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(Actual) publications 2007 Ginseng
As herbal medicine grows, three treatments gain popularity
BY MATTHEW SOLAN, CORRESPONDENT
December 18. 2007 Herbal medicine used to be what you turned toward when everything else failed -- a desperate attempt to try anything.
Not anymore. Today, herbal medicine is a more accepted and recognized approach to treatment. A 2004 survey from the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine ranked herbal medicine the second most commonly used such therapy, behind prayer.
Still, it is important to recognize that herbal medicine is a complex system. The various types of herbs and herbal formulas could fill the Sarasota Yellow Pages, their names are often tongue-twisters, and rarely is there a one-size-fits-all approach. See a doctor or a licensed herbalist before you embark on any herbal treatment. It is essential that people get a proper diagnosis and are given the right herbs in the proper amount for specific conditions.
Here is an introduction to three popular herbal preparations.
TRIPHALA
People always welcome the approaching new year as a time to start their lives fresh. But do not forget your internal one. A year-end cleansing is ideal to sweep out built-up toxins and purify your body for the upcoming year.
One way herbal medicine does this is with the rejuvenating formula triphala, intended to make your insides run smoother and more efficiently. In ayurvedic medicine, it gently stimulates the removal of ama -- any accumulation of toxins, undigested food or waste material in the body -- improves circulation and encourages stronger elimination. For women it can promote a healthier menstrual flow.
Triphala is composed of equal amounts of the dried fruit of three plants: haritaki (Terminalia chebula), amalaki (Emblica officinalis) and bibhitaki (Beleric myrobalan). Herbalists rely on triphala to combat a variety of digestive ailments, like irritable bowel syndrome and chronic constipation. It can also help with food-related issues. For instance, the formula supports people who often get fatigued after eating.
"This is likely because people don't receive all the nutrients from food, because of poor absorption, and thus crave extra food to be satisfied, and end up overeating," said Vishnu Dass, an ayurvedic practitioner and the director of Blue Lotus Ayurveda -- Ayurveda & Panchakarma Clinic in Asheville, N.C. (Think how you need a nap after that big holiday meal.)
Triphala has been used to aid with weight management and promote greater weight loss by stimulating metabolism, and is regarded as the ideal travel partner. "Everyone should travel with triphala," said Dass, "because who doesn't feel constipated on the road?"
Even if you do not have digestion issues, taking triphala once in a while can be like giving your insides a regular tune-up, Dass said. Dosages vary depending on a person's needs. You should see a licensed herbalist to treat a specific digestion problem or related condition, but for a general internal cleansing, try the following tea formula from Dass: Mix 1/2 to 1 teaspoon triphala powder with 1/2 to 1 cup hot water, in equal parts; let steep for 5 to 15 minutes and then drink, powder and all. (It often has a slight sour taste.) Dass suggests drinking it before bedtime or first thing in the morning on an empty stomach. If you choose the tablet route, take 500 to 1000 mg once or twice daily. "You often can feel its effect in about two weeks, but since it's not habit-forming, you can take it continuously with no side effects," Dass said. The lone precautions: Avoid this if you have an ulcer, are pregnant or experience heavy menstrual cycles.
Ginseng
Ginseng's powers have deep roots in traditional Chinese medicine where it has been regularly used for millennia to fight fatigue and strengthen qi, or life energy. But it is also used to tone digestive and immune systems, and some early Western studies have hinted it may boost brain power and perhaps even combat the common cold.
Ginseng refers to several species of the genus Panax. The two most commonly used species are Asian Ginseng (Panax Ginseng), found in mountain regions of Korea and northeast China, and American Ginseng (Panax quinquefolius), 90 percent of which hails from Wisconsin farms. (You may run across Siberian Ginseng, which is a distant cousin and not a true Ginseng.)
Which one you use depends on your specific needs. "Asian Ginseng has a warm, heating quality and is used to treat conditions like fatigue, low libido, and enhance physical vitality," said Laurel Redmon, a practitioner of Chinese herbalism, a licensed acupuncturist and owner of Red Sage Health in Madison Wis., heartland of American Ginseng. "American Ginseng is a calming tonic to soothe conditions like adrenal exhaustion, stress, anxiety and insomnia."
Ginseng's active components are called ginsenosides, which vitalize the body by gently stimulating the endocrine system and sympathetic nervous system; their sedative properties also promote relaxation.
Studies have found Ginseng can help with an array of more serious physical and mental problems:
Common cold. A study in the Canadian Medical Association Journal (Oct. 25, 2005) found that Ginseng supplements could reduce your risk of catching the common cold and reduce its severity and length. Researchers assigned 323 adults to take either 200 mg of American Ginseng or a placebo daily for four months. The Ginseng group reported suffering from an average of 0.68 colds, while the placebo group an average of 0.93 colds. Cold lengths were 10.8 days for the Ginseng group compared with 16.5 for the placebo group.
