Ginseng Benefits and Side Effects

Ginseng is most commonly known for its benefits in improving and maintaining sexual performance and in alleviating the symptoms of sexual disorders in men. Ginseng has over and again proved its efficacy and importance in enhancing male sexual health.

Traditionally, ginseng is used for improving libido. Animal studies suggest that ginseng improves libido and increases testosterone levels in body.

In a clinical study involving 66 male subjects, Asian ginseng was found to improve total testosterone levels and the levels of FSH (follicle stimulating hormone), which is important for maintaining testosterone levels.

American ginseng is reported to improve libido by stimulating GABA (a neurotransmitter) function in the brain.

Both preclinical and clinical studies demonstrate the efficiency of ginseng in the treatment of erectile dysfunction. While ginseng extracts have been reported to improve relaxation and blood flow to the penis, clinical studies indicate that consuming 900 to 1000 mg of red ginseng three times a day, for 1 to 2 weeks can significantly improve erection and penetration.

Ginseng not only improves libido and erectile dysfunctions in men but also improves sperm count and motility.

Clinical studies indicate that oligospermia (low levels of sperms in semen) occurs due to DNA damage or dysfunction and administration of ginseng markedly improves total sperm count.

Improvement in sperm motility has also been observed within 1 to 2 hours of taking ginseng. This is due to the presence of ginsenosides in the ginseng root which improves the function of nitric oxide synthase, an enzyme that is responsible for modulating nitric oxide levels in the body, which, in turn, is crucial for sperm motility.

Not only this, several studies report the benefits of ginseng in improving fertility related issues that arise due to conditions like diabetes, environmental toxins and cancer treatment.

Being an adaptogen, it may also relieve stress and improve physical strength, thus improving sexual performance.

While ginseng is well studied for male sexual problems, the evidence for its use in female sexual health is insufficient. Most of the studies include the use and benefits of ginseng for postmenopausal women. Ginseng benefits for women are listed below:

• Randomised clinical trials indicate a positive effect of ginseng on menopausal depression, anxiety and hot flashes.
• It improves sexual desire in postmenopausal women, as demonstrated by these clinical trials. But, no improvements could be observed on female sexual functions by ginseng administration. Similarly, it doesn’t show any effect on the endometrium thickness in postmenopausal women.
• The adaptogenic properties of ginseng may also be worth mentioning here. Being a health tonic, it aids in improving the overall health in women and keeping diseases at bay.

A healthy and glowing skin is a dream nurtured by many. Who does not want to keep their youth a bit longer? Our skin fibres tend to break down with age causing the skin to sag and be wrinkled. Also, an increase in free radicals is directly associated with signs of premature ageing including dark spots and wrinkles. It also worsens UV damage. Ginseng is an excellent antioxidant and an anti-inflammatory agent, which makes it the perfect skin healing and anti ageing herb.

Clinical studies indicate an improvement in skin wrinkles by a regular application of ginseng extract cream. In another study, ginseng was found to improve the expression of procollagen gene, which is responsible for skin structure. A marked reduction in face wrinkles was noted in all the subjects within 24 weeks.

In an animal-based study, Korean ginseng reduced UV damage and increased procollagen protein by inhibiting damage. The study concluded that Korean ginseng could be used to revert UV-induced skin damage and photo ageing (ageing of the skin due to the harmful rays of the sun).

As an antioxidant, it may combat negative effects of free radicals on the skin, while the tonic effects of this herb may add onto its many skin benefits, giving a positively youthful glow to your skin.

Ginseng is a rejuvenating and stimulatory herb. Quite obviously it has positive effects on the central nervous system. In vivo (animal-based) studies have depicted a clear association between ginseng consumption and an improvement in cognition (thinking and understanding skills).

In a human-based study, American ginseng was reported to improve cognitive function significantly. The Journal of Ginseng Research summarised the efficiency of ginseng as a neuroprotective herb. As per the findings of this study, ginseng has many benefits for the brain.

• Ginseng interferes with and improves brain functions in Alzheimer’s thereby improving its the symptoms. Clinical trials demonstrate an improvement in the cognitive functioning of AD patients on regular administration of red ginseng extracts. Moreover, their cognitive levels showed a gradual decline on the discontinuation of ginseng.
• Ginseng has also been reported to exhibit some efficiency in improving Parkinson’s and Huntington’s disease. Though, much more research is still needed to confirm its safety and efficacy in human trials.
• Several preclinical and clinical trials indicate that the ginsenosides present in ginseng are useful for alleviating depression and anxiety, especially in postmenopausal women.
• In vitro (lab-based) and in vivo (animal-based) studies suggest that red ginseng extracts can significantly reduce morphine addiction and withdrawal symptoms. Also, wild ginseng inhibits the release of stress and anxiety hormones from the brain which, in turn, aids in reducing morphine withdrawal symptoms.
• In a double-blind clinical trial, involving 64 subjects, American ginseng extracts were found to improve schizophrenia symptoms and memory within 4 weeks of administration.

It won’t be wrong to say that ginseng shows great potential as an alternative treatment for brain disorders.

