American Ginseng
Ginseng is the common name for a family of perennial plants found in Korea, China, Japan, Russia and North America. The traditional medicinal use of ginseng dates back thousands of years, and in recent years researchers have started investigating its ability to treat or prevent a number of ailments, including cancer. While its effectiveness has not been fully determined, there are signs that ginseng may have a place in future treatment options.
About Ginseng
The term ginseng most frequently refers to Asian ginseng (panax ginseng) or American ginseng (panax quinquefolius). Each of these plants has similar chemical actions, and are commercially available as a dried whole root, or in powder, tea or capsule form. No set dosages or potencies of ginseng preparations have been established. Despite its long usage in Asia, Western investigation of the plant did not begin until the 1950s. This difference in usage patterns explains some of the modern controversies surrounding ginseng. While alternative practitioners point to a long-standing history of medicinal effectiveness, empirical researchers emphasize the lack of clear, well-designed scientific studies.
Ginseng and Cancer
Medical interest in ginseng root centers on a group of substances called ginsenosides. Laboratory tests have shown that some ginsenosides have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, while others boost immune function or slow the growth of isolated cancer cells. None of these tests involved giving ginseng to human subjects.
Other studies have involved people, but results are controversial. For example, a study conducted in Korea in 1997 found that ginseng is generally effective in lowering cancer rates. Another study conducted in China indicated that ginseng may help prevent breast cancer. However, organizations like the American Cancer Society dispute the validity of these results, partially because the Asian studies did not specifically identify the ways in which ginseng works. Generally, the studies are considered too poorly designed to be of benefit.
Problems of Purity
Part of the problem stems from the current lack of controls on commercial ginseng. Unlike substances that are officially classed as medications, ginseng is considered a supplement, and has not gone through rigorous study by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Typically, this sort of study involves testing standardized amounts of a given substance in strict laboratory conditions. Ginseng, however, is not standardized, and versions of the root are marketed by manufacturers that have no obligation to create a product of reliable strength or purity. In 2010, the FDA will begin tightening its standards for medicinal supplements, but until then ginseng is largely whatever its marketers claim it to be.
Signs of Promise
American researchers have begun to show ginseng's potential effectiveness in one cancer-related area. In 2007, researchers at the Mayo Clinic found that ginseng may help in easing the fatigue that accompanies cancer. Ginseng injections may also offset some of the side effects of chemotherapy. However, these results are preliminary at best.
Shoud You Take Ginseng?
Given all of this, should you take ginseng as a cancer preventive? As of now, there is no clear evidence to support such action. While it is generally thought to be safe, possible ginseng side effects include headaches, restlessness and increased heart rate. There is the additional problem of knowing which ginseng manufacturers to trust. As with any alternative health activity, consult your physician before beginning regular ginseng therapy.
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