Fatigue. A pilot study from the North Central Cancer Treatment Group discovered that American Ginseng offers greater improvement in cancer-related emotional and physical fatigue after diagnosis and treatment. And the more, the better.
The experts offered 282 cancer patients either a placebo or three different daily doses of Ginseng: 750 mg, 1,000 mg and 2,000 mg. The patients who received the larger doses showed improvements in overall energy levels and reported an improvement in overall mental, physical, spiritual and emotional well-being.
Mental health. Several studies report that Ginseng can modestly improve thinking and mental health. In 2005, Northumbria University researchers in the United Kingdom found that 200 mg of daily Ginseng improved task performance and reduced mental fatigue in 30 young adults. A study from the University of Connecticut School of Pharmacy showed that 200 mg taken daily for four weeks could improve aspects of mental health and even social functioning.
Ginseng is available commercially in many forms, some better than others. The problem is that many commercial Ginseng products, like extracts, supplements and powders, lose their potency and balance when processed, Redmon said. "Standardized extracts only focus on specific compounds and act more like a drug than a balanced herbal medicine," she said, "and powders lose much of their effectiveness when processed.
"The Ginseng root has many compounds that act like a check-and-balance system," added Redmon. "You can't just focus on certain aspects. You need everything Ginseng offers for it to be the most effective."
For the best quality, buy Ginseng products from herbal medicine stores. You can also make decoctions from organic cultivated Ginseng roots, which have not been exposed to pesticides that may disturb their nutritional value, nor have they been tainted from any processing methods.
Place a medium-sized root in a full pot of water and bring to a boil. (Avoid aluminum or Teflon as this can contaminate the tea.) Reduce to a simmer, cover and cook for 30 to 45 minutes. Pour out and save the tea.
Fill the pot again and repeat the boiling and simmering process. Then combine the first and second batches to make your decoction. Sweeten to your taste (a higher concentration often has a somewhat bitter flavor).
A daily cup or two can give you an energy and brain booster, help combat sickness and soothe digestion. "Gauge how you react and drink more or less as needed, or make teas that are more or less concentrated," Redmon said.
You may store your Ginseng decoction in the refrigerator for up to a week.
ROSEMARY
Rosemary is one of those herbs always on hand. Open your cupboard and there it is. It goes great with everything: sauces, meats, salads, a pinch here, a pinch there. But herbalists say this versatile herb can do much more; it has "both stimulating and calming properties," said Denise O'Dunn, a certified Ayurvedic practitioner with Balance and Bliss Inc. (www.balanceandbliss.com), an ayurvedic lifestyle center in St. Petersburg.
Rosemary can perk you up when you want to pull the covers over your head or calm you down when you battle stress, fear or anxiety. The scent of rosemary can provide a much-needed mental boost by increasing alertness and clarity. Research in the International Journal of Neuroscience (January 2003) found the aroma of rosemary essential oil improved memory performance in comparison to a control group. For stressed-out individuals, inhaling rosemary can lower cortisol levels, according to a recent study in Psychiatry Research (Feb. 28, 2007).
If you need a mental boost or break, place a few drops of rosemary oil in your next warm bath (98.6 degrees Fahrenheit). Or mix a decoction: Place 50 g of the herb in 1 liter of water, boil and let stand for 30 minutes, then add to your bath water.
You also can do multiple wonders with simple rosemary tea, O'Dunn said. She recommends a formula of 1 teaspoon of dried or fresh leaves to 1 cup boiling water. Steep for at least 15 to 20 minutes (the longer time ensures that you extract most of its antioxidant and pain-relieving properties) and then strain. Use this infusion as a gargle for bad breath, or drink up to three cups daily to improve digestion.
"For women, rosemary tea has been known to ease menstrual cramps and calm irregular menstrual flows," O'Dunn said. (Pregnant women, however, should avoid high concentrations of rosemary, as some studies indicate it may cause cramping in the uterus.) Use the tea as a hair rinse to stimulate growth -- after you shampoo, rinse with water and then pour rosemary tea through your locks.
For an overall body and soul cleanser, O'Dunn suggests drinking a stronger concoction: Use 2 tablespoons herb (dried or fresh) to 2 cups boiling water and let steep for 15 to 20 minutes. Divide into three small cups and drink over the course of the day.
And do not forget your outsides. "Rosemary tea can be an excellent antidote for inflammation like rashes, blemishes, and stings and bites," O'Dunn said.
