Panax quinquefolius.  西   Xī yáng shēn   American ginseng  Family: Araliaceae 
PART USED: Root
Nature- neutral   FLAVOR: Sweet and pleasant  CHANNELS: Heart, Lung, Kidney
FUNCTIONS
GROUP: Nourishing Yin
1. Supplement Energy.[1]
2. Calm the nerves.[1]
3. Produce more saliva and simulate the appetite.[1]
INDICATIONS
1. Deficiency of Energy (with Wind) and Blood.[1]
2. Internal injuries caused by deficiency activity (worry).[1]
3. Convalescent weakness, no appetite.[1]
4. Palpitations.[1] Insomnia.[1] Forgetfulness.[1]
PATENT COMBINATIONS
PREPARATIONS: Decoction 3-9 g.[1]
NOTE: Dang Shen (Campanumaea pilosa) may be used as a substitute.[1]
    

References
Inner Path can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
Research

Effects of American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius) on neurocognitive function: an acute, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study.
Scholey A, Ossoukhova A, Owen L, Ibarra A, Pipingas A, He K, Roller M, Stough C.
Abstract
RATIONALE:
Over the last decade, Asian ginseng (Panax ginseng) has been shown to improve aspects of human cognitive function. American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius) has a distinct ginsenoside profile from P. ginseng, promising cognitive enhancing properties in preclinical studies and benefits processes linked to human cognition.
OBJECTIVES:
The availability of a highly standardised extract of P. quinquefolius (Cereboost™) led us to evaluate its neurocognitive properties in humans for the first time.
METHODS:
This randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover trial (N?=?32, healthy young adults) assessed the acute mood, neurocognitive and glycaemic effects of three doses (100, 200 400 mg) of Cereboost™ (P. quinquefolius standardised to 10.65% ginsenosides). Participants' mood, cognitive function and blood glucose were measured 1, 3 and 6 h following administration.
RESULTS:
There was a significant improvement of working memory (WM) performance associated with P. quinquefolius. Corsi block performance was improved by all doses at all testing times. There were differential effects of all doses on other WM tasks which were maintained across the testing day. Choice reaction time accuracy and 'calmness' were significantly improved by 100 mg. There were no changes in blood glucose levels.
CONCLUSIONS:
This preliminary study has identified robust working memory enhancement following administration of American ginseng. These effects are distinct from those of Asian ginseng and suggest that psychopharmacological properties depend critically on ginsenoside profiles. These results have ramifications for the psychopharmacology of herbal extracts and merit further study using different dosing regimens and in populations where cognition is fragile.
PMID: 20676609 PMCID: PMC2952762 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-010-1964-y  Psychopharmacology (Berl). 2010 Oct;212(3):345-56. doi: 10.1007/s00213-010-1964-y. Epub 2010 Jul 31. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius L.) attenuates postprandial glycemia in a time-dependent but not dose-dependent manner in healthy individuals.
Vuksan V, Sievenpiper JL, Wong J, Xu Z, Beljan-Zdravkovic U, Arnason JT, Assinewe V, Stavro MP, Jenkins AL, Leiter LA, Francis T.
Abstract
BACKGROUND:
We previously showed that 3 g American ginseng administered 40 min before an oral glucose challenge significantly reduces postprandial glycemia in subjects without diabetes. Whether this effect can be replicated with doses <3 g and administration times closer to the oral glucose challenge is unclear.
OBJECTIVE:
Our objective was to study the dosing and timing effects of American ginseng on postprandial glycemia.
DESIGN:
In a random crossover design, 12 healthy individuals [X +/- SEM age: 42 +/- 7 y; body mass index (BMI; in kg/m2): 24.1 +/- 1.1] received 16 treatments: 0 (placebo), 1, 2, or 3 g American ginseng at 40, 20, 10, or 0 min before a 25-g oral glucose challenge. Capillary blood was collected before administration and at 0, 15, 30, 45, 60, and 90 min after the start of the glucose challenge.
RESULTS:
Two-way analysis of variance showed that the main effects of treatment and administration time were significant (P < 0.05). Glycemia was lower over the last 45 min of the test after doses of 1, 2, or 3 g ginseng than after placebo (P < 0.05); there were no significant differences between doses. The reductions in the areas under the curve for these 3 doses were 14.4 +/- 6.5%, 10.6 +/- 4.0%, and 9.1 +/- 6%, respectively. Glycemia in the last hour of the test and area under the curve were significantly lower when ginseng was administered 40 min before the challenge than when it was administered 20, 10, or 0 min before the challenge (P < 0.05).
CONCLUSIONS:
American ginseng reduced postprandial glycemia in subjects without diabetes. These reductions were time dependent but not dose dependent: an effect was seen only when the ginseng was administered 40 min before the challenge. Doses within the range of 1-3 g were equally effective.
PMID: 11273850 Am J Clin Nutr. 2001 Apr;73(4):753-8. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effect of American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius L.) on glycemic control in type 2 diabetes.

