If you notice your mental functions declining due to age, illness, stress, or hardening of the arteries, then ginseng may be your answer. In addition, European doctors prescribe Asian ginseng to also treat mood disorders such as depression, especially in the elderly. Helping us detoxify Chinese doctors have found that Asian ginseng lessens the side effects of chemotherapy and radiation in some cancer patients. Statistics from almost 2,000 individuals show that regular use of ginseng means fewer cancers of the mouth, lungs and stomach, liver, pancreas, and ovaries. Strong antioxidant properties in ginseng reduce harmful free-radicals that destroy cells and are thought to promote aging, hardening of the arteries, liver disease, and degeneration of the eyes and nerves.
Asian ginseng hastens recovery from alcohol's effects.
Preliminary studies indicate it does so by stimulating liver enzymes that detoxify alcohol, amphetamines drugs, and poisons like chloroform and help to improve chronic liver disease. It even helps people to recover more rapidly from alcohol's effects. Playing it safe Another benefit of adaptogens is that they produce very few side effects. Dr. Duke figures that the compounds in Asian ginseng, which are called ginsenosides, are about 10 times less toxic than the caffeine in coffee or the theobromine found in chocolate. Ginseng, however, can delay the absorption of pharmaceutical drugs , can reduce the actions of sedatives and narcotics, and can increases the potency of the heart medicine digitalis.