Ginseng is a slow-growing perennial herb native to North America and parts of Asia. Its roots are harvested and used in herbal medicine when the plant is three to six years old. Ginseng has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for 5,000 years to treat and prevent a variety of health conditions, including some related to hormonal imbalance. Ginseng is regarded as an adaptogen, an herb that helps your body manage stress.
Testosterone
Ginseng exerts a variety of physiological effects, including increasing testosterone in men, according to Marcello Spinella, Ph.D., author of the "Concise Handbook of Psychoactive Herbs: Medicinal Herbs for Treating Psychological and Neurological Problems." However, a study published in the March 2007 issue of the "Asian Journal of Andrology" found that Korean red ginseng improved symptoms of erectile dysfunction but did not increase levels of the hormones testosterone and prolactin. Participants in the study took 1,000 mg of Korean red ginseng three times per day for 12 weeks. Results showed up to 67 percent symptom improvement. Researchers concluded that Korean red ginseng may be an effective, safe and natural alternative to more invasive treatments for erectile dysfunction in some men.
Stress Hormones
Ginseng helps slow the aging process by balancing stress hormone levels, according to naturopath Mark Stengler, author of the book "The Natural Physician's Healing Therapies." Chronic high cortisol levels and low dehydroepiandrosterone, or DHEA, levels accelerate aging by promoting oxidation and impairing blood sugar levels. Some types of ginseng also provide antioxidant benefits, and ginseng's energy-boosting benefits improve alertness and motor coordination, all of which help slow the aging process.
Adaptogenic
Ginseng's adaptogenic activity also helps increase levels of stress hormones when depleted and lowers stress hormone levels when elevated. A study published in the April 2006 issue of the "Canadian Medical Association Journal" found that ginseng increases the effectiveness of the adrenal stress hormone DHEA and reduces cortisol levels, leading to an improved ratio of these hormones and enhanced immune function.
Blood Sugar
Panax ginseng improves blood sugar levels by improving insulin activity and sensitivity, according to a study published in the July 2010 issue of the "Journal of Ethnopharmacology." In the laboratory animal study, 12 days of supplementation with ginseng extract significantly decreased fasting blood sugar levels, improved glucose tolerance and promoted weight loss. Panax ginseng also improved sensitivity to leptin, a hormone-like molecule that controls appetite. Results of this preliminary study suggest that panax ginseng may be helpful at preventing and treating diabetes and obesity. Asian ginseng is the most effective form of ginseng for managing insulin levels, according to Vijai K. Pasupuleti, author of the book "Nutraceuticals, Glycemic Health and Type 2 Diabetes."
References
- "CMAJ"; Ginseng Enhances the Effectiveness of DHEA; James M. Howard; April 2006
- "Asian Journal of Andrology"; Study of the Efficacy of Korean Red Ginseng in the Treatment of Erectile Dysfunction; E. De Andrade, et al.; March 2007
- "Journal of Ethnopharmacology"; Anti-Diabetic Effects of Panax Notoginseng Saponins and Its Major Anti-Hyperglycemic Components; C. Yang, et al.; July 2010
- "Concise Handbook of Psychoactive Herbs: Medicinal Herbs for Treating ... "; Marcello Spinella; 2005
- "Nutraceuticals, Glycemic Health and Type 2 Diabetes"; Vijai K. Pasupuleti, et al.; 2008
