an extended period of time.

The herb can be taken as infusions, decoction, in dried powdered form or as tincture.
The following doses are sometimes recommended by herbalists.
Extracts can be made by pouring 3 cups boiling water over 1-2 g dried root and let it simmer for 20 minutes before the herb is strained from tea drinking. This dose may be taken three times daily.
Decoction is made of 3-6 g of the dried root and then simmered in half a liter of water for half an hour. This decoction can be divided in three portions consumed throughout the day.
By tincture (1:5 in 30% alcohol) 3-5 mL (60-100 drops), three times daily.
A low dose of 200 mg which can be increase gradually up to 600 mg daily is often recommended when commercial capsules of American ginseng are used.

The great popularity and value of American ginseng has resulted in the plant´s extinction in much of its native habitat. If the plant is found in the wild it should be allowed to grow in peace and buying roots that are labeled "Wild American Ginseng" should be avoided.

Side Effects and Possible Interactions of American Ginseng

American ginseng is considered a very safe herb to use, even over a long period of time. Some sources indicate that the herb is safe to use during pregnancy, while others believe that it should be avoided by pregnant or lactating women. People with diabetes may need to keep an extra eye on their insulin levels if using American ginseng, since the herb has a glucose lowering effect. Human studies have demonstrated that high doses of American ginseng can have disruptive effects on blood thinning agents like warfarin in otherwise healthy patients. Therefore it is recommended to avoid consuming large amounts of this herb when using such medications. Some people can experience sleeplessness when they take American ginseng, especially with food or beverages containing caffeine. This side effect can be reduced by cutting down on caffeine intake and refrain from taking American ginseng in the evening.

Supporting References