If you have patients dealing with stressful schedules, a lack of energy, and an overall sense of suboptimal health, that is not a surprise.

Busy people leading high-stress lives often have a vague feeling of unease—not quite sick, but not quite well. They have more trouble sustaining focus as they work on projects and are easily distracted. They are tired yet keep pushing themselves. By the end of the workday, there is not much energy left for anything but a TV show and bed. Along with creating a generalized feeling of fatigue, incredibly stressful lifestyles reduce immune resistance, emotional resilience, and the ability of the mind and body to adapt to ever-changing circumstances.

Adaptogens are a class of herbs named for their ability to increase resistance and improve adaptability. Furthermore, one of these adaptogens, in particular, has been revered for over 5,000 years for its unique power: red ginseng.

Just a few of the proven benefits of this remarkable plant medicine are:

• All-Day Energy
• Mental and Physical Endurance
• Recovery from Fatigue
• Adaptability to Physical and Psychological Stress
• Concentration and Focus

A Long History of Use

Ginseng root is one of the world’s oldest (probably the original) adaptogenic medicines. It comes from Panax ginseng, and was first used in Asia. There are different ways to prepare and process Panax ginseng, so some of your patients may hear about white ginseng and red ginseng. While both forms come from the same plant, white ginseng is simply dried, so its beneficial compounds, including ginsenosides, ginsans, and gintonins, may be too bound up in the plant’s cell walls to be of much use.

Red ginseng, by contrast, is steamed, which breaks down some of the cell walls and gives the root powder a characteristic red/brown appearance. While all ginseng has some benefits, most studies show that red ginseng is consistently more beneficial.

Because wild ginseng is disappearing due to high demand, it is now grown on farms, mainly in Northern China and Korea. Unfortunately, farmed ginseng has many challenges, as the cultivated plant is sensitive to weed competition and various insects. In order to ensure a commercially successful crop, a wide variety of herbicides, pesticides, and fungicides are used on farmed ginseng crops. An article published in Horticultural Science (vol. 25/7) lists 15 chemicals applied at different stages of the growing process to control such pests as cutworms, slugs, nematodes, gray mold, and root rot. Also, ginseng cultivation takes a long time—about six years between harvests. Slow growth allows the roots to absorb toxins and pollutants in the soil.

There are new ways to grow ginseng using novel hydroculture growing techniques that result in cleaner, more powerful ginseng.

Noble Ginsenosides: Compounds that Make the Difference

Researchers have recently learned that specific compounds in ginseng, called noble ginsenosides, are better absorbed by the body and have specialized, energizing effects. Noble ginsenosides are found in small amounts in ginseng but are also formed in the gut by probiotic action. One of the problems with modern ginseng cultivation is that it robs the plant of its levels of noble ginsenosides, too. They aren’t present at levels that may have been the norm for older wild ginseng.

Furthermore, as is the case with any nutrient, ginsenosides have no benefits if they cannot be absorbed. Noble ginsenosides are the smaller, best absorbed, most effective, and rarest of the beneficial compounds from ginseng. Some you especially want for better stress resistance and energy are CK, Rk1, Rh2, Rg3, and Rg6.

Two other noble ginsenosides, R3 and R5, can help slow down the neurotransmitters in the brain that can lead to feelings of overwhelm and burnout. By putting the brakes on that process, they bolster stamina and focus.

Unfortunately, there is no guarantee that these rare, noble ginsenosides will be present in conventionally grown ginseng. That is why it is essential to focus on sources of ginseng that ensure high levels of noble ginsenosides and freedom from contamination by pesticides and heavy metals.

Energizes and Protects

Red ginseng also acts as an antioxidant, an exciting twist on the story of stress reduction. That is because as oxidative damage harms cells, it also increases perceived stress levels. Red ginseng has been found to reduce fatigue, partly because of its antioxidant abilities—less oxidative stress means less stressful feelings —and its actions on the HPA axis. Less damage to cells is a significant step towards healthy longevity.

This protective ability may also account for how red ginseng protects the cognitive process; Korean research has found that it helps keep the mind healthy by preventing the death of brain cells.

Red ginseng continues to show multiple actions, including boosting nitric oxide production to keep blood flowing effortlessly in the body and brain, hormone signaling associated with clear-mindedness, neural cell regeneration, and anti-inflammatory actions that reduce threats to delicate brain wiring.

The actions that protect the brain from damage may also reduce symptoms of depression. A Korean clinical study found that red ginseng significantly improved depression symptoms, including those somatic symptoms—the physical “drag” that people suffering from depression so often feel.

For patients who have a tough time staying on task during long afternoons at work, this red ginseng can help.

A three-armed clinical study compared the red ginseng to a leading white ginseng supplement from Europe, and a placebo. As a crossover clinical study, all participants were subjects in all three study arms. The individuals in this study worked in roles overloaded with cognitive tasks and exposed to workplace and social demands, in social services, as tele-operators, engineers, or IT personnel.

Participants took a standardized, timed d2 Test of Attention, to assess their ability to focus and concentrate. They took the test in the morning, and again after a hard day’s work, and the scores were compared.

This tracks the scanning speed and accuracy of individuals as they cross out any letter “d” with two marks around it. While that may sound simple, keep in mind that each letter d is surrounded by similar letters, like p and b, as well as other “d’s” with different numbers of marks.

In the placebo group, the d2 accuracy rate fell 11 points below the original baseline level. But the red ginseng group’s score jumped to 5 points above baseline, with positive results starting on the first day. This red ginseng continued to support attention and focus into the afternoon hours, when the leading white ginseng’s power began to fade – and when energy ebbs in many people, too.

In other clinical research, brain scans of individuals taking the red ginseng found that the botanical worked to improve mood and support a sense of calm by modulating β2 waves, representing changes in GABA-ergic neurotransmission.

And in a pilot clinical trial, the effects of this same red ginseng were examined in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, or post-viral fatigue.

Participants used either capsules or chewable tablets formulated with gamma cyclodextrin. Both forms showed similar numbers regarding positive effects, but the effective chewable dosage (100 – 200 mg) was typically lower than that of the capsules (200 – 400 mg). This is most likely due to the absorption assist from gamma cyclodextrin. Gamma cyclodextrin is an oligosaccharide that surrounds fat-soluble nutrients with a water-soluble shell for better absorption, dispersion, and bioavailability.

Of the 60 percent of study participants who saw improvements, the results were impressive, especially in four major categories:

• 67 percent average boost in energy
• 48 percent average increase in mental clarity
• 46 percent average improvement in restful sleep
• 72 percent increase in stamina

Energy, Focus, and Stamina Your Patients Can Count On

Life can be full of stresses and challenges — some of those challenges can be good—they help us learn, grow, and stay fit mentally and physically. However, being adaptable and resilient is the key to making those experiences enriching rather than draining. That’s where red ginseng can help your patients in noticeable ways daily.

The Recommended Formula:
Korean Red Ginseng (Panax ginseng) Root Powder containing rare, noble ginsenosides
OR
Korean Red Ginseng (Panax ginseng) Root Powder containing rare, noble ginsenosides and featuring gamma cyclodextrin