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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 4 of 4. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Stryker88 on March 14, 2004, at 5:11:18
I take ginseng everyday, and it is a subtle vitality boost, not a major one, do you know if ginseng is at all dangerous, or maybe toxic?
Posted by guttersnipe on March 29, 2004, at 3:12:52
In reply to anybody know about ginseng????, posted by Stryker88 on March 14, 2004, at 5:11:18
Depends on what kind of ginseng you take. If it's American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius) then from all I've read, you should be fine (some suggest taking a few weeks off any ginseng every 6 weeks of so, though). American ginseng has broader variety of ginsenosides (the active chemical constituents) than does Korean or Chinese ginseng (Panax ginseng), and American ginseng has greater balance among its ginsenosides than does Korean or Chinese ginseng. The result is, in Taoist terms, that American ginseng has good Yin-Yang balance, whereas Chinese or Korean ginseng is primarily Yang energy.
I have read that the different proportions of ginsenosides (or the predominately Yang energy) is why continuous use of Chinese or Korean ginseng can lead to unhealthily elevated levels of cortisol (a stress formone) in the body and can make people tense or irritable, whereas no such effects have been found in folks with continuous use of American ginseng.
If you're taking what is called "Siberian ginseng" (Eleutherococcus senticosus, or "eleuthero"), then you're not taking a true ginseng at all -- it's a root from a completely different genus. It has some MAO-inhibitor effects, so before taking it, you'd be well-advised to check your meds (if any) to see whether MAOIs are contraindicated.
Hope that helps -- I'm not a ginseng expert, but I've noticed that American ginseng gives me more energy and spirit than the other two, and also does so without getting me agitated.
Posted by Stryker88 on March 29, 2004, at 4:39:41
In reply to Re: anybody know about ginseng????, posted by guttersnipe on March 29, 2004, at 3:12:52
thank you, that helps but now I am a little concerned about the MAO inhibitor effects, my drug Effexor cannot be combined with MAO, the brand I am taking is the brand Costco carries, it has Panax, American, and Eleuthero extract. So you say taking American Ginseng is probably the best bet, I will try that.
Posted by guttersnipe on March 29, 2004, at 16:07:31
In reply to Re: anybody know about ginseng????, posted by Stryker88 on March 29, 2004, at 4:39:41
As I said, I'm not an expert, but that would be my recommendation (I take American ginseng on an occasional basis -- not daily, but a few times per week). On those days when you really need a pick-me-up or a dose of solid Yang energy, you might take some Chinese or Korean ginseng.
Frankly, if I were you I'd be a lot more worried about the Effexor than the ginseng -- apart from exacerbating my bi-polar condition (which hopefully is not a problem for you!), when I was on Effexor I gained weight, completely lost my sex drive, and could not achieve orgasm no matter how long I went at it or how sexy or good in the sack my companion was. Now that I'm off the stuff (after going through a withdrawal that was worse than when I quit smoking tobacco, and worse than when I quit shooting heroin), I have no problem achieving orgasm -- the problem is that now I come too quickly (hopefully, in time, may brain will re-wire itself back to sexually normal ...).
But then again, I've heard that some people do really well on Effexor. Good luck with it!
This is the end of the thread.
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