The ancient herb ginseng is showing up more often as an ingredient in several food items such as teas and energy drinks. Although ginseng is a traditional Asian herb, some varieties are cultivated in the United States. Ginseng has been used for many years to treat symptoms of certain medical conditions, including stress-related disorders, and to increase energy. If you suffer from these symptoms, or are looking to use ginseng as an alternative treatment, consult your physician to determine whether it is an appropriate treatment for you.
Stress
Stress is part of life. In general, environmental factors contribute to your stress. These factors often include stress from your job, family, finances or other relationships. However, not all stress is bad. Mild stress helps motivate you to get things accomplished. Prolonged or chronic stress can have deleterious effects on your health. If you are unable to rid your life of the stressor, some form of treatment may be necessary.
Adrenal Fatigue or Exhaustion
Opinions vary regarding adrenal fatigue or adrenal exhaustion. MayoClinic.com notes that its formal title, adrenal insufficiency, is used to describe a set of symptoms that seem to develop as a result of an imbalance in adrenaline levels. Moreover, the regular occurrence of these symptoms can also have negative effects on your mood.
Ginseng
According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, ginseng is often used to treat stress. Although it does not address the cause of stress, its ability to help the body cope with stress accounts for its popularity as an adaptogen. In addition, ginseng has been used to treat other types of biochemically induced fatigue such as that related to cancer chemotherapy. MayoClinic.com affirms that when 1,000 to 2,000 mg of ginseng was administered to cancer patients, they noticed more consistent energy levels and an increased sense of overall well-being.
Dosage
If your physician confirms that ginseng may be an effective treatment for either standard stress or adrenal exhaustion, you will find that ginseng is available in several forms. Take 100 to 200 mg, or 1/4 to 1/2 tsp. of a standard ginseng extract, one to three times per day. If you prefer to take the fresh ginseng root instead, take 1 to 2 g per day up to three months.