Mucalo I, Rahelic D, Jovanovski E, Bozikov V, Romic Z, Vuksan V.
Abstract
Since diabetes tends to progressively worsen over time, glycemic control often deteriorates in spite of taking regular therapy. Therefore, numerous research studies are by and large focused on finding more efficient therapy, both new medicines for treating type 2 diabetes mellitus, as well as supplements that could serve as an addition to conventional treatment modalities. A variety of herbal preparations have been shown to have modest short-term beneficial effects on glycemia, but of these, the best studied is American ginseng (AG). AG has been shown to be effective in improving glycemic control in type 2 diabetes through increasing post-prandial insulin levels and decreasing postprandial glycemic response. However, high variability in ginsenosides may result in just as high variability in antidiabetic efficacy of over-the-counter ginseng products. Therefore, the availability of standardized extracts of AG could assist greatly in advancing our knowledge on the role of this traditionally used herb and result in a wider application of ginseng product in diabetes management. The aim of this review is to outline the efficacy and safety of American ginseng for AG preparations on glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes as well as to increase awareness of the evidence supporting the use of these therapies in diabetes care.
PMID: 23390846 Coll Antropol. 2012 Dec;36(4):1435-40. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
 
American Ginseng Extract (Panax quinquefolius L.) Is Safe in Long-Term Use in Type 2 Diabetic Patients
Iva Mucalo, Elena Jovanovski, Vladimir Vuksan, Velimir Božikov, Željko Romic, and Dario Rahelic
Abstract
Aim. The objective of the present study was to test the safety of supplementation with the American ginseng (AG) interventional material as an adjunct to conventional therapy (diet and/or medications) in type 2 diabetes, using a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, parallel design. Methods. Each participant received either AG (10% ginsenosides) or placebo capsules (500?mg/meal?=?3?g/day) for a period of 12 weeks. Outcomes included measures of safety including kidney function (urates and creatinine), liver function (AST and ALT), and haemostatic function (PV and INR). Results. Seventy-four participants with well-controlled type 2 diabetes (sex: 28?M and 46?F, age: 63 ± 9.5, BMI: 32 ± 5, and HbA1c: 7 ± 1.3), randomized to either intervention (n = 35) or control (n = 39) group, completed the study. There was no change in any of the measures of safety between treatments from baseline. The number or severity of adverse events did not differ between the AG intervention and placebo. Conclusion. Following 12 weeks of supplementation with AG, safety was not compromised in a high cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk population of patients with type 2 diabetes. This demonstrated that safety is noteworthy, as reviews have continuously warned of possible adverse effects of ginseng consumption.
Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2014; 2014: 969168.
Published online 2014 May 7. doi: 10.1155/2014/969168 PMCID: PMC4033486 ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

North American Ginseng (Panax quinquefolius) prevents hyperglycemia and associated pancreatic abnormalities in diabetes.
Sen S, Querques MA, Chakrabarti S.
Abstract
North American ginseng (NAG) has received increasing attention as an alternative medicine for the treatment of diabetes. Extract of the NAG root has been reported to possess antidiabetic properties, but the underlying mechanisms for such effects have not been identified. Here we investigated the effects of NAG root extract on type 1 and 2 diabetes and the underlying mechanisms involved for such effects. Type 1 [C57BL/6 mice with streptozotocin (STZ)-induction] and type 2 (db/db) diabetic models were examined. Groups of diabetic mice (both type 1 and 2) were treated with alcoholic extract of the NAG root (200 mg/kg BW/day, oral gavage) for 1 or 2 months following onset of diabetes. Ginseng treatment significantly increased the body weight in type 1 diabetic animals in contrast to the type 2 model, where it caused diminution of body weight. Blood glucose and glycated hemoglobin levels diminished in the diabetic groups of both models with NAG treatment. Interestingly, plasma insulin and C-peptide levels were significantly increased in the STZ-diabetic mice, whereas they were reduced in the db/db mice following NAG treatment. Histological and morphometric analyses (islet/pancreas ratio) of the pancreas revealed an increase in the islet area following the treatment compared to both the untreated diabetic groups. These data indicate that NAG possibly causes regeneration of ß-cells resulting in enhanced insulin secretion. On the other hand, in type 2 diabetes, the additional effects of NAG on body weight might have also resulted in improved glucose control.
PMID: 23875898 DOI: 10.1089/jmf.2012.0192 J Med Food. 2013 Jul;16(7):587-92. doi: 10.1089/jmf.2012.0192. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Phytochemistry of wild populations of Panax quinquefolius L. (North American ginseng).
Assinewe VA, Baum BR, Gagnon D, Arnason JT.
Abstract
A survey of the phytochemistry of Panax quinquefolius L. (North American ginseng) collected from wild populations in Ontario, Quebec, Maine, Vermont, and Wisconsin was undertaken. Reverse-phase HPLC was used to determine the natural variation of levels of ginsenosides Rg1, Re, Rf, Rb1, Rc, Rb2, and Rd and their total in leaf, stem, and root of authentic wild-grown material. The totals in roots varied from 1 to 16%, with the greatest number of individual samples having 4-5% total ginsenosides. The lack of ginsenoside Rf in roots of authentic wild populations confirmed its status as a phytochemical marker differentiating American and Asian ginseng. Ten geographically isolated wild populations were collected, and several showed significant variation in the levels of major ginsenosides. There was no statistical difference in mean ginsenoside content between wild and cultivated P. quinquefolius roots at 4 years of age, suggesting there is no phytochemical justification for wild crafting. Baseline data on total ginsenoside levels for authentic wild P. quinquefolius reported here provide reference levels for quality assurance programs.
PMID: 14705875 DOI: 10.1021/jf030042h J Agric Food Chem. 2003 Jul 30;51(16):4549-53. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov