There are thousands of Ginseng products out there. I have tried many, with very little results from anything other than whole ginseng roots of known quality. Some of the prepared products have sugar or caffeine in them, so any 'energy' you feel could be that. The whole roots on this page are the real thing--they have reliably amazing results. No one I have prescribed these to hasn't reported on how well it works (and I've prescribed the whole roots for chronic depression, fatigue, and athletic enhancement). They're not cheap (less expensive prepared products are also available, and I try to stock the ones of reputable quality), but if you want to experience *real* ginseng, the whole roots are the way to go. There have been books written on Ginseng--here is a summary of it's pharmacology, focussing on cardiac effects:
Lowers blood pressure ("probably due to a Ca2+ channel blocking effect)
Rb1 decreases automaticity and contractility of atrial muscles
Rg1 prolongs ventricular muscle repolarization and increases refractory period
Ginsenoside has Alpha2-adrenergic agonist actifity (can be blocked by yohimbine)
Panaxadiol and panaxatriol have protective effect on heart, increase glutathione and SOD activity
Ginseng extract causes vasoconstriction in small doses and vasodiliation in larger doses, but only causes vasodilation in cerebral and coronary vessels
Lowers serum cholesterol levels while increasing HDL levels
Ginsenosides increase prostacyclinin carotid artery and decrease thromboxane 1-2 in blood platelets, protecting against atherosclerosis
Mild tranquilizing effect on CNS, but improves concentration and mental acuity.
Stimulates hypothalmopituitarty adrenal cortical system
Ginsenosides act on release of corticotropin releasing factor from hypothalamus
Ginsenosides also increase gonadotropin secretion, stimulating sexual development and function
Reduces blood sugar, but mechanism is still unclear
Immunoregulator--increases IL-1 and IL-2
Protective effect against radiation and cancer
"Ginsenoside Rb1 causes a significant inhibition of the activity of Ca/Mg ATPase and calmodulin, resulting in a decrease of [Ca2+] content." (Huang, 40)
Please note that most ginseng products do not reliably lower blood pressure--sometimes they increase it. This may be due to insufficient dose or poor quality ginseng.
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