1. Be Careful of Ginseng Impostors
There are two main types of ginseng: Asian and American. The first is native to China and Korea and has been an important herb in the traditional medicinal systems of both cultures for thousands of years, but American ginseng is also pretty popular. It's grown mainly in Canada and the United States, but it's prized in Asian markets for its potency and health benefits. Aside from these two varieties, however, there are a number of impostor plants claimed to be ginseng, even though they're not. The most prominent of these is Siberian Ginseng, which despite its name doesn't have as much of the active ingredient as the other varieties.
2. Ginseng Gives Your Brain a Boost
One of the most touted benefits of ginseng is its ability to improve the efficiency and speed of your thinking. A handful of studies have shown that daily doses of between 200 to 400 mg of the herb can mildly improve mental performance. These studies have also shown that taking ginseng benefits patients regardless of their age, making it an appealing supplement for the elderly, who often experience declines in thinking and memory as they age.
3. Ginseng Lowers Blood Sugar
In addition to its effect on mental performance, ginseng also has an effect on your body's blood sugar. Research on adults with type 2 diabetes suggests that ginseng may actually lower blood sugar before and after eating. Unfortunately, there has not been enough research done to show these same benefits in patients with type 1 diabetes who are dependent on insulin to manage their blood sugar.
4. Watch Out for Side Effects
Test subjects using moderate amounts of ginseng as a dietary supplement usually tolerate it pretty well. However, there are a few side effects you should consider before adding ginseng to your diet. Headaches, loss of appetite, diarrhea, insomnia and irritability are common, while dizziness, nausea, heart palpitations, chest pain and mania are more rare. As with any herbal supplement, it's important to talk to your health care provider before including it in your diet to avoid potential problems.
5. Take Your Ginseng With a Grain of Salt
Companies selling ginseng often market the herb as a sort of cure-all for the ailments of modern life. High blood pressure, low white blood cell counts, heart disease, sexual dysfunction and even cancer have all been said to improve with ginseng treatment. However, authorities in medical research like the Mayo Clinic caution against believing such claims, saying that in most cases there simply isn't enough hard scientific evidence to prove their validity.
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