For centuries, North American Ginseng has been used to support health and vitality. Scientific research is now providing preliminary evidence supporting its medicinal potential in a variety of body systems and disorders, including enhancing the immune response, which helps fight infections. Two key studies compared Ontario-grown North American Ginseng with a placebo in randomized, double-blind studies. One of these trials evaluated North American Ginseng (NAG) in the prevention of acute respiratory illness in 198 elderly adults within an institutional setting. After 8-12 weeks of treatment with the NAG extract, the seniors experienced an 89% reduction in the risk of developing cold or flu. Most of these seniors had received flu vaccinations (90%) and the Ontario Ginseng extract appeared to be safe and complementary. Several laboratory studies have demonstrated the immune-enhancing effects of North American Ginseng and one of its concentrated products has become the best-selling product for the prevention and treatment of acute respiratory infections in Canada. (McElhaney JE, 2004), (Gerald N. Predy, 2005) References: McElhaney JE, Gravenstein S, Cole SK, et al. A placebo-controlled trial of a proprietary extract of North American ginseng (CVT-E002) to prevent acute respiratory illness in institutionalized older adults. J Am Geriatr Soc 2004 Jan;52(1) : 13-9. Gerald N. Predy, Efficacy of an extract of North American ginseng containing poly-furanosyl-pyranosyl-saccharides for preventing upper respiratory tract infections: a randomized controlled trial. J Canadian Medical Association (CMAJ) October 25, 2005, 173(9): 1043-1048