Ginseng has been used for centuries as a traditional medicine in different parts of the world. The Chinese, Koreans, and Native Americans have been cultivating this wonderful plant to alleviate different kinds of diseases. And one of ginseng’s help is its ability to lessen or eliminate menopause symptoms.
What is Ginseng?
Ginseng has a variety of species that belongs to the genus Panax of the family Araliaceae. However, Panax ginseng (Asian or Korean ginseng) and Panax quinquefolius (American ginseng) are the two main types of the genus Panax. In Chinese traditional medicine, American ginseng is said to be less stimulant.
For 5,000 years, ancient Chinese cultures believed that it could heal the soul and the heart. Native Americans have used American ginseng to treat various types of illnesses. It originated from the Chinese word, “reshen”, which means “man root”. On the other hand, its scientific word “Panax” came from the Greek words “Pan” meaning “all”, and “akos” meaning “cure”.
Ginseng for Menopause
Many women use the herb root as a relief from menopause symptoms. Many claim that almost all menopausal signs could be treated by ginseng such as hot flashes, decreased libido, and mood swings. Additionally, due to a component of ginseng called, “ginsenosides”, it provides stamina and energy therefore eliminating fatigue during the day.
What is Ginseng Used for?
Ginseng contains phytoestrogens that have a very similar structure to estrogens in women’s bodies. It could fill up the decreasing estrogen levels in menopausal women that help in the management of menopause symptoms or could even totally eliminate symptoms with regular consumption. Ginseng also has ginsenosides that provide stamina and strengthen the immune system.
Aside from alleviating menopause symptoms, ginseng is also used for the treatment of severe colds in adults. According to a study from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Ginseng has positive effects to our immune system. It also has anti-carcinogenic properties, glucose regulating properties and improves learning and memory.
Ginseng could also treat heart disease, erectile dysfunction, hepatitis C, high blood pressure, and other ailments. However, there are no adequate studies that prove its effectiveness in such diseases.
Risk in taking Ginseng
It may bring mild side effects to some people. Some have reported having nervousness and insomnia during treatment. On the other hand, long-term use of high doses can lead to stomach upsets, dizziness, and nausea. It may also have interactions with drugs for diabetes, Warfarin and depression. It is also not recommended for pregnant or breastfeeding women due to lack of evidence for the safety of its use to this particular group.
Healing with Ginseng
The herb can be taken in different forms such as tea, powder or extract. The chopped dried ginseng roots can be taken as herbal tea.
Ginseng can be planted in your own backyard. However, it is recommended that they should be growing at least 5 years before the roots are harvested. This ensures that your ginseng grows with quality. If you are going to need ginseng immediately, you can look for them in the market.
Ginseng is also widely available in supplement form.
Below you find some good Ginseng products that are natural and organic.
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Herbs in Chinese Medicine: Ginseng (1.14 min long) |
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Gita is the founder of My Menopause Journey. Since 2014, she has been supporting midlife women by sharing hard-earned learnings from her own experience. To advance her knowledge, Gita puts a lot of her time and effort into understanding the broad spectrum of women’s health. She immerses in extensive research about the physical, mental and emotional aspects of menopause. Gita believes in the life-changing power of healthy, holistic living — this is where she anchors her message to all women. Learn more about her marvelous mission in About us - My Menopause Journey.