Ginseng

Ginseng is used throughout the Orient as a tonic for general weakness and extra energy. There are many types of ginseng: Eleuthrococcus senticosus

(Siberian ginseng), Panax quinquifolium (American ginseng), Panax ginseng ( Chinese or Korean ginseng ), and Panax japonicum ( Japanese ginseng ). Panax ginseng is the most widely used species.

Ginseng contains thirteen different ginsenosides (triterpenoid saponins ). The most important constituents include: panacaene, B-elemene and panaxinol, low-molecular weight starches, pectin, vitamins (B1, B2, B3, B5, B12 and biotin), choline, minerals, simple sugars, traces of germanium, and flavonoids.

The American Indians were familiar with ginseng. They called it gisens and used it for stomach and bronchial disorders, asthma, and neck pain.

Russian scientists claim that the ginseng root stimulates both physical and mental activity, improves endocrine glandular function, and has a positive effect on the sex glands. Today it is being used for fatigue because ginseng spares glycogen utilization in muscle by increasing the use of fatty acids as an energy source. It is also used to enhance athletic performance, to rejuvenate and to increase longevity, and to detoxify and normalize the entire system.

Many supplement combinations add ginseng to their products, but they contain such low amounts that it may not be effective. Lower doses of ginseng seem to raise blood pressure, while higher amounts lower the blood pressure. Research suggests that higher amounts may be effective for inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, without the side effects of steroids, and they also protect against the harmful effects of radiation. The hypoglycemic should avoid using large amounts of ginseng. Ginseng will benefit the diabetic, however, because it decreases serum cortisol levels. (Cortisol antagonizes insulin.)

We advise following the Russian approach: use ginseng for 15-20 days, followed by a rest period of two weeks. Avoid long-term usage of high amounts of ginseng, even though studies have shown no side effects. The root is sold in many forms: as a whole root, root pieces, or tails, which are either untreated or blanched; as a powder or powdered extract; as a liquid extract or concentrate; in granules for instant tea; as a tincture, in an oil base, and in tablets and capsules. These products should not contain sugar or added color, and should be pure ginseng.

Wakunaga of America Company distributes several high-quality Korean and Siberian ginseng products:

- ENAX PG1. High quality Korean ginseng that is processed according to the ancient method.

- ENAX EG1. Siberian ginseng powder made from wild, fully matured plants that have been harvested in a remote pollution-free northern Pacific islands.

ENAX EG2. Siberian ginseng extract and powder made from the same high quality plants as ENAX EG1, but of greater potency.

Essential oil Chemical composition

Terpenes, organic compounds consisting of isoprene units (containing five carbon atoms), are by far the most dominant constituents of essential oils. Individual oils, however, may contain appreciable quantities of straight chain, aromatic, or heterocyclic compounds. Thus allyl sulfides are characteristics of oil of garlic, traces of indole and anthranilic acid esters are found in orange oil, straight chain alcohols and aldehydes are recognized in oil of violets, and phenols and other aromatic compounds are common to many oils.

Terpenes are built up from units of the simple five-carbon molecule isoprene. Both hydrocarbons and oxygenated compounds such as alcohols, aldehydes, ketones, acids, esters, oxides, lactones, acetals, and phenols are responsible for the characteristic odours and flavours.

In some oils one or only a few components predominate: thus oil of wintergreen contains about 98 percent of methyl salicylate; orange oil, about 90 percent of d-limonene; bois de rose, 90 percent of linalool; and cassia, up to 95 percent of cinnamaldehyde. In most oils there is a mixture of anywhere from a few dozen to several hundred individual compounds. Trace components are very important, since they give the oil a characteristic and natural odour.

Essential oils are generally expensive, with prices ranging from several U.S. dollars per kilogram on the low side to several thousand dollars per kilogram. The high price of the natural oils coupled with their limited availability has encouraged a search for substitutes. Great progress has been made in the synthesis of individual components such as geraniol, citral, linalyl acetate, and the like. These synthetics have been combined with natural oils to extend supplies, and they have also been blended together in attempt to duplicate the oils themselves. Such reconstituted oils usually lack certain of the odour notes of the natural products, because of absence of trace ingredients, often unidentified, that may be present in the natural oils. They also tend to have a more « chemical » odour, because of trace impurities in the synthetics that are different from the components of natural oils.