Siberian Ginseng

Ginseng comes in three main species; Oriental, American and Siberian. Though these three forms share common elements, the Siberian ginseng is not a true ginseng. In fact, it is a distant cousin to the panax ginseng of the Orient. It has the same qualities as the Oriental ginseng but it sells for much less because it's easier to cultivate.

Here are some information about Siberian ginseng. It is usually called an adaptogen. Its name is derived from the Chinese jen shen which indicates ‘man root’ as some roots have branches like limbs. It is this humanlike shape of the root that it is considered to be an overall body tonic by the Orients. It is found in the Siberian province of Russia where its root is not harvested till it is two or more years old. The older the root, the higher is its value.

Benefits of Siberian ginseng include its ability to relieve fatigue and the alleviation of many ailments. It helps in reinforcing the energy in the body while some take it to enhance memory and ward off colds and flu. The benefit of Siberian ginseng working as an immune system stimulant makes it a great common cold and viral preventative.

The health benefits of Siberian ginseng include it being effective in balancing the epinephrine, norephinephrine, dopamine and serotonin in the brain and thus level the mood. It is very effective in helping to cope with stress and is the reason it can be taken during stress, under medical prescription.

Though effective on its own, Siberian ginseng works well with other herbs to give better results in curing health conditions. However like all other medications, there are also Siberian ginseng side effects. It may cause mild diarrhea in some people and it is not recommended for people with very high blood pressure. The Siberian ginseng stimulant may cause insomnia to some people when taken too close to bedtime.

The Siberian ginseng negatives include it giving symptoms like breathing problems, chest pain, rashes and skin hives. Siberian ginseng + sleep apnea don’t add up; so don’t take Siberian ginseng if you suffer from sleep apnea or narcolepsy as some people experience confusion and drowsiness with Siberian ginseng. Another Siberian ginseng downside is that it should not be used by pregnant and breastfeeding women.

So like all other medication, it is better to first consult your doctor before you start taking Siberian ginseng. Siberian ginseng should not hamper the functioning of other drugs that you take and neither should you feel its side effects.