Ginseng Essay -- Ginseng Plant Plants Science Essays

Ginseng What is ginseng? Ginseng is listed as an adaptogen. Hans Selye, a listed expert on stress, defines an adaptogen as a "non-toxic substance which reinforces the bodys ability to react to stress" (http:/www.sunwellness.com/ginseng.html). It is offered in a variety of species each yielding a different response. What is ginseng made of? Ginseng is a plant with many different components. It is used in its entirety in the preparation of teas, powders, and capsules. It contains saponins, or soaplike materials, that have been named with various numbers and letters, such as Rg1. Its root is said to have a composition similar to that of a steroid (http://www.mkservices.com/ginseng/ more.html) ) It contains compounds containing hydrogen, carbon, and oxygen in the proportion C42 H72O14, (Liu et al., 1995). What is it promised to do? Ginseng is said to have many effects on the human body. The cooling effects or relaxing effects are felt from the "Yin" ginsengs such as the American or Siberian species. The warming or stimulating effects are seen from the "Yang" ginsengs which include the species of Korean and Chinese ginsengs (http://www.tenzing.com/g.html). What they are saying: Promised effects Where they are saying it: Internet addresses stimulated mental and physical activity, improved accuracy of work, prevents http://www.mkservices.con-L/ginseng/more.html fatigue, stimulation of endocrine glands, improves memory http://www.com-star.com/ginseng/about.html strengthen the heart and nervous system, builds mental and physical vitality, builds resistance to disease, stimulates endocrine glands http://www.dacom.co.kr/O/o7Ekkm55/moreinfo.html recommended for: decreased health conditions, han... ...ss-induced antinocicpetion in mice. Pharmacology, Biochemistry & Behavior, 52(2) 427-32. Nishiyama N., Wang YL., Saito H. (1995). Beneficial effects of S-113m, a novel herbal prescription, on learning impairment model in mice. Biological & Pharmaceutical Buletin, 18 (11), 1498-503. Van Schepdael P. (1993). Effect of Ginseng G115 on the physical condition of triathletes. Acta Therapeutica, 19(4), 337-347. Wiklund I., Karlberg J., Lund B. (1994). A double-blind comparison of the effect on quality of life of a combination of vital substances including standardized ginseng G115 and placebo. Current Therapeutic Research, 55(1) 32-42. Zhang Y., Takashina K., Saito H., Nishiyama N. (1994). Anti-aging effect of DX-9386 in senescence accelerated mouse. Melissa Schweikhart Vanderbilt University Nashville, Tennessee Health Psychology 115A December 10, 1996 Ginseng Essay -- Ginseng Plant Plants Science Essays Ginseng What is ginseng? Ginseng is listed as an adaptogen. Hans Selye, a listed expert on stress, defines an adaptogen as a "non-toxic substance which reinforces the bodys ability to react to stress" (http:/www.sunwellness.com/ginseng.html). It is offered in a variety of species each yielding a different response. What is ginseng made of? Ginseng is a plant with many different components. It is used in its entirety in the preparation of teas, powders, and capsules. It contains saponins, or soaplike materials, that have been named with various numbers and letters, such as Rg1. Its root is said to have a composition similar to that of a steroid (http://www.mkservices.com/ginseng/ more.html) ) It contains compounds containing hydrogen, carbon, and oxygen in the proportion C42 H72O14, (Liu et al., 1995). What is it promised to do? Ginseng is said to have many effects on the human body. The cooling effects or relaxing effects are felt from the "Yin" ginsengs such as the American or Siberian species. The warming or stimulating effects are seen from the "Yang" ginsengs which include the species of Korean and Chinese ginsengs (http://www.tenzing.com/g.html). What they are saying: Promised effects Where they are saying it: Internet addresses stimulated mental and physical activity, improved accuracy of work, prevents http://www.mkservices.con-L/ginseng/more.html fatigue, stimulation of endocrine glands, improves memory http://www.com-star.com/ginseng/about.html strengthen the heart and nervous system, builds mental and physical vitality, builds resistance to disease, stimulates endocrine glands http://www.dacom.co.kr/O/o7Ekkm55/moreinfo.html recommended for: decreased health conditions, han... ...ss-induced antinocicpetion in mice. Pharmacology, Biochemistry & Behavior, 52(2) 427-32. Nishiyama N., Wang YL., Saito H. (1995). Beneficial effects of S-113m, a novel herbal prescription, on learning impairment model in mice. Biological & Pharmaceutical Buletin, 18 (11), 1498-503. Van Schepdael P. (1993). Effect of Ginseng G115 on the physical condition of triathletes. Acta Therapeutica, 19(4), 337-347. Wiklund I., Karlberg J., Lund B. (1994). A double-blind comparison of the effect on quality of life of a combination of vital substances including standardized ginseng G115 and placebo. Current Therapeutic Research, 55(1) 32-42. Zhang Y., Takashina K., Saito H., Nishiyama N. (1994). Anti-aging effect of DX-9386 in senescence accelerated mouse. Melissa Schweikhart Vanderbilt University Nashville, Tennessee Health Psychology 115A December 10, 1996