Symmetry
Products with Ginseng:New
Attitude, NutraPack, Aloe Plus, Clarity,
Male Balance, ParaCleanse, Extreme
Fuel, Extreme Ignition, Ultra Vitality,
Future Star
The
ancient Chinese believed that
the root of the ginseng plant
was the crystallization of the
essence of the earth in the shape
of a man and that ginseng had
rejuvenating, recuperative, revitalizing,
and curative action. The first
Chinese Materia Medica written
by Shen-nong, stated that ginseng
was used for its tonic and tranquilizing
effects; that ginseng increased
alertness, brilliance, and concentration,
and improved memory; and that
prolonged ginseng use brought
about longevity.
Ginseng's
Reported Benefits:
*Increase
physical stamina and sexual prowess
in both men and women
*Circulation support
*Support of normal blood pressure
*Calming, restorative effect on
body
*Immune system support
There are two major ginseng species;
Asian ginseng (Panax ginseng)
and American ginseng (Panax
quinquefolium) The name of
panax derived from Greek, means
"all cure" (pan means all, ax
means cure). Ginseng meaning "wonder
of the world", has been known
and respected by the Chinese for
centuries. It is true that ginseng
possesses real value for support
of human health. Modern scientific
findings on ginseng have documented
many attributed uses of ginseng.
Tonic action of ginseng has been
the most persistent; it is now
often described as "tonic up the
cerebral cortex" and good to relieve
stress (an "adaptogen" activity).
Ginseng has a "universal defense
action" and meets all 3 requirements
for adaptation effects.
1. Ginseng is not toxic and has
no side effects. It does not cause
any discomfort or disorder in
the physiological functions of
the body.
2. The action of ginseng is neither
local nor specific; i.e. it is
believed to increase the body's
strength resistance to adverse
stress (chemical, physical or
biological agents)
3. Ginseng is a regulator, exhibiting
normalizing effects of the body
including the regulating effects
of high and low blood pressure
Ginseng has been used in traditional
Asian medicine for centuries as
a general tonic and cardiotonic
agent. Scientific studies provide
evidence of these biological effects
of ginseng and also support the
uses of ginseng for other health
benefits.
The usage of Asian and American
ginseng is very different according
to the famous Chinese pharmaceutical
compendium and Chinese traditional
medicine of Yin Yang.
American Ginseng possesses "cooling"
property to the body, while Asian
ginseng possesses "warming". Therefore,
people with the "warming" body
should only take American ginseng
which is "cooling" , but people
with "cooling" body should only
take Asian ginseng instead. Otherwise,
contradictions exist, particularly
for people with weaknesses. It
is no wonder that American ginseng
is often used to for stress and
fatigue, but not Asian (Chinese
and Korean ) ginseng, which has
more stimulating and depleting
effects.
Lu, Okauda and Yoshida, Lewis
Muwalla and Abuirmeileh, and Kaku
et al reported that American ginseng
has insulin-like activity, influences
neuralgic reactions, supports
normal total cholesterol level
and supports heart and blood circulatory
functions. This research on American
ginseng found that ginseng has
the ability to balance and tone
the biochemistry system of the
body, strengthen the immune system,
provide enormous energy, eliminate
the daily fatigue, enhance vitality,
and improve physical and mental
strength. In addition, American
ginseng is supportive of blood
pressure and cardiovascular health.
The differences between American
and Asian ginseng's are well documented
not only by Chinese traditional
doctors, but also by modern scientists,
It is found that the differences
in the active, constituents may
account for the differing properties
of American and Asian ginseng.
Shibata's group and Staba and
his colleagues found that the
types of saponins in American
ginseng are similar to those in
Asian ginseng, the exceptions
that ginsenosides Ra and Rf found
in Asian ginseng are absent from
American ginseng. There are some
differences in quantity of ginsenosides
Rg and Re groups between American
ginseng and Asian ginseng. Furthermore,
the relative abundance of panaxadiols
and panaxatrios differs in the
two ginseng species. American
ginseng contains very few ginsenosides
with central nervous system support,
therefore it is regarded as a
"cooling agent".
EFFECTS
OF GINSENG ON SPORTS PERFORMANCE
Ginseng has been suggested to
enhance sports performance though
studies results are mixed. Athletes
from beginning joggers to Olympic
contenders agree that ginseng
helps them overcome the strain
and drain of exercise. A recent
Swiss study conducted by Dr. Anton
Kirchdorfer shows how ginseng
helps. Thirty athletes were given
exercise tests on a programmed
exercise cycling machine to assure
a specific level of muscle work.
The heart rate and lactate concentration
in the blood was measured before,
immediately after and for several
minutes following the exercise.
Strong exertion for eight minutes
raised the athletes heart rate
from an average value of about
70 to 155 (more than doubled).
During recuperation, their heart
rate slowly returned to normal
over a period of about 20 minutes;
their heart rates fell below 100
after 4-5 minutes.
The athletes were then given ginseng
daily for nine weeks. The tests
were conducted again, using the
same amount of exercise. Their
pulse rates this time increased
to only 140, and during recuperation
their heart rates fell blow 100
within just 3 minutes, and were
back to normal in 5 minutes.
Lactate (the substance that causes
muscular pain following prolonged
exercise) was measured during
the same tests. Before using ginseng,
the lactate levels of the athletes
increased from 2.0 before exercise
to 10.5 afterward, without returning
to normal levels even after 20
minutes. Following nine weeks
of ginseng administration, lactate
acid levels only reached 6.2 at
their highest point, and decreased
to normal in about twenty minutes.
These figures suggest the athletes
were using oxygen much more efficiently
after taking ginseng. Thus, their
hearts did not need to pump as
fast, and they did not produce
as much lactic acid, (the by-product
of carbohydrate metabolism). The
quicker return to normal physiologic
conditions also indicates that
there is less stress to the entire
system.
The blood carries oxygen to the
cells of the body. In the cells,
oxygen combines with chemicals
obtained from food. Energy produced
during the process makes it possible
for each cell to perform its function
in the body. Ginseng supports
the basal metabolic rate.
More
about ginseng:
Ginseng
stimulates both physical and mental
activity.
Ginseng greatly strengthens and
protects the human body from stress.
Ginseng increases physical and
mental efficiency, improves accuracy
of work, contributes to one's
concentration.
Ginseng stimulates and improves
the work of the brain cells. Ginseng
is well known to support of the
nervous system
Ginseng supports the function
of the endocrine glands.
The statements
on this web page have not been
evaluated by the Food and Drug
Administration. Symmetry products
are not meant to diagnose, treat,
cure or prevent any disease. In
all matters related to your health
please contact a qualified, licensed
health practitioner.
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