Michael Castleman
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 Studies show that ginseng stimulates the immune system, helps reduce cholesterol levels, protects the liver from toxic substances and increases stamina and nutrient absorption from the intestines. Asian Olympic athletes take it regularly to boost their performance.
How-to: Herb companies market ginseng teas, capsules, tablets and tinctures. Follow package directions.
For a decoction, add Vi teaspoon of powdered root per cup of boiling water. Simmer ten minutes. Drink up to two cups a day. |
C. P. Khare
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 They are not prepared to believe that it is a better adaptogen than Panax ginseng, as claimed by CCRAS.
The leaves of Ocimum viride, a native of Western Africa, is used for its febrifugal properties. In Sierra Leone, it is known as "Fever Plant"; its decoction is prescribed as a remedy for fevers. The leaves of Ocimum canum, Ocimum gratissimum and Ocimum crispum (a Japanese spp.) are used as a medicine in bilious fever. Ocimum guineense is employed by negroes as a medicine in bilious fever. Ocimum americanum is used in cases of chest troubles and dysentery. |
D. Lindsey Berkson
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 Most American ginseng is grown in Wisconsin, where state agriculture officials have uncovered widespread use of illegal pesticides on the crops of the 1,500 ginseng growers in the state.
In the ewg report Forbidden Fruit: Illegal Pesticides in the U.S. Food Supply, they found endosulfan—a chemical related to ddt that mimics estrogen in the human body—illegally on ten crops. There were at least sixty-six different illegal pesticides on the forty-two fruits and vegetables that ewg analyzed from local supermarkets. |
Gary Null, Ph.D.
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 Siberian ginseng, Wintergreen and Hydrangea Root...These may help when there is an overproduction of hormones.
•Essiac.. .This is an herbal preparation that is useful in the treatment of all cancers.
•Uva Ursi...This has antiseptic, diuretic, and tonic properties that target the bladder, kidneys, and urinary tract, benefiting both disorders.
•Uncaria Tomensoa...This immune modulator from South America may return PSA levels to normal in the case of prostate cancer and help some people when all else has failed. |
Larry Trivieri, Jr.
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 Tonic herbs like ginseng are thought to build vital energy, or qi.
Herbs in Many Forms
Herbs and herbal products come in many forms and are now available not only in natural and gourmet food stores, but also grocery stores, drugstores, and mass market retail stores. Also, a number of mail-order purveyors sell herbal products, as do alternative and conventional health practitioners.
THE POLITICS OF HERBAL MEDICINE
The World Health Organization (WHO) recognizes that nearly 80% of the world population in developing countries is dependent on traditional medicine for primary health care. |
| Garlic is known for its antibiotic, antifungal, and antiviral activities; for helping clear congested lungs; for coughs, bronchitis, and sinus congestion; as a preventive
Ginger Ginkgo ginseng measure for colds and flu; for intestinal worms, dysentery, and certain ulcers; and for gout and rheumatism.45 Garlic may also help prevent certain cancers. A National Cancer Institute report on a large Chinese population indicated that the consumption of garlic and other members of the Allium genus (onions, leeks, shallots) can help lower the incidence of stomach cancer. |
Gary Null, Ph.D.
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| Another way of explaining ginseng's ability is that it boosts the immune system.
•Wild Cherry Bark.. .This one helps hay fever and other allergies by healing irritated mucosal surfaces, including the lungs. It's also soothing to the skin.
•Mullein Leaf...This herb protects the mucous surfaces, including the throat, esophagus, intestines, and lungs.
•Horehound...This affects respiration by dilating muscles.
Other good herbs for allergies include stinging nettle and capsicum. |
Larry Trivieri, Jr.
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| Examples include goldenseal, licorice, astragalus, garlic, Panax ginseng, reishi and shiitake mushrooms, slippery elm, and echinacea. Of these, echinacea and garlic are among the most widely used, extensively researched, and effective of all immune-building plants.
• Essential Oils: Essential plant oils useful during various types of infectious illness include tea tree oil, thyme, savory, eucalyptus, lavender, geranium, and citrus seed extract.
