DAAN Chinese Herbs and Acupuncture

Studies suggest that ginseng could help with cancer pain:

“American ginseng may reduce fatigue and increase overall psychological well-being in cancer patients, according to a study conducted by researchers at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, N.Y., and presented at the annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology.

“We hope that Wisconsin ginseng may offer us a much-needed treatment to improve our patients’ quality of life, and we look forward to further evaluation,” said lead researcher Debra Barton of the North Central Cancer Treatment Group.

Researchers treated 282 cancer patients with a daily dose of either a placebo or of 750, 1,000 or 2,000 milligrams of Wisconsin ginseng. They found that treatment with the placebo or the 750-mg dose caused very little improvement in measures of fatigue or physical or psychological well-being. Treatment with the higher doses, however, led to an improvement in overall energy and vitality levels, a decrease in fatigue and an improvement in overall emotional, mental, physical and spiritual well-being.

Extreme fatigue is a common symptom among cancer patients, one that often cannot be remedied by increased rest or sleep.

Ginseng has a long history of use in Asian and indigenous American cultures. In modern times, it is most often used to increase energy levels and stamina and to reduce stress or fatigue. It also reportedly can aid in the treatment of cancer and diabetes and can reduce obesity risk.”

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A restaurant in Kuala Lumpur, following a long tradition of cooking with ginseng, is serving some special ginseng dishes:

“Ginseng is the ultimate herb to the Chinese. For centuries, the root has been treasured for its nutritional benefits that few ever wondered why some ginseng are priced in the thousands.

Despite the eye-popping price tags of some varieties, one can still enjoy the goodness of ginseng without burning a hole in the pocket.

On top of that, ginseng can be pleasant to the taste bud despite its slightly bitter nature. Crown Princess Kuala Lumpur’s Spring Garden Chinese Restaurant showcases their versatility with eight new ginseng-infused dishes available throughout March and April.

“Not all diners can accept ginseng’s slight bitterness and strong after,taste so we do not put too much of it into the dishes,” said Chinese chef Simon Chin who created the dishes.”

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A good primer on ginseng:

“Ginseng is a species within the genus panax, which means “all-heal” in Greek. For centuries, traditional Chinese medicine has used ginseng in the treatment of countless diseases and to promote whole-body wellness.

There are two major types of ginseng: American ginseng (also known as Canadian ginseng or North American ginseng), and Asian ginseng (also known as Korean ginseng or Chinese ginseng).

The root of ginseng is most often used in its dried form and is added to capsules, tablets, extracts, beverages and creams. Of note, the quantity of ginseng found in most energy drinks and other beverages is too low to produce any medicinal effect.

Herbalists classify ginseng as an “adaptogen” or an herb that improves the body’s ability to fight off stress such as trauma, anxiety or fatigue. It has also been used to increase stamina and well-being; to treat erectile dysfunction, hepatitis C and menopause; to lower blood glucose levels and blood pressure; and to improve mental and physical performance.

The active compounds in ginseng are thought to be steroid-like substances termed ginsenosides that contain antioxidant and anticarcinogen properties. Over the past decade, a number of researchers have explored the reliability of ginseng’s many health claims. “

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Ginseng is a very popular herb in Asia, with many uses:

”
Asian ginseng is perhaps the most widely recognized of the plants used in traditional medicine and plays a major role in the herbal health market. It has been used for more than two thousand years. At least six species and varieties of Panax have been used in traditional medicine. It is a popular ingredient in herbal teas and cosmetics. It is promoted for its antistress effects.

Ginseng’s dried root is medicinal. It contains triterpenoid saponins called ginsenosides that appear to be the active ingredients responsible for the plant’s immunomodulatory effects. Ginsenosides seem to increase natural-killer cell activity, stimulate interferon production, accelerate nuclear RNA synthesis, and increase motor activity.

The ginsenosides have been found to protect against stress ulcers, to decrease blood glucose level, to increase high-density lipoprotein level, and to affect central nervous system activity by acting as a de pressant, anticonvulsant, analgesic, and antipsychotic.

