Beware Of Fake Ginseng Products

The fake and costly products all claim to contain ginseng but in reality have none of the root’s active ingredient, saponin glycosides or ginsenosides. Worse, some of them may contain high levels of alcohol that is bad for your health.

This was confirmed by two independent studies that ...
The fake and costly products all claim to contain ginseng but in reality have none of the root’s active ingredient, saponin glycosides or ginsenosides. Worse, some of them may contain high levels of alcohol that is bad for your health.

This was confirmed by two independent studies that showed that many commercial ginseng products are worthless and have no proven efficacy in humans. In “Herbs of Choice”, Dr. Varro Tyler of the Purdue University School of Pharmacy said:

“Commercially, ginseng is available in a variety of forms, including teas, capsules, and extracts, tablets, roots, chewing gum, cigarettes, and candies. In some of these forms, it is extremely difficult to determine the quality and quantity of the root present. Experiments carried out in the late 1970s showed that 60 percent of 54 ginseng products tested were worthless and 25 percent contained no ginseng at all. Whether the quality of the products on the market has improved since that time is unknown.”

Earlier, the Texas Department of Health halted the distribution and sales of a ginseng extract that was found to have an alcoholic potency three times that of beer. The said product was displayed in stores next to candy and gum and had an alcohol content of 32 proof. In Texas, the maximum legal alcohol content in beer is 11 proofs.

Officials learned about the alcohol-laced ginseng product after it was purchased at a convenience store by an 11-year-old boy who later complained of chest pains and heart palpitations. Authorities said of the 400 ginseng products in the market, 15 to 20 percent may contain alcohol. In the United States alone, ginseng accounts for $400 million a year in sales.

To protect your health and your wallet, get ginseng from a reliable manufacturer. Studies show that genuine ginseng products contain ginsenosides that act as a stimulant and may enhance immunity.

“As an adaptogen, ginseng is believed to produce a state of increased resistance of the body to stress, overcoming disease by building up our general vitality and strengthening our normal body functions. Favorable modification by ginseng of the stress effects of temperature changes, diet, restraint, exercise and the like have been recorded. Moreover, useful pharmacologic effects in such conditions as anemia, atherosclerosis, depression, diabetes, edema, hypertension, and ulcers have also been documented,” Tyler said.

Ginseng is also promoted for weight loss but scientific studies don’t confirm this. To lose weight, watch your diet and exercise regularly. One product that can help is Phenocal, a safe, natural, and effective weight loss supplement that boosts your metabolism, suppresses your appetite, reduces food cravings, and increases energy levels to keep you in shape. Check out http://tinyurl.com/8jkw6ma for details.