Informative document very interesting, here .....
by Jean-Yves Dionne, BSc Pharm.
Know the difference between the true ginseng, Siberian ginseng, dong quai, suma (Brazilian ginseng) and Maca (Peruvian Ginseng).
Our high-tech company urges us to live at very high speed. Whether to exceed the expectations of their environment or simply to get to the end of the day, many people are looking tonic par excellence. However, be careful not to use the best tonic for burning the candle at both ends. A tonic, whatever can help us to regain our energy, but it can also lead us to exhaustion. This is the case of stimulants such as coffee, nicotine and cocaine. The latter, to varying degrees, draining our reserves and reduce our fatigue, leading us to a deeper exhaustion and possibly a "burnout". It is therefore important to design tools such as tonic against fatigue during use and in concert with other means such as rest, massage, etc.. When our body screams to stop, he must listen. Good! easier said than done! Me first, I should listen to my advice ...
look all the same class of energy plants: the ginseng. The word ginseng mean "essence of the earth in human form." The radical "seng" means all fleshy roots used as tonics. Many roots to the tonic are wrongly or rightly, the name ginseng. In fact, only those of the family are true panax ginseng.
of ginseng is said they are adaptogens. But what do they eat in winter, an adaptogen? This concept has been defined in Russia by Dr. NV Lazarev. It is a substance that increases the adaptability of the human non-specifically. Dr. Lazarev was developed three criteria for classifying a substance as an adaptogen. It must:
1. Cause minimal changes in biological functions.
2. Increase the body's resistance of non-specifically against various aggressors.
3. Have a normalizing effect improving many conditions or statements and does not aggravate.
An adaptogen therefore helps the body fight against stress in a holistic way. It increases the ability to adapt in all circumstances. That said, let's review the various "ginseng" and their specific properties.
Real ginsengs:
0. Panax ginseng CA Meyer (Asian ginseng spp and when steamed ginseng red of Korea).
0. Panax quinquefolium (American ginseng or Canadian).
The ginseng that are not:
0. Eleutherococcus senticosus (Siberian ginseng).
0. Angelica polymorpha sinensis (dong quai and ginseng for women).
0. Pfaffia paniculata (suma ginseng or Brazil).
0. Lepdium meyenii (maca or Peruvian ginseng).
All these herbs have adaptogenic and stimulating properties, but their characteristics are very different.
Panax ginseng CA Meyer and Panax quinquefolium
These are the only true ginseng. They have similar qualities but for the Chinese, their indications are different. Chinese ginseng (Panax ginseng) has a more "warm" than the American (P. quinquefolium). The concept of heat of the Chinese is very difficult to translate into Western terms. You could probably relate this heat to a hormonal effect. For example, in Chinese tradition, Chinese ginseng is not recommended for adolescents because that could increase the "heat" of their temperament. We all know the effects of the explosive character of our youth. Likewise, the ginseng is not recommended for all women, one of its side effects is to make the breasts painful for some.
According to Chinese tradition, none of these cons-indications would apply to American ginseng, which is considered more cold and less aggravating. Maybe TCM knows something we do not know ...
Korean red ginseng comes from the same plant as Chinese ginseng, unless it is steamed in a process traditional. This would give more heat treatment with ginseng, making it a stronger stimulus. Again, we note the difference between Chinese and Western thought since our studies do not see any difference between the two types of preparations.
known active molecules of ginseng are ginsenosides (saponins family) that have stimulating effects and some hormone-like effects. For those interested, I refer you to a book of the series "The wonders of Chinese medicine" of Dr. Rejean Daigneault, University of Montreal: A tonic for the vital energy, ginseng. This little book is very comprehensive and well referenced.
The dosage varies according to need. In people who have a vital energy is very low (very tired people, the elderly and convalescent), it is recommended to start slowly. In Chinese medicine, it speaks of 3 to 9 grams of root per day. Marie Provost, renowned herbalist and founder of Quebec's La Clef des Champs herbalist, recommends 1-3 capsules of 350 mg daily dose of maintenance and up to 4 capsules every 4 hours during acute. A commercial preparation (Ginsana) conducted a sample concentrated standardized rate called ginsenosides G115 suggests a dosage of 200 mg per day.
recognized side effects of ginseng vary depending on the dose and are extremely rare at recommended doses. There is talk of agitation, nervousness, insomnia, and sometimes increase blood pressure.
Eleutherococcus senticosus
Siberian ginseng, the Ginseng family, is a close relative of ginseng. Its active ingredients are called eleutherosides (pretty obvious). It is also found in Chinese medicine, but it is the Russians who have studied it thoroughly, hence the name Siberian ginseng. Ginseng is an adaptogen that literally. Its stimulating effect is less important than Chinese ginseng, but its effect on endurance and resistance to stress is remarkable. As it is less "hot" as panax, it is entirely appropriate for women. Side effects are almost nonexistent. According to sources, the dosage is between 500 mg and l0 g per day.
Angelica polymorpha sinensis
dong quai, ginseng or women, is not related to ginseng. It has an antispasmodic effect and vasodilator well documented. This effect is very interesting for painful menstrual cramps and can also provide some relief in cases of hot flashes of menopause. In Chinese medicine, dong quai is recognized as a tonic for the blood and spleen. For us Westerners, this means it will have a positive effect in some cases of anemia. One of its active principles, osthole, a stimulant known. Dong quai can help reduce fatigue. The dosage varies between 3 and 12 g of fresh root per day.
Pfaffia paniculata
The suma ginseng or Brazil is a plant of the Amazon also has stimulant and adaptogenic. Its active principles, like those of ginseng are saponins. Suma have some anabolic effect, that is to say it would increase muscle mass. Amazonian traditional medicine recognizes him all kinds of virtues: from a tonic for the nervous and cardiac treatment to sexual and hormonal problems, to treat stomach problems and rheumatism. Here in North America, he recognizes tonic, adaptogenic and regenerative. The dosage ranges from 500 mg of dried root 2 times per day to 500 mg per 40 pounds of body weight divided into 2 doses per day.
Lepdium meyenii
Maca is part of the family of potato and tomato: Solanaceae. The documentation is rather poor about it. It has indisputable nutritional virtues, particularly for poor regions, where it originated. It is used as food for both humans and animals. In the latter, it increases the reproductive capacity significantly. It contains as saponins that confer energizing effects. The ideal dosage is not described. Usually, there are 500 mg capsules on the market. Since this first of a food, the dosage can be very variable.
One last important detail for all these herbal products "exotic", it is important to check the quality. A U.S. study done by the Colgan Institute has analyzed 80 ginseng products. More than half contained no or very little of ginsenosides. This demonstrates that a name on a label does not guarantee that you will get the expected benefits. As Canadian law on natural products will not be consolidated and that no competent body will oversee the natural products industry, it will rely on the reputation of a company and its good manufacturing practices.
References
Blumenthal et al., 1998, The Complete German Commission E Monographs, American Botanical Council ed., USA. DerMarderosian et al., 1999, The Review of Natural Products, Facts and Comparison, Group Publishing, USA. William and Mach-Chieu, 1987 Pharmacopoeia and Traditional Chinese Medicine, Publishing DésIris, France. Mr. Provost, 1995, Notes on medicinal plants, truancy ed. Qc
