GINSENG
Eleutherococcus
Panax ginseng
Panax SP.
Eleutherococcus senticosus
ARALIACEAE
In the ancient books of Chinese medicine, ginseng was already a famous medicinal plant.
He "regulate" the 5 viscera, balancing the vital energy, strengthening the mind, making brave and generous, resistant to poisons; was shining eyes and increased intelligence and comprehension.
Currently it says simply "adaptogen" and antiasthenic (see glossary).
Ginseng comes from Korea, but the genus Panax contains other related species and pharmacologically similar to the true ginseng;
in North America are grown P. QUINQUEFOLIUM in south-western China and Vietnam, P. Notoginseng, Japan and the Himalayas varieties of P. PSEUDOGINSENG.
The wild ginseng, a small herbaceous plant with leaves palmatilobées in umbel of white flowers and red berries, is now fully exploited and cultivated (in general) including USA (EX 700 to 800 tons in 1990 in Wisconsin).
The party sought the root is cylindrical, branched more or less curved, sometimes with one aspect or anthropomorphic phallic (as observers). White ginseng is simply dried, red ginseng is first heated steamed, which gives the red color, then dried.
The Eleutherococcus or Siberian ginseng is a plant bushy and thorny spread of Eastern Siberia to Korea and Shanxi in China. The part used is the root.
COMPOSITION AND CHEMICAL PROPERTIES
Ginseng has been studied extensively, many compounds have been described, their metabolism monitoring in humans and animals, but it is difficult to link the pharmacological action and chemical composition of this plant. To complicate matters, all ginseng have different composition.
The majority of authors believe that saponins (see glossary) are active compounds (ginsenosides), but there are none in the Eleutherococcus (!!).
Other authors, Koreans believe that in fact this would be some phenolic compounds that are active, and they refer to the Chinese tradition, which specifies that the root of ginseng should be absolutely prepared without contact with the iron (container or knife) .
These authors connect all the adaptogenic properties of the plant to the presence of antioxidants (anti-free radicals (see glossary)) phenol. The ginsenosides have no antioxidant properties.
Experiments on mice have confirmed this thesis:
* Non-purified extracts of ginseng saponins and therefore containing phenols, increase resistance to toxic and physical abilities,
* While those extracts which are added some ferric compounds are pharmacologically reduce their capacity.
In other medicinal plants, and not least (eg valerian), the chemical components taken alone do not explain the pharmacological action observed in animals or humans.
In these cases one can imagine that it is the association of several components or the action of metabolic derivatives thereof which is pharmacologically effective.
USES
Ginseng and Eleutherococcus are considered:
* Plants as anti-fatigue,
* To improve physical performance, athletic and sports
* To increase the intellectual capacity: exam preparation, job requiring much concentration and attention (even the astronauts and race car drivers).
It combines the important anti-free radical extracts of ginseng and other indications:
* Protection against atherosclerosis and risk of hypertension,
* Protect the liver against toxic substances: hepatotoxic drugs and also prevent "hangovers"
* Protection against the effects of ionizing radiation: occupational risk, patients treated with radiotherapy,
* Fight against the effects of aging, senescence, some therapists believe ginseng extract as a true "elixir of youth".
There are many preparations of ginseng, usually as a powder packaged in capsules of 250-500 mg dosage would average 1 g of ginseng powder per day with the possibility to double this amount (2 g per day).
We will limit the duration of therapy to 3 months or less for the longer term, there may be unwanted side effects of such infiltration with corticosteroids.
The ginseng extracts are often combined with other herbal medicines: antiasthenic,
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