• Homeopathic Medicine: Homeopathy initially gained notice in the U.S. because of its effectiveness against epidemic infectious diseases. |
| Other antioxidants include selenium, the amino acids cysteine and glutathione, coenzyme Q10, ginkgo, ginseng, chlorella, spirulina, and green tea. Coenzyme Q10, dimethylglycine (DMG), and germanium sesquoxide support oxygen delivery to the cells and tissues of the body, which is an essential component of athletic endurance and performance.
Plant-based digestive enzymes, taken between meals, help reduce the pain and inflammation in muscles, tendons, ligaments, and other soft tissue, caused by sports injuries such as a sprained ankle or pulled muscle. |
| This is not to be confused with its counterpart Panax ginseng, which has long been prized as an
NATURAL PROGESTERONE AND MEN'S HEALTH CONDITIONS
Topical application of natural progesterone may prove beneficial in the treatment of prostate conditions. One doctor reports working with 12 men, all in their late seventies, who were suffering from osteoporosis. As it has been established that natural progesterone, applied topically, can relieve osteoporosis, the physician suggested that the men systematically massage it into their skin on a daily basis. |
| Other herbs known to support brain function and longevity include ashwagandha and Bacopa monniera (Ayurvedic), bilberry, capsicum, fo-ti tieng (Chinese), garlic, ginseng, green tea, kelp, peppermint leaf, rosemary, sarsaparilla, and wood betony. • Mix one teaspoon each of skullcap and gotu kola with hot water for improved awareness.
HOMEOPATHY: Argen nit.,Arsen alb.
HYDROTHERAPY: • Cold compress (apply as needed to the face and hands). • Constitutional hydrotherapy (apply two to five times weekly).
MIND/BODY THERAPY: • Guided imagery, biofeedback (attention deficit disorders), meditation. |
Rudolph M. Ballentine, M.D.
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 The Chinese and Koreans use ginseng root, for example, as a sort of universal tonic for the human, because, they say, the shape of the root is reminiscent of a man's body. It will often have subroots that look like arms and legs. Westerners who consider themselves scientific
PATTERN
RESONANCE figure i might brush this off as a "folk belief "—a sort of superstition that is left to anthropologists to study and classify. Yet so many of the relationships that Asian herbalists have sensed between human health and plants have proven insightful that we should not be too quick to dismiss such ideas. |
Simon Mills and Kerry Bone
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 Note that Astragalus and tonics such as Panax ginseng are contraindicated in the acute stage of infection.
• Anticatarrhal herbs for upper respiratory catarrh, especially Euphrasia (eyebright), Sambucus (elder) and Hydrastis (golden seal). Traditionally, Hydrastis was said to be contraindicated in the acute stage of infection so its use may be best in the later stages of the secondary bacterial infection.
• Hypericum (St John's wort) as an antiviral treatment for influenza. |
Robert S. McCaleb, Evelyn Leigh, and Krista Morien
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 To ensure that the extract is just as strong each and every time it is made, the company can either concentrate the extract or simply use more ginseng, just as you might if your morning coffee were too weak. Nature is variable, so we can't assume that every batch of any herb is the same as the last.
One problem with standardizing extracts is that we usually don't know exactly which chemicals in an herb are responsible for its health benefits. Of the hundreds of herbs on the market, only a half dozen or so are standardized to known active principles. |
Lendon H. Smith, M.D.
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| She tried diet, cortisone, acupuncture, vitamins, ginseng, castor oil packs, visualization, and massage—all to no avail. Had asthma and backaches also, but they are less severe now. Some hay fever. Uterine fibroids caused stomachaches. Not a smoker. One glass of wine with dinner. Occasional use of aspirin. Had one abortion. Occasional mucus in throat, occasional coughing, some gas, bloat, and heartburn. Occasional attack of herpes, both genital and oral. Occasional
(continued on page 126)
(continued from page 125) headaches, especially before her menses. |
American Medical Publishing
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| For example, drugs used to treat high-blood pressure, diabetes or heart disease — all more common ailments as people get older — should not be taken with products containing ginseng or ephedra (also called Ma Huang). Chemicals in these plants can increase blood pressure.
