In a trial conducted by the Mayo Clinic, the herb commonly known as American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius), showed good results in helping cancer patients with fatigue, when compared to a placebo.
The findings, to be presented at the annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, looked at 340 patients in the later stages of or undergoing cancer treatment. 60% of patients have breast cancer. Every day, patients being treated at one of 40 different community health centers are given 2,000 mg of pure American ginseng root in a capsule.
Researcher Debra Barton, of the Mayo Clinic Cancer Center is quick to point out that the quality of the herb is important and that people don’t necessarily have to rush to their health food store and start taking any. old ginseng. “Excess ginseng is sometimes processed with ethanol, which can give it estrogen-like properties that can be harmful to breast cancer patients,” she continued.
There was no major improvement after four weeks, it was clear that the herb took some time to work its magic, but at the 8 week mark there was an unexpected jump in overall energy levels reported by the team on ginseng when compared with the placebo group. General exhaustion decreased rapidly in people taking ginseng supplements.
Dr. Barton said that the herb had no obvious side effects in patients taking it and commented: “After eight weeks, we saw a 20 point improvement in fatigue in cancer patients, as measured on the 100 point standard scale
Webmd.com lists a wide range of possible side effects of American Ginseng, including varying blood pressure, headaches, nervousness, skin rashes, and vaginal bleeding. It also makes clear to distinguish between Panax, Siberian and American Ginseng, which are considered to have different properties.
Interestingly, American ginseng contains a group of chemicals called ginsenosides, which is probably a name formed after the herb’s name. These active ingredients are thought to act on insulin levels to help lower blood sugar. Other chemicals include polysaccharides, which most likely have some effect on the immune system.
Ginseng is known for its properties in treating a variety of ailments, including fatigue, stress, diabetes, and insomnia, and it is generally considered good for erectile dysfunction, while some people possible by it as a better hangover cure. It has become so popular in recent years that some states have threatened to add it to a protected list to prevent wild breeders from growing in the United States.
Up to 90% of cancer patients report a debilitating fatigue, as the immune system fights off inflammatory cytokines and the hormone called cortisol becomes unbalanced. Cortisol affects how the body regulates stress. Ginseng has been shown in animal studies to act on both of these factors, reducing inflammation and regulating cortisol.
Whether by accident or design, many repair herbs are all ridiculed by the medical and pharmaceutical industries. Echinacea common cold cures have been hit recently with research showing that it has no effect against flu or colds. I’m sure many people will disagree with that from their personal experience, and it’s great to see Ginseng, which has been touted for centuries as a trusted herbal remedy, get the credit. receive worthy.
While people should always be vigilant to avoid snake oil and magic potions, there is simply some common sense for some of these old herbal remedies. Until recently, there seemed to be little incentive to spend time and money funding scientific research on a scale comparable to that needed to regulate industrially manufactured products.
Written by Rupert Shepherd