Ginseng is available as powdered root, tablets, capsules, and tea. Common trade names include Centrum Ginseng, Chikusetsu Ginseng, Gin-Action, Ginsai, Ginsana, Ginseng Manchurian, Ginseng Power Max 004X G-Sana, Ginseng Up, Gin Zip, Herbal Sure Chinese Red Ginseng, Herbal Sure Korean Ginseng, Korean White Ginseng, Lynae Ginse-Cool, Power Herb Korean Ginseng, Premium Blend Korean Ginseng Extract, Sanchi Ginseng, The Ginseng Solution, Time Release Korean Ginseng Power, and Zhuzishen.”

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Ginseng soup is commonly eaten in Korea to keep warm through the cold winter months:

“Comfort comes in many forms. In Korea - especially when it’s cold outside - it’s as simple as a steaming bowl of sam gye-tang. But even in Koreatown, it’s hard to find. In the Mayfair neighborhood - just West of Koreatown - the Ssyal Ginseng House is the place to go. Look for the signs proclaiming the “Korean Ginseng Chicken Soup House.” Once inside, you’ll see the restaurant’s namesake - lots of ginseng roots - preserved in alcohol for sale on its own.

The meal begins with tiny Cornish game hens, which are washed and then stuffed with an assortment of ingredients, including fresh garlic cloves and red dates; plus, fresh ginseng root, which Koreans swear by its health benefits, and short-grain rice. The hen is tied up with a toothpick, before being submerged in a ginger-and-ginseng-laced broth in a giant pot.

After about 45 minutes at a rapid simmer, the lid is removed, and the hen is carefully transferred to an individual serving bowl, along with a few ladlefuls of the rich, infused broth and an extra piece of boiled ginseng. It’s heated over high heat, until it boils, at which point the fat is skimmed from the top. Meanwhile, an assortment of vegetarian sides, called panchan, is assembled into tiny bowls, along with some nutty brown rice. The boiling bowl is transferred to a large cart, along with all of the sides and the rice, and then is carefully wheeled out to the dining room, where everything is set before you. “

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A recent study suggests that cancer patients’ energy levels may be increased by ginseng:

“Doctors said fatigue is a major problem for cancer patients.

“As their cancer progresses, patients can get tired, but patients can also get tired because of the treatments,” said Dr. Peter Todd Silberstein, one of the study’s doctors. “The chemotherapy or the radiation or the surgery can make people tired.”

Gale had endured all three.

“It was hard for me to make it through a whole day of work,” Gale said.

She said she was quick to agree when Silberstein suggested she take part in a clinical trial to relieve fatigue.

The Missouri Valley Cancer Consortium was testing an old herbal remedy found at any natural foods store: ginseng, particularly American ginseng. It is a root people have touted for its energy-boosting effects for thousands of years.

“More and more, we’re trying to do trials, because some of these herbal remedies may be helpful,” Silberstein said.

The local study included 282 participants who took a high dose of ginseng, a small dose or a placebo. Silberstein said the results are promising.

“It actually showed that the patients who got ginseng, on the average, felt less fatigued,” the doctor said.

Gale was in the highest dosage group of 2,000 milligrams a day.

“I could get through the day much easier,” Gale said. “I didn’t fall asleep as often during meetings and things, which I used to do. I could do my walks after work. I wasn’t so tired from work that I couldn’t do something else.”

Doctors said they still have a lot of testing to do to measure the impact of ginseng on fatigue. But from the first tests, they see the potential for ginseng to be a cheaper, more natural alternative to prescription pain drugs.

“This may be a major advance in helping fatigue in cancer patients,” Silberstein said.

The study showed that one out of four patients on ginseng recorded a significant improvement from the ginseng, and one out of 10 recorded an improvement from just a placebo. Species of ginseng other than American ginseng were not tested.”

DAAN carries many different types of ginseng. We’ve also compiled some background information about ginseng.

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Interesting article about the ginseng harvest in South Korea, and single plants worth $65,000!

“The restaurant’s only customers, a small group of ginseng seekers, had assembled for a breakfast of tofu soup before driving off to a nearby mountain that they planned to scour for the sought-after plant.

Despite the early hour and the rain, their conversation grew increasingly animated with each retelling of the news from the night before: someone had just found an 8.3-ounce, 30-year-old ginseng plant, valued at $65,000!

“Just because the ginseng plant weighs more, it doesn’t necessarily mean that its quality is superior, as the television report was implying,” said the group’s leader, Pae Young-gun, seeking to puncture the expanding balloon of unrealistic expectations pre-emptively.

