The Zen of Health

One of the most sought after Ginsengs is the Panax Ginseng, which is the wild form. Any herb given in extract or liquid form is considered to be more potent then a pill or capsule. Panax Ginseng Extract is the best way to take this herb. Panax Ginseng has been used for over five thousand years and has been found to be used throughout Asia even before written history. In the past two thousand years, it has more or less come into its own. In more times that are modern, many scientific studies have been made on this herb. The results show that it has a very real therapeutic and nutritional value. One forty grams of Panax Ginseng Extract should last abut a month. The ancient Chinese believed that the Panax Ginseng nourished five vital organs of the body and its value was sometimes placed along with gold or even above it. Western scientists are now beginning to recognize the value of this herb. The name Panax means to cure all. The Chinese version of Ginseng means man root. On rare occasions, the root grows into the shape of a human being and these of course had added value among the ancients. There is another form of closely related Panax Ginseng that grows in certain locations in North America, the wild form being the best for medical reasons is now endangered. Literally thousands of tests have been done for research studies to investigate Ginseng. A lot of the research has been done in Asia. Depending on the preparation, different results are obtained. Ginseng should be avoided by those with high blood pressure and during pregnancy. Its most often sold in the form of capsules, tablets and liquid extracts and comes in other forms but the Panax Ginseng Extract is the more effective form to take. Be careful how much you take and for how long. Researchers say its better not to take it for more than three months at a time then give it a rest or take the herb for one month and rest two months. You should use appropriate caution when taking anything including over the counter medications.
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Tags: ginseng, panax ginseng

How good the Ginseng capsules are is determined only by the quality of what goes into them. I have found that herbal companies do differ as far as quality goes. Unlike vitamins or minerals, there is no government standard that has to be abided by. Years ago, I went to a lecture on herbs at a well-known grocery store that carried only organic and holistic products. There was a side room where guests could speak. The guest speaker was from an herbal company that carried only herbs, a lot of them grow their own. He told about how his company decided to test various bottles of herbs from other companies to see how they stacked up quality wise to their company. What a Surprise! Some of the bottles did not have the right ingredient in them. People were paying for one thing and getting another. This is not true of all companies; there are some fine ones out there. However, if you know a certain brand name is good for a fact, stay with it. If you are buying ginseng capsules, you want ginseng to be in it and a good quality.

Ginseng simulates energy the active agent that enables this to happen is called Ginsenoside. The potency or quality of the ginseng root and what goes into your ginseng capsules depend on how much Ginsenoside is in it. How and where the ginseng is grown and its age determines the potency. The wild ginseng is considered much better than the cultivated. The roots are usually older and it’s living in a better environment. Ginseng roots should not be harvested until they are at least six years old. An eight-year-old root is better and a ten-year-old root is better yet. The older the root, the higher the percentage of Ginsenoside. Wild seed can be gathered and grown in semi-wild conditions to develop better quality roots. There is only species of American Ginseng, Panax quinquefolius; it has four categories in which it is marketed. Wild roots sell at roughly nine times the price of cultivated. Ginseng likes the mountains and this is the environment where the best quality is grown for a good ginseng capsule. The wild roots can grow to be thirty and forty years old and one that is fifty which is very rare is more precious than gold. It’s very hard to tell the difference between wild simulated ginseng and the true wild but the cultivated is larger with a smooth skin and little or no growth rings. The cultivated is highly fed so; it obtains a quick growth and is usually harvested at the age of three years. This is usually the type found in the ginseng capsules; try to find out how the ginseng has been grown before you buy a bottle. It’s easier to find out over the internet.

Ginseng capsules in bottles can be found in Health food stores, grocery stores, drug stores, department stores, specialty stores and over the internet.

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What is Wild Ginseng?  Wild Ginseng, also known as Panax Quinquefolium, is ginseng that is not grown or cultivated by people.  Instead, it occurs naturally in the forests and is not maintained prior to harvesting.  For thousands of years, Asia has used ginseng as the primary herb to prevent and cure most illnesses and afflictions.  Ginseng is considered to be the ultimate herb.  Ginseng is an herb that supports mental, physical and sexual health.  At first, ginseng was only available to those who found it growing in the wild.  Wild Ginseng is believed to be the ultimate species of ginseng.  Because of its demand, Wild Ginseng is a rare commodity.  In the United States, the state of Wisconsin imposed a law that controls the harvesting, sale and purchase of the plant.  The United States is permitted to sell Wild Ginseng to international buyers only if the states that grow it can show that by exporting their product they are not depleting the resources.

In order to sell their harvest of Wild Ginseng, landowners must obtain a license.  A license is not required for those who cultivate the plant on their own land but do not sell it.  The license is free to those digging on their privately owned land.  Those digging on another’s land must purchase a license.  The fee is determined by whether or not the person is a resident of the state or not.  Read the rest of this entry »

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Siberian Ginseng is also called Eleuthero.  It has been used for thousands of years in the Eastern cultures such as China and Russian.  Though it has some similar qualities to American and Asian Ginseng, Siberian Ginseng is a unique plant with unique chemical substances.  Siberian Ginseng is used to promote energy, improve overall health, motivate a healthy appetite and promote memory function and capacity.  Siberian Ginseng is widely used in Russia to help the population acclimate themselves to the stresses of Russian living conditions.

Like American and Asian Ginseng, Siberian Ginseng is known to be an adaptogen.  Adaptogens are cited to balance out stress levels and either raise or lower blood pressure accordingly in patients who consume it.  Eleutherosides increase energy and endurance and activate the immune system.  Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: ginseng, siberian ginseng

Ginseng itself is widely known as the most perfect herb.  There are three different species of ginseng, one of which is Red Panax Ginseng.  Red Panax Ginseng is a natural ginseng product first used in Asia to prevent and treat a variety of illnesses and dysfunctions.  This form of ginseng is regarded as the best and most effective form of ginseng.  Red Panax Ginseng or Hong Ren Shen is red in color resulting from a customary steaming process.  Because this type of ginseng is steamed, it provides a warming effect of the body when taken.

All three ginseng types are comprised of ginsenosides.  The composition of ginsenosides varies according to the type of ginseng and therefore varies the effects of the ginseng.  Red Panax Ginseng has three times the amount of ginsenosides that the other species of ginseng for a total of twenty-four ginsenosides.  Some ginsenosides are known for activating the nervous system while others work to calm it.  Certain ginsenosides increase metobolic rates while others decrease it.  Because of Red Panax Ginseng’s warming effect, it is known to stimulate both the nervous system and the body’s ability to metabolize nutrients.  Asian Ginseng is available in its natural form as White Ginseng or in its steam treated form of Red Ginseng.  Red Panax Ginseng is naturally warm and henceforth prescribed to people who have cold sensations in their body.  Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: ginseng, red ginseng