Ginseng

ginseng /gin·seng/ (jin´seng)

1. any herb of the genus Panax>, especially P. ginseng (Chinese g.) and P. quinquefolius (American g.).

2. the root of Chinese or American ginseng, used as a tonic and stimulant.

3. Siberian g.

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eleuthero ginseng , Siberian ginseng the shrub Eleutherococcus senticosus, or a preparation of its root, which is used to improve general well-being and for various indications in traditional Chinese medicine.

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ginseng,

an herb with red or yellow fruits that is native to the Far East and is now found throughout the world. One species is native to North America.

uses It is used for physical and mental exhaustion, stress, viral infections, diabetes, sluggishness, fatigue, weak immunity, and convalescence and may have some efficacy (e.g., better stress tolerance, reaction times, abstract thinking).

contraindications It should not be used during pregnancy and lactation or in children. It is also contraindicated in those with known hypersensitivity, hypertension, and cardiac disorders.

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Ginseng

Alternative medicine An herb used as a herbal remedy, as an anxiolytic and antidepressant
Chinese medicine Any of 22 different deciduous plants, mostly of the Panax family—e.g., Panax ginseng—that are native to Southeast Asia; ginseng root contains panaxin, panax acid, panaquilen, panacen, sapogenin, and ginsenin; it is used in Chinese herbal medicine as a tonic and restorative, and said to have immunologic, hormonal, and stress-reducing effects; it has been used for respiratory infections, gastrointestinal complaints including anorexia, bloating, depression, diarrhoea, vomiting, fatigue, impotence, shock, shortness of breath, stress, increased sweating
Physiologic effects Increased testosterone, corticosteroids, gluconeogenesis, central nervous system activity, increased pulse and blood pressure, gastrointestinal motility, haematopoiesis; decreased cholesterol
Toxicity Ginseng should not be used in patients with asthma, arrhythmias, hypertension, or post-menopausal bleeding
Fringe oncology Ginseng’s effect on cancer is inconclusive; weak data suggest it may have carcinoprotective effects. See Unproven methods for cancer management

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ginseng,

n Latin names:
Panax ginseng, Panax quinquefolius; part used: roots; uses: adaptogen, im-munostimulant, endurance, fatigue and stress, concentration, tonic, diabetes; occasionally used for hyper-lipidemia, cancer, rheumatism, male infertility and sexual dysfunction; precautions: high blood pressure, cardiac conditions; patients taking anticoagulants, insulin, MAOIs, antidiabetics, stimulants, or ephedra. Also called
American ginseng, Asian ginseng, Asiatic ginseng, Chinese ginseng, five-fingers, Japanese ginseng, jintsam, Korean ginseng, ninjin, Oriental ginseng, schinsent, seng and sang, tartar root, true ginseng, or
Western ginseng.

ginseng, American,

n.pr See gin-seng.

ginseng, Asian (āˑ·zhn jinˑ·sing),

n Latin name:
Panax ginseng; part used: roots; uses: general health, illness protection, antiinflammatory, muscle relaxant, tumor prevention, stimulant; precautions: pregnancy; can cause high blood pressure, diabetes, sleeplessness, diarrhea, painful breasts, mania, vaginal bleeding.

ginseng, eleuthero,

n See ginseng, Siberian.

ginseng, Siberian (sī·bēˑ·rē·n ginˑ·sing),

n.pr Latin names:
Acanthopanax senticosus, Eleutherococcus senticosus, Hedera senticosa; parts used: roots; uses: adaptogen, radio-stimulant, anticancer, immuno-stimulant, immunomodulator, genital herpes, athletic performance, energy, antiinflammatory, insomnia; precautions: pregnancy, lactation, children; do not use over three concurrent months; do not use with antidiabetic medications, immunosuppressive medications, cardiac glycosides, stimulants, ephedra. Also called
devil's shrub, Russian ginseng, shigoka, or
touch-me-not.

ginseng, true,

n See ginseng, Asian.

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ginseng

a mixture of saponins from the dried root of Panax sp; reputed to have a wide range of pharmacologic properties. Used variously as a stimulant, a sedative and to increase stamina and resistance to disease. Called also Ren Shen in Chinese herbal medicine.

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ginseng

Pharmacognosy An herb used as a herbal remedy, as an anxiolytic and antidepressant Physiologic effects ↑ testosterone, corticosteroids, gluconeogenesis, CNS activity, HTN, ↑ pulse and BP, GI motility, hematopoiesis; ↓ cholesterol Toxicity Ginseng should not be used in Pts with asthma, arrhythmias, HTN, or post-menopausal bleeding. See Unproven methods for cancer management.