Get an Energy Lift and Boost Your Immune System with Ginseng

Ginseng has been used for thousands of years in traditional Chinese Medicine. Ginseng works like a thermostat in your central heating and air conditioning in your home. What I mean by that is your thermostat tells your unit what the temperature currently is and then brings it up or down to the temperature that you have set on the thermostat.

Ginseng works in a similar way in the body like the thermostat on your AC unit. It helps you adjust to physical stressors like heat and cold but also to the stress of modern life. That is why Ginseng is called an adaptogen. It helps your body adapt to any circumstances, depending on your body’s need.

The definition of an adaptogen is a compound that has a normalizing influence on your body regardless of the direction of the change caused by the stressor on your body.

The use of Ginseng when used properly (will let you know what properly is later) can give you a boost. It seems to help the immune system. In control studies it showed that the ginseng group got significantly fewer cases of flue and the common cold and had a significantly higher antibodies.

Germany’s Commission E (like the FDA in our country) approved ginseng as a supplement to fight lack of stamina. It improved the quality of a person’s life that was subjected to high stress as well as a treatment for functional fatigue. The commission also noted that there were no known side effects with had no interaction with conventional drugs.

Ginseng and Blood Sugar

Recently there have been several studies that have shown ginseng can lower blood sugar in people with or without diabetes.  Studies that were done with type 2 diabetes ginseng taker experienced an 18 to 22 percent lower level of blood sugar after drinking a sugar solution.

In a journal titled Annuls of the Academe of Medicine Singapore titled Ginseng the article concluded that compounds in ginseng (saponins) had

  • Postitive anti-mutagenic
  • Anti-Cancer,
  • Anti-inflammatory
  • anti-diabetes
  • neuro vascular effects
  • normalizing high or low blood pressure,

What kind of Ginseng is the Best?

There are basically 2 types of Ginseng, American (Panax quinquefolius) and the Asian or Korean ginseng (Panax ginseng). There is another called Siberian ginseng but it is not a true ginseng and may not have as many medicinal properties. Sometimes you may see labels that say White or Red Ginseng. This simply refers to the way that ginseng is processed. The white is the dried or unprocessed and the read has been steamed or heat dried.

Some Brands of Ginseng May not Be Effective

Unfortunately you can’t just go and pick up a bottle of ginseng at the store and be assured that it will give you results. Because dietary supplements are not subject to the same regulations that pharmaceuticals are, there is concern among health care professionals that these products may lack purity or potency.

A study was completed at the University of CA, Davis. The goal of the study was to determine the quality and amount of ginseng in 25 products that had been obtained from the health food store. When each product was tested it stated.

There was also significant product-to-product variability: concentrations of ginsenosides varied by 15- and 36-fold in capsules and liquids, respectively, and concentrations of eleutherosides varied by 43- and 200-fold in capsules and liquids, respectively.

Shaklee Corporation is the number 1 Natural Food Supplement Company in the United States and produces a product called Cor Energy that uses standardized extracts so you are guaranteed the results. Each serving contains 200 mg Panax ginseng extract standardized to contain 10% ginsenosides.

Here is a chart that compares Ginsensides (an active component of ginseng)

Gensing levels compared

Shaklee’s CorEnergy contains another important ingredient called Cordycep Mushroom.Traditional Chinese medicine often finds Cordyceps combined with ginseng. Recent advances in Cordyceps cultivation have led to different strains one of which is found in Shaklee CorEnergy.

Clinical studies have shown the benefits of Cordyceps in

  • Reducing fatigue
  • Enhancing physical and mental performance,
  • liver protection and restoration,
  • reducing plasma lipids and triglycerides, and
  • improvement of renal function.

How Long Does it take to feel the effect of Ginseng or Shaklee Cor Energy?

Shaklee Corporation maker of Cor Energy suggest that you take the 3 recommended capsules spread out through the day, one with each meal. And they also mention that
clinical testing shows some people experience increased energy right away,   while for others it may take up to eight weeks.

Remember this is not a quick energy pill to pop on the days you are tired but rather taken on a daily basis. Women who are pregnant or nursing should not take ginseng unless recommended by your health care professional.




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