Korean red ginseng, a processed form of the root of the Panax ginseng plant, has a long history of use as an energizing tonic in its native country, and it has a strong following of users worldwide. Studies on red ginseng have indicated that it can affect sexual function, cancer treatment and diabetes.
History
The variety of Panax ginseng root known as Korean red usually is processed by steaming it until it becomes crystallized, red and somewhat brittle. This process is believed to strengthen several of the purported properties of the ginseng, especially the "heating" qualities believed to affect energy, immunity and sexual function. Korean red ginseng is now a common ingredient in energy drinks, and it is used by many professional athletes to enhance performance.
Erectile Dysfunction
One of the most popular and sensational uses of red ginseng in both ancient and modern times has been as a natural sexual stimulant for men. In a study published in November 2002 in the Journal of Urology, researchers in Korea conducted a double blind study on Korean red ginseng's effect on patients with clinically diagnosed erectile dysfunction. After eight weeks of supplementation with red ginseng, patients scored significantly higher on several markers involved in erectile dysfunction such as erection quality and maintenance.
Cancer
The search for natural treatments for cancer has led many people to turn to traditional herbal remedies such as ginseng. In a study conducted at the Korea Cancer Center Hospital in Seoul in 2001, researchers tested both red and white (unprocessed) ginseng on lung tumors in mice. They concluded that several compounds, known an ginsenosides, present in ginseng seemed to have anticarcinogenic properties and that these properties were more pronounced in the Korean red variety of ginseng.
Diabetes
Diabetes is sweeping the modern industrialized world like an epidemic, and since ginseng traditionally has been used to combat this potentially deadly disorder, scientists have begun to study how ginseng affects this disease. In an article published in the November 2008 Journal of Ethnopharmacology, Korean researchers concluded that red ginseng stimulates insulin production in rat pancreases.
Potential
Korean red ginseng is being studied for possibly efficacy in preventing memory loss, reducing symptoms of attention deficit disorder in children, boosting the immune system to prevent colds and the flu, and heart disorders.
It is available at most Chinese herbal shops, in health food stores and from a wide variety of online retailers.
Tags: Korean ginseng, concluded that, erectile dysfunction, Panax ginseng, published November, sexual function