Red Ginseng
Red ginseng (Panax ginseng) is a perennial phytoestrogenic herb which had been used for millions of years by different ancient civilizations. Cultures such as the Native Americans and Koreans were unable to pinpoint red ginseng exact medicinal benefits but acknowledged that it was capable of curing various ailments. In addition to this the popular belief among ancient cultures was that because red ginseng had a human like shape it was capable of imbuing the person taking it with additional life force. Such a belief is not dissimilar to what modern day science fact has found red ginseng capable of doing to the human body. Red ginseng is known for being able to revitalize and refresh the body of the person taking it. Such a healing quality is due to the unique properties of red ginseng.
Red ginseng and other phytoestrogenic herbs
Korean red ginseng isn't the only phytoestrogenic herb which is used to counteract many of the symptoms cause by a hormone deficiency in the human body. Other phytoestrogenic herbs such as: Red clover, black cohosh and don quai are also widely used to treat a variety of menopause symptoms.
How does red ginseng differ to other types of ginseng?
Red ginseng has such a name because of its distinctive red hue, which originates from the root of the ginseng plant being sun dried. Exposure to natural sunlight is said to maximize the already potent chemical properties of ginseng.
How does red ginseng work?
Red ginsengs potency stems from its phytoestrogen content. Phytoestrogens are a unique chemical which have a chemical structure similar to that of human estrogen. Such a property makes red ginseng popular in the treatment of women who suffer from a deficiency in estrogen.
What is red ginseng used for?
Because of its phytoestrogenic capabilities red ginseng is often used by menopausal women who are seeking relief from the symptoms caused by a drop in estrogen levels. Red ginseng is also known to excel at treating sexual dysfunction and a loss of libido.
What are the benefits and disadvantages of red ginseng?
The benefits of red ginseng include that it is a cheaper alternative to hormone replacement therapy, which women in the U.S. favor as their preferred treatment for menopause symptoms. Despite this however red ginseng is often viewed as a temporary measure as its effects are not as long lasting as those of hormone replacement therapy. Red ginseng has been found capable of treating other ailments, like nervousness and headaches. These risks are counterbalanced by its risk factors, the aggravation of breast cancer cells among them.
Due to the obvious benefits of Korean red ginseng many women choose this as an option in order to curb the harsher effects of their menopause symptoms. Some of these risks are negligible, but often times Korean red ginseng side effects do not make its benefits worthwhile. Due to the side effect of such herbs, it is highly recommended that other options such as non-estrogenic herbs are considered in the treatment of menopause symptoms.