Facts and myths about Ontario ginsengBy

Edmund LuiScientific Director, Ontario Ginseng Innovation and Research Consortium,

Associate Professor, Department of Physiology & Pharmacology Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry,

University of Western Ontario

Royal Agricultural Winter Fair, Nov 12, 2009

Facts or Myths.I. There is only one type of ginseng.

Facts: Ginseng come by different-

Names (or species): American ginseng, Asian ginseng, Notoginseng Siberian ginseng (not a ginseng species) Korean red ginseng

II Asia or Oriental Ginseng only grows in China. and American ginseng only grows in North America Sources: Asia ginseng is native to Asia (China, Japan, Korea). American Ginseng is native to regions of Canada and US, but also cultivated in China. Wild ginseng is endangered species. All commercially available stocks are cultivated.

Red Vs White ginseng

Natural habitat Cultivation

Also forest-based cultivated ginseng

Ginseng can grow as old as 300 years.

Why do we care about different types or species of ginseng?

• In general, function to balance body functions of opposing nature to

foster homeostasis.

• But, different species have different properties according to the principles of Traditional Chinese Medicine

III. Ginseng is a cure all herb, good for many different health conditions?

Panax ginseng• Genus name of panax ginseng “panax”

is derived from Greek word “pan” meaning all and “axos” meaning cure.

• Species name ginseng comes from a Chinese word meaning human as ginseng roots look like the human body

Facts:Yes. Depend on 1) the types of product and 2) the person.

• What benefits?• What evidence?• Why? • How predictable are the health benefit effects?

Availability in the market place

Raw herbsRaw herbsas foods, teas, as foods, teas, soups, candy, soups, candy, cosmetics…cosmetics…

Herbal formulaeHerbal formulae

Decoction

Processing

Extracts

Consumers/practitioners

Powder… in capsule, tablet

“Finished products” single or multiple herbs. With health claims. e.g. Cold-FX

Different Types of Herbal Products.

1. Mostly as self-care products.

2. Supervised by health professionals

“Regulated by Health Canada

Curing

What health benefits?

Traditional use or claim. Use primarily as a tonic to invigorate weak

bodies, improve energy, and to relief fatigue and stress, restore homeostasis.

Non-traditional use or claims. Recent research shows that it could benefit:

-cardiovascular diseases, -immune deficiency, -cancer, -erectile dysfunction, -diabetes & related complications, -neurodegeneration.

(need scientific proof and clinical trials)

Animal Testing

Human study

Review

How do we explain the multiple action of ginseng?

• Ginseng is known to contain a large numbers of bioactive chemicals

• These chemicals are known to produce a wide range of biological effects.

• Multiple chemicals may hit different targets and are more effective than a single

chemical.

Animal Testing

Test Tube Research

Human study

Review

No conclusive evidence from studies of multiple clinical studies!

Why not?

No conclusive evidence based on systematic review

Why not?

What evidence do we have?

Expectation

• Everyone will be benefited from the

same treatment?

• All ginseng products are similar in potency?

• They are considered safe.

Do we respond the same way to the same ginseng treatment?

• Not necessarily, because: the ability of our body to handle and to

respond to ginseng depends on: - genes - diet - age - gender - health and disease states

– Your own constitution…yin and yang

Plant-based products show great differences in medicinal effects because:• Medicinal effects depend on the chemicals

that they make.• This chemical factory’s productivity is affected by the -genetics -age -season -soil conditions -climate -diseases, pests -use of pesticides

• New regulations do require some levels of consistency

Summary and conclusion1. Choose the appropriate species and products of ginseng

for your health condition. Consult your health care provider if necessary.

2. Not all ginseng products of the same species are the same.

3. Ginseng from the same farm may be different in quality from year to year.

4. Different brands of the same product may be different in effectiveness and potency

5. Look for licensed products.6. Not all persons taking the same product will respond in a

similar fashion.