uses and benefits of American ginseng

A brief article about American Ginseng, its uses and benefits, plus background information. Some specifics about ginsenosides of this type of ginseng as opposed to others. A non biased assessment of potential uses in treating various ailments including type 2 diabetes and ADHD.

American Ginseng

Other Names: Anchi, Canadian Ginseng, Five Fingers, North American Ginseng, Panax quinquefolius, Red Berry, Ren Shen, Tienchi

American Ginseng Uses and Benefits

NOTE: American ginseng is different from Panax ginseng and Eleuthero (formerly Siberian ginseng). They are not interchangeable.

As its name indicates, American ginseng is native to North America. While it is related to Panax ginseng, which originated in Asia, American ginseng is a distinct species with a different chemical makeup than Panax ginseng. Most notably, American ginseng typically has higher levels of a chemical known as ginsenoside Rb1 and no ginsenoside Rf. Ginsenoside Rb1 is believed to limit or prevent the growth of new blood vessels. American ginseng has not been studied as extensively as Panax ginseng, but, in general, ginsengs are considered to be adaptogens, or substances that may help individuals adjust to physical and emotional stress.

American ginseng may have several main effects in the body. For example, in small studies of humans, taking American ginseng has appeared to lower blood sugar levels for individuals with type 2 diabetes. Non-diabetic study participants also experienced reductions in blood sugar levels, although their reductions were smaller than those seen in individuals with diabetes. Results from one small study in children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) showed that American ginseng combined with ginkgo biloba may help to control disruptive behavior associated with ADHD. American ginseng has also been shown in animal and laboratory studies to protect nerve cells from damage caused by a lack of oxygen. In humans, this effect could help prevent or limit impairment from strokes. None of these potential effects have been studied well enough to recommend the use of American ginseng to treat any of these conditions.

Even though American ginseng is thought to have estrogen-like components that ordinarily may worsen hormone-dependent conditions such as some types of breast cancer; laboratory studies have shown that it may have a cancer-fighting effect for breast cancer cells. Both the methods used to process American ginseng and possible fungal contamination may contribute to potential estrogenic effects. Further studies of American ginseng’s possible use as add-on therapy for breast cancer and investigations of its potential to relieve symptoms of menopause are underway.

Frequently, American ginseng is added to sports supplements and beverages that are promoted to increase physical performance. In small studies, however, products containing American ginseng did not show any benefit over placebo (sugar pills) for athletes who took it.