Ginseng is a small plant that grows slowly in various forest areas in China, Korea, Canada, the United States, and Siberia. It is one of the most popular herbs in the world and it has been regarded as a very powerful herb with many beneficial properties in China for over 5,000 years.
Ginseng is used as a supplement to treat and to care for many different conditions such as rheumatism, insomnia, high and low blood pressure, indigestion, and vomiting. It is also used as a supplement for people who undergo regular intense physical activities such as athletes.
There are many different kinds of ginseng available in the market today but there are three varieties that are most commonly utilized. These are: (1) panax ginseng, (2) panax quinquefolium, and (3) eleutherococcus senticosus. The panax ginseng is more commonly found in the forests of China and Korea while the panax quinquefolium is more common in Canada and the United States. The third kind of ginseng, eleutherococcus senticosus, is native to Siberia and is sometimes regarded as a different kind of plant from ginseng because of the difference of its root to those of the first two kinds. The beneficial properties of eleutherococcus senticosus however, are very similar to panax ginseng and to panax quinquefolium. In terms of beneficial effects to athletes, eleutherococcus senticosus can sometimes even surpass the benefits that the first two kinds of ginseng provide.
The popularity of ginseng as an herbal sports and nutrition supplement stems from the fact that it contains many useful substances. It has vitamins and minerals, flavanoids, and various beneficial enzymes.
In terms of consumption, ginseng can be taken in several forms. It is available as a whole root, in pills, in capsules, in powdered form, and in extracts. Of course, the potency of varying ginseng brands and forms has a slight degree of difference, but standardized forms are starting to become available and are gaining in recognition. This continuous growth in popularity has made ginseng an important ingredient in many sports drinks, energy bars, and nutrition formulations.
One of the primary benefits that ginseng provides is its ability to increase the energy levels of the body. Many users have attested to the ability of ginseng to delay and decrease fatigue while increasing energy for better performance. Some estimates conclude that as many as five million people in the United States use ginseng as a supplement.
Some studies have also shown that ginseng has some properties that also build up the psychomotor performance of people who use it. These studies also show that ginseng has a positive effect on alertness. These two properties are very important for athletes and generally for people who are always on the go and those who lead active lifestyles. Other studies further attest that ginseng has a positive effect on the lung performance of active people. Various results in different lung performance measurements showed very favorable effects on people using ginseng as a supplement. These tests include measurements such as the optimum breathing capacity of the individual.