Also prevent strokes and other vascular problems, many elderly people take "blood-thinning" or anti-clotting drugs, including Coumadin (generic: Warfarin) and Plavix (Clopidogrel). The herbs feverfew and ginko biloba as well as Vitamin K should not be taken with "blood thinners. |
Robert S. McCaleb, Evelyn Leigh, and Krista Morien
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| Examples include kava, senna, ginseng, ephedra, and caffeine sources, such as cola and mate.
Other extracts are standardized to marker compounds. These constituents may not be the key to the plant's effectiveness, but there is usually evidence that if the extract contains enough of the marker compound, it will be effective. St. John's wort provides an excellent example. Extracts of this herb have well-researched antidepressant effects. Most St. John's wort extract is standardized to contain 0.3 percent hypericin. |
Linda B. White, M.D.
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 Panax ginseng is probably best used under supervision of an experienced practitioner. Typical dosage: up to four 500- to 600milligram capsules per day,- or 100 milligrams of standardized product one or two times per day. Start with lower dosages and work up gradually. Caution-. Do not use if you have high blood pressure or are pregnant.
Licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra)
Licorice is an adrenal tonic and increases energy. It also has antiinflammatory and antiviral properties. It adds a pleasant taste to tea blends and can also be taken in tincture form. Typical dosage-. |
Simon Mills and Kerry Bone
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| The root of being: ginseng and the pharmacology of harmony. Hutchinson, London, 1980, pp 161, 255.
18. Chubarev VN, Rubtsova ER, Filatova IV et al. Farmakol Toksikol 1989; 52 (2): 55-59.
19. Saito H, Nishiyama N, Kamegaya T et al. In: Chang HM, Yeung HW, Tso WW et al (eds) Advances in Chinese medicinal materials research. World Scientific, Singapore, 1985, pp 687-688.
20. Streuer M, Jansen G, Winterhoff H et al. International Congress on Phytotherapy, Munich, September 10-13,1992.
21. Winterhoff H, Gumbinger HG, Vahlensieck U et al. Pharm Pharmacol Lett 1993; 3: 95-98.
22. |
Linda B. White, M.D.
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| Siberian ginseng (Eleuthero senticosus)
Also called: Eleuthero, Ussurian thorny pepperbush.
Source: Grows in thickets in northeast China, eastern Russia, Korea, Hokkaido (Japan's northern island), and eastern Europe.
Parts used: Root, stem.
Forms available: Capsules, tinctures, tablets.
Uses: A tonic for fatigue, convalescence, stress, mental weakness, and decreased work output.
Caution: Increases the effectiveness (and side effects) of some antibiotics. |
Michael T. Murray, N.D.
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 Clinical applications
The therapeutic applications of ginseng are varied, owing to its adaptogenic qualities. |
Simon Mills and Kerry Bone
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| Siberian ginseng (Eleutherococcus senticosus): current status as an adaptogen. In: Farnsworth NR et al (eds) Economic and medicinal plant research, vol 1. Academic Press, London, 1985, pp 164-166.
70. Dardymov IV, Suprunov NI, Sokolenko LA. Lek Srcdstva Dal'nego Vostoka 1972; 11: 66-69.
71. Sakharova TA Revazova YA, Barenboim GM et al. Khim-Farm Zh 1985; 19: 311-312.
72. Dalinger OI. Central nervous stimulants. Tomsk, 1986, pp 112-114. Cited in De Smet PAGM, Keller K, Hansel R et al (eds) Adverse effects of herbal drugs, vol 2. Springer-Verlag, Berlin, 1993, pp 163-164.
73. Siegel RK. |
Michael T. Murray, N.D.
