American Ginseng and its many healing benefits

American Ginseng is similar to an Asian herb called Panax Ginseng or Korean Ginseng, but it’s smaller in size. The plant grows from Maine to Georgia and Oklahoma to Minnesota.

The root is the part of the plant that is useful for herbal healing. The root is first chopped up then it can be chewed. You might not enjoy the flavor though. It is sweet to taste at first then turns bitter when chewed.

Health Benefits of American Ginseng

The American variety of this plant is known to stimulate the appetite and is beneficial for various health concerns, including headaches, coughs, bronchitis, colds, rheumatism, constipation, lung issues and it promotes a healthy libido.

American ginseng is especially beneficial for many specific health conditions, including the following

• Diabetes – Many researchers believe this herb may help to control and prevent type 2 diabetes

• High Blood Pressure – The American variety of this herb contains substances which regulate blood pressure and heart beat strength. Substances called “saponines” slow the rate that the heart muscle contracts if a person is deficient in potassium and increases heart muscle contraction if a person has excess amounts of potassium in the body. Keeping a good balance of potassium levels in the body helps maintain healthy blood pressure levels. Research shows that this herb promotes the conversion of amino acid called arginine into nitric oxide. Nitric oxide is known is to dilate blood vessel walls. This also helps lower blood pressure levels.

• Improved fertility – Several Native American tribes are known to have used this herb to treat infertility in women, but no research has been done to show the plant’s effectiveness in treating infertility. It is thought that this herb might promote the growth of the uterine lining by stimulating the pituitary gland. The Korean variety of this plant is known to have this effect on the pituitary gland.

• Improved Sex Drive – The American variety of this plant, like its Chinese cousin, has long been used to improve or restore male libido. Human studies to test this theory have been difficult to carry out, but animal studies show that this herb works to increase sexual desire by changing the effect of a neurotransmitter called dopamine on the brain.

• Stress – This herb has adaptogenic qualities, which means its helps the body handle stress in an improved way. When taken for a long period of time, the American variety of this plant helps to regulate the production of stress hormones in the body. In this way, it beneficially reduces the body’s reaction to stressful situations.

Considerations and uses

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