South Korea’s news media periodically report on the discovery of extremely rare wild ginseng plants that command tens of thousands of dollars and fuel the dreams of ginseng seekers across the country. In South Korea and elsewhere in Asia, wild ginseng’s roots have traditionally been prized for their supposed preternatural healing powers, properties believed to be missing in the farmed variety.

So armies of ginseng seekers forage in the country’s thickly forested mountains where wild ginseng can be found — if it can be found at all — in nooks with the right mix of air, sunlight and humidity.

As mountains are regarded as holy places, the searches tend to take on a spiritual, or at least superstitious, dimension. The finder of the $65,000 ginseng was reported to have seen three pillars of fire in a dream just before stumbling on the plant on Sobaek Mountain, in the middle of South Korea.”

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Interesting background on how ginseng is harvested:

“Ginseng goes through an interesting process starting from the digger and through the buyer/exporter. First of all, we all know that it is only legal to dig ginseng starting on the 15th of August. This is to ensure the maturity of most of the berries. By law in Kentucky, those berries must be planted within 5 feet of where you dug the “mother plant”. This is to ensure a renewable crop. Then, of course, you (the digger) go home, wash your root (not too clean, buyers want a little dirt left on the root), and then dry it. never cook ginseng. Microwave ovens, and conventional ovens are the worst method of drying you can use, and makes it worthless. A dehydrator is fine, just don’t set your temperature above a hundred degrees and turn the root from time to time.

Once you have it dry, you take it to a buyer or broker who will weigh it out, have you sign a harvest certificate and then of course work out the money with you.

That buyer must then, prior to selling it, have it certified by someone from Mikes office, and ask for an export certificate. Before that ginseng can legally leave this state, it must be certified, and an export permit issued.

Dried ginseng cannot be bought until the first of September and that season ends the last day of March. Any ginseng the buyer is holding after that date must be certified.

In short folks, I reckon I will be filling the void in the area in that I will be an outlet for your ginseng and other root.

Of course the other roots common for this area don’t have these restrictions and requirements. I am in the process of trying to things set up, but should be ready to start buyer “yellow root” in the next week or so.

I am not getting any real reports on area fishing holes. As I understand it, the bass are really working deep water right now on the lower end of Spa and Malone, and the crappie everywhere have moved into the 15 to 20 feet range. Catfish are hitting well at night and early morning when fishing with liver or live minnows. The one bright spot, at least for the youngsters, and those of us who appreciate a good tasting fish is with the blue gill. They are really hammering anything you throw in the water around the docks and boat ramps. As I understand it, the Marina at Shady Cliffs is a real hot spot for these sporty little fish.

Here we are in the middle of July and time to start thinking about hunting again. Remember, squirrel season opens next month, and Dove season follows on the first of September. Within a few short days the kids will be back in school, and hopefully the weather will start cooling off again.”

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Last year wasn’t great for Canadian ginseng. Hopefully, this year will be better:

“Ontario ginseng growers are keeping their fingers crossed that this year’s crop will continue to enjoy a much better growing season than the soggy, mouldy wet finish that wreaked havoc on the 2006 crop.

“It has been hot and dry through much of the growing season so far,” Doug Bradley, president of the Ontario Ginseng Association, said Tuesday.

“From the top, the crop looks great, but with not so much rain in the past few weeks, the roots have to work hard to keep what’s above ground in good shape.”

With very little rain in the past two weeks, most growers have to water a lot, Bradley said. Like many of the 220 member growers who have a collective 6,000 acres under shade throughout Brant, Norfolk, Oxford and Elgin counties, he has completed two cycles of irrigation on all his acreage.
Some growers are getting ready for a third one, depending on location.

“At least it’s better to have to water than to have too much rain,” said Bradley.

So, experience has gone much the same as the first few months of the 2006 growing season. It was unremitting autumn rains in the final month that dashed many hopes, leaving growers to harvest a collective 3.5 million pounds, about 500,000 pounds less than expected.

In consequence, the association is also down about a dozen growers from a little more than 230 last year. “

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Researches are looking into using ginseng to treat Parkinson’s disease:

“Harold Robertson, a Dalhousie University researcher, is focusing on the impact of elements of ginseng on people with Parkinson’s disease.

“It’s so exciting because we now have a compound that we could start treating patients with tomorrow,” said Robertson.

“We know it’s safe. It’s been used for 5,000 years, thanks very much. We could go ahead [and] treat patients with it.”"

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