(Read more: How to increase brain power)

Obesity and excessive weight gain is a problem faced by millions over the world. Mainly caused due to a sedentary lifestyle and overeating, obesity increases the risk of several diseases including diabetes and high blood pressure. The current anti-obesity therapies don’t show lasting effects. In fact, most of the drug treatments have some side effects. Consecutively, there is an increasing trend towards holistic measures.

Several studies suggest that ginseng is useful for weight loss by interfering with energy metabolism, which is one of the key factors in the pathogenesis of obesity.  Preclinical studies suggest that ginseng can suppress appetite and stimulate the release of excess fat along with faeces. Ginseng has also been suggested to reduce fat synthesis and improve energy metabolism in vitro models.

In a recent clinical study, ginseng supplements were found to reduce body weight and improve gut microbiota. The latter resulting in a decreased fat deposition in the gut.

So, what are you waiting for? Ask your nutritionist about how perfect a weight loss supplement that ginseng is!

(Read more: Diet chart for weight loss)

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Diabetes is an endocrinal disorder, which is characterised by an impaired glucose metabolism due to an inability of the body to produce or utilise insulin properly. Clinical and preclinical evidence demonstrate that American ginseng is an excellent hypoglycemic. Marked reduction has been noted in blood glucose levels and insulin resistance on regular use of American ginseng.

However, when it comes to the hypoglycemic potential of Korean ginseng, the evidence is quite controversial. While some studies suggest that this variety of ginseng root does affect blood glucose levels positively, ginseng administration was shown to increase blood sugar levels in an RCT (randomised control trial). This may be because of the difference in the ginsenoside content in two ginseng varieties.

So, much more study is needed in to confirm the efficiency and usage of ginseng in the treatment of diabetes.

Ginseng is a panacea for health and this does not exclude the cardiovascular system. It controls vasomotor functions (relaxing and contracting blood vessels) thereby aiding people with blood pressure problems. By dilating blood vessels, it helps in reducing high blood pressure while it helps reduce damage to the cardiac tissue due to its antioxidant properties.

By increasing the production of nitric oxide (NO), it can inhibit platelet aggregation. This can be highly beneficial for people who have a risk of thrombosis (blood clot formation in the body).

High cholesterol is one of the major risk factors in heart diseases, the excess fat tends to accumulate in blood vessels and form plaques which narrows arteries. This condition is known as atherosclerosis and can significantly increase the risk of heart attack. Studies suggest that ginseng varieties exhibit potent hypolipidemic (reduces lipids) and antioxidant properties. This means that it not only leads to a reduced cholesterol level but also reduces lipid peroxidation, which is the underlying cause of plaque formation.

Additionally, ginseng modulates calcium channels in body which are very important for maintaining cardiac functions.

(Read more: Heart disease prevention)

In the busy lifestyle of the modern world, it is common to feel exhausted. While it's easy to restore energy by taking adequate rest, studies suggest that chronic fatigue can effect people regardless of their age or gender. So, if you are thinking your age has something to do with all that tiredness, think again. Chronic fatigue is linked to anxiety, depression and stress apart from lifestyle and diet. Fortunately, ginseng has a solution for all of these.

In traditional Chinese medicine, ginseng is believed to improve Qi or chi, which is the energy flowing through our body. Studies suggest that this traditional claim may be true as ginseng extracts improve the levels of ATP (the energy currency of the body) and the mitochondrial functions of the cells. Mitochondria is an organelle present in human cells, which is responsible for generating energy for our day-to-day functions. Isn’t it amazing how traditional beliefs are seated in scientific facts?

Ginseng has been found to improve physical endurance and reduce fatigue along with increasing the aerobic capacity of the lungs, which refers to the ability of the cardiovascular system to supply oxygen to the tissues.

According an article in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, regular ginseng consumption improves energy levels and reduces fatigue. It was further added that both American and true ginseng show similar effects in fatigue improvement and hence need extensive clinical studies to ascertain their dosage and safety.

A cure-all may be lacking in something if it doesn’t improve immune function in some way. Right?

Ginseng is a well-known immunostimulator. It not only improves the inherent capacity of the body to fight infections but also stimulates the production of the immune system cells, making you more resistant to disease and infections.

Animal-based studies suggest that ginseng extracts specifically improve WBC and T cells. In a recent in vivo (animal-based) study, the immunomodulating benefits of ginseng are attributed to the polysaccharides, saponins and ginsenoside present in ginseng root.

Furthermore, ginseng inhibits the formation of inflammatory cytokines thereby reducing the symptoms of inflammation. Ginseng extracts have been found to reduce inflammatory response and mortality in sepsis.

(Read more: How to improve immunity)

• Ginseng is an efficient antimicrobial agent. It has demonstrated significant inhibition of common infectious bacteria like Staphylococcus aureus, P.aeruginosa and Helicobacter pylori. It improves the immune response of the body against the influenza A virus and improves the potential of treatment therapies for AIDS.
• The anti-inflammatory effects of ginseng may be beneficial in reducing joint inflammation and pain associated with arthritis.
• Ginseng also reduces asthma-related inflammation, as reported by animal-based studies.
• It can prevent the growth and spread of cancer cells along with reducing the side effects of chemotherapy.