The day Franco Caligiuri picked up a bottle of ginseng was the day his life changed. This financial planner in Vancouver had been suffering from severe headaches and nosebleeds on a nearly daily basis and thought, why not try it?

Franco is pretty knowledgeable about natural health products and has been known to pop a vitamin C or two, but nothing could have prepared him for the benefits of the incredible herb, ginseng.

It is perhaps the most well-known longevity tonic - for good reason. Revered in China, Japan, and Korea for centuries, ginseng has more recently made a big splash in Western medicine.

“Man plant,” as it’s called due to its elongated root shape, is a stimulant, rejuvenator, anti-fatigue and physical-endurance enhancer, and long-time favourite supplement for sexual-related problems.

“It’s great for the adrenal glands,” explains Dr. Alison Vandekerkhove of the New Leaf Naturopathic Clinic in Langley, BC. “The adrenal glands regulate our sex and stress hormones.” This is why, for instance, you’ll find ginseng in formulas for PMS, menopause, and the like.

Ginseng is not, however, an excitant like caffeine so you won’t get the coffee shakes. On the contrary, this herb contributes to overall well-being because it’s an “adaptogen,” meaning it helps the body adapt to stress.

American (Panax) and Siberian varieties have been proven to strengthen general resistance to a range of mind, body, and environmental factors that negatively impact health. Siberian ginseng also has an impressively studied history in Russia in reducing flu, respiratory disease, hypertension, and ischemic heart disease.

Dr. Vandekerkhove recommends Panax ginseng for those wanting more energy. She likes Siberian ginseng for its gentler effect and suggests ginseng with licorice and oats for a good herbal balancing blend.

Whatever your choice of ingestion, Dr. Vandekerkhove notes that ginseng, like other herbs, should be used with careful consideration. Don’t take ginseng at night, she says, unless you want to stay up late.

Most people agree that the older the root, the more therapeutic its powers (and usually the more expensive to buy). Interestingly, ginseng is such a complex plant that researchers are still trying to figure out exactly why it’s so effective.

Well, Franco doesn’t need any more convincing. He’s been taking ginseng for two years, and nothing could yank it away from him. His headaches and nosebleeds are gone, and his energy level is up.

“My stress is reduced and I’m able to focus a lot longer,” he relates. “My circulation is improved, so I feel warm now when I used to feel cold. I also lost weight. I could say more, but it might start to sound unbelievable.”

Recommended Adult Dosages

• Dried root: 500 mg to 2,000 mg daily
• Tea: Pour 1 cup (250 mL) boiling water over 1 tsp (5 mL) finely chopped ginseng root
• Steep 5 to 10 minutes. Prepare and drink one to three times daily for three or four weeks.
• Tincture (1:5): 1 tsp to 2 tsp (5 mL to 10 mL) daily
• Liquid extract (1:1): 1/4 tsp to 1/2 tsp (1 mL to 2 mL) daily
• Standardized extract (4% total ginsenosides): 100 mg twice daily

Source: University of Maryland Medical Center

A professional Vancouver-based writer, Michelle Hancock often experiments with the benefits of natural health products.

Source: alive #271, May 2005