The Root of The Problem- The Validity of Ginseng in Holistic Wellness

In the hustle and bustle of today's world, stress and illness are hard to avoid and seemingly inevitable. With the "villianization" of the pharmaceutical industry and modern medicine, a growing percent of the population has turned to natural methods of wellness. Ginseng supplements are cited with countless benefits: better concentration, improved energy, decreased anxiety.

Pins advertising health benefits of ginseng, including stress relief and impotence!

These claims are remarkable, but do they withstand biomedical analysis?

In an article titled "ADAPTOGENIC HERBS: STRESS BUSTERS FOR THE MODERN AGE", ginseng is attributed to central nervous stimulation, blood pressure and glucose regulation, and improved mental performance. The article mentions several studies conducted on ginseng and its benefits, but provides no references or links to any of these studies, however, they appeared with a quick Google search. Furthermore, the author is renowned practitioner of Ayurvedic medicine and possess biases towards natural healing methods. The lack of verifiable or reliable scientific support for this article question its legitimacy, and thus, it holds little claim in any chemical or biological setting.

Despite the deficits of the above article, a study conducted on rats in 2017 found that Pfaffia paniculata (Brazilian ginseng) may be linked to suppression of genes related to stress-induced inflammatory responses within the body. Rats in this study received a daily dose of ginseng at 200mg/kg. These results are promising, however when adjusted to the weight of a standard adult (160 pounds) this equates to about 15g per day.

Considering the standard ginseng supplement capsule contains about 450 mg, this means to even see effects one must consume 34 capsules daily. This high dosage is currently unsustainable given the current market for ginseng supplements.