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| It is virtually impossible to derive any firm conclusions from the data presented in the JAMA article, especially in light of the fact that studies performed on standardized extracts of Panax ginseng have demonstrated the absence of side effects, as well as no mutagenic or teratogenic effects.1112 These findings further support the superiority of herbal products that were produced using quality control measures.
The "Hairy Baby" Story
To illustrate further the problems that can occur in the absence of proper plant identification and standardization, let's examine the case of the "hairy baby. |
| Ben-Hur E and Fulder S: Effect of P. ginseng saponins and Eleutherococcus S. on survival of cultured mammalian cells after ionizing radiation. Am J Chin Med 9, 48-56,1981.
9. Bohn B, Nebe CT, and Birr C: Flow-cytometric studies with Eleutherococcus senticosus extract as an immunomodulatory agent. Arzneimittel-Forsch 37, 1193-1196, 1987. |
American Medical Publishing
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| Like ginseng, however, powdered rhino horn is probably not an aphrodisiac.
But to say there are no aphrodisiac is not entirely true either. Several drugs, for example, clearly work with the human body chemistry to stimulate sexual function. The prescription drug bromocriptine (brand name is Parlodel) is very effective in reversing male impotency, and has been shown to increase libido by 80 percent in both males and females. Bromocriptine has also been know to return post-menopausal women to regular menstrual cycles, even women in their 60s and 70s! |
Ralph Golan, M.D.
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 Take Siberian ginseng (100 to 200 milligrams once or twice a day).
OTHER THERAPIES
• Small doses of the adrenal hormones dehydroepian-drosterone and hydrocortisone may be necessary (see Chapter Eleven). Treat insomnia (see INSOMNIA); this is vital.
• Stay warm.
• If your liver is affected (enlarged liver with elevated liver enzymes), consult Chapter Nine for information on liver-protective agents.
• Do stretching exercises, yoga, or tai chi, along with slow, deep breathing exercises. Among their many benefits, these activities stimulate lymph flow. |
James Green
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 Siberian ginseng is a classic adaptogen in that when taken consistently it produces a state of non-specific stress resistance. It helps modify the underlying imbalance caused by stressors, regardless of the specific nature of the stressor (chemical, physical, psychological, etc.). In order for an herb to be classified as an adaptogen, not only must it help one deal with "stress," but it cannot cause an imbalance in physiological functions; it must basically be harmless and should help normalize functions, regardless of whether they are underactive or overactive. |
Dr. John Heinerman
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 Interestingly, ginseng tea given to cats with cancer in place of water worked better in reducing tumors than did the powdered root extract.
The active ginsenosides are decidedly antioxidant. Other experimental data have shown that giving ginsenosides to animals inoculated with S-180 cancer cells can prolong animal survival. The mechanism of the anticancer activity of ginsenosides isn't well understood, however. When ginsenosides were added to the culture medium of cancer cells, a morphological change of the cancer cells was noticed. |
James Green
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| Internally, many saponins have direct medicinal effects such as those found in ginseng, Horse Chestnut, Licorice, and Wild Yam. Other saponins are quite toxic (sapotoxins). With few exceptions, saponins are readily soluble in water and also soluble in dilute alcohol.
Starches
Starches are one of the most important derivatives of plant cells. They are insoluble in ordinary solvents, but swell in boiling water to form a peculiar jelly-like or mucilaginous paste (starch paste). Examples: Cornstarch, Arrowroot, Tapioca. |
| American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius)
Black Cohosh (Cimicifuga racemosa)
Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis)
Blue Cohosh (Caulophyllum thalictroides)
Echinacea (Echinacea spp.)
Goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis)
Helonias Root (Chamaelirium luteum)
Kava Kava (Piper methysticum) Hawaii only
Lady's Slipper Orchid (Cypripedium spp.)
Lomatium (Lomatium dissectum)
Osha (Ligusticum porteri, L. spp.)
Partridge Berry, Squawvine (Mitchella repens)
Peyote (Lophophora williamsii)
Slippery Elm (Ulmus rubra)
Sundew (Drosera spp.)
Trillium, Beth Root (Trillium spp. |
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