Mix 1 tablespoon fresh or dried rosemary leaves with 1 tablespoon crushed neem (Azadirachta indica) and add to 2 cups boiling water, she said. Steep for about 20 minutes, then refrigerate overnight. (The mixture lasts about a week.) Soak in cotton balls and apply where needed. "Rosemary also helps to increase skin circulation, which is why it's a popular ingredient in many anti-aging products," O'Dunn said.
For your own instant skin rejuvenator just add 2 tablespoons aloe to your rosemary-neem tea and use anywhere to soothe stressed skin and improve elasticity.
FROM: http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20071218/FEATURES/712180377
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Gincosan launches in the UAE
October 30 - 2007 Swiss pharmaceutical firm Pharmaton SA and the UAE-based company nmc trading organised today, a scientific symposium titled - 'Gincosan: the natural way to combat declining mental capacity'.
The event, which attracted more than 200 medical professionals and pharmacists, was part of the Gincosan launch activities in the UAE and the Gulf.
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R - L: Mr. Andrea Zangara from the Human Cognitive Neuroscience Unit of Northumbria University in Newcastle upon Tyne, UK; Dr Roger R. Tschopp, Head of Medical Affairs - Pharmaton SA; Dr B R Shetty, Managing Director & CEO - NMC Group; Ms Luana Dresti, Head of International Sales - Pharmaton SA; Mr Gilbert Mast, Head of International Public Relations - Pharmaton SA; and Mr V R Nambiar, COO - NMC Group, at the Gincosan product launch in the UAE. |
Acute and chronic dosing was employed and the two extracts were studied both alone and in combination with each other. GK501® has been shown to improve the microcirculation and thus the oxygen supply to the brain, and G115® to improve to optimize the oxygen uptake in the cells. The two extracts in Gincosan® thus act in a complementary way, creating a unique, first-of-its-kind product that improves mental performance and also reduces metal fatigue.
The scientific programme featured a speaker from Northumbria University in Newcastle upon Tyne (UK) and two speakers from the Swiss-based pharmaceutical company Pharmaton SA in Lugano-Bioggio. The symposium was chaired by Dr. D M Kayed, MD, American Board certified Neurologist and was hosted by nmc trading with Pharmaton SA. Dr. B R Shetty, Managing Director & CEO - NMC Group, was also present.
Pharmaton SA has been specializing in the scientific research, development and production of phyto-pharmaceuticals for over 50 years. As Mr. Gilbert Mast, Head of International Public Relations of Pharmaton SA, said during his introductory speech, the company is 'internationally recognized as centre of excellence for phytomedicine of the Boehringer Ingelheim Group. Its phyto-pharmaceuticals range among the leading natural products and are characterized by their high quality, efficacy and reliability, which meet or even surpass the most severe international standards.'
Phyto-pharmaceuticals are plant-based drugs. As they gain mainstream popularity among consumers, more and more questions are now being asked about them.
In conventional medicine, scientific evidence plays a crucial role. However, that is not always the case for phytomedicine. Perhaps this explains some of the scepticism among the medical profession towards herbal medicine. As complementary medicine becomes more and more popular in our society, there is an increasing need for doctors and pharmacists to be able to distinguish one phyto-pharmaceutical from another. Three criteria are important for this distinction: efficacy, safety and quality. The scientific symposium held today in Dubai was an important effort to address some of these issues.
The second speaker, Dr. Roger R. Tschopp, Head of Medical Affairs at Pharmaton SA, Switzerland, talked about the threats, challenges and opportunities of modern phytomedicine and stated that 'natural' doesn't always equate with 'safe'. Herbal medicines have been dispensed for centuries by traditional herbalists who have been involved also in their cultivation and preparation as well as assessment of their potency. At present, many herbal products are still processed in unregulated environments and purchased over the counter without counselling of a qualified health practitioner.
Reliable and responsible manufacturers of scientifically proven phyto-pharmaceuticals therefore control the natural ingredients of their products starting from the cultivation of the herbal plant material to its harvesting, extraction, standardization and incorporation into the finished galenical form. The aim is to consistently ensure the high quality, efficacy and safety of the final phyto-pharmaceutical preparation, independently from the variability of nature.
The drug trials for Gincosan were conducted in the UK, in Sweden, the Netherlands and USA. The third speaker, Mr. Andrea Zangara from the Human Cognitive Neuroscience Unit of Northumbria University in Newcastle upon Tyne, UK, presented an overview of the key studies and talked about the clinical evidence of Gincosan® on cognitive function. Most of the trials used the CDR computerized assessment system developed by Cognitive Drug Research Ltd (CDR) in the UK as primary cognitive outcome tool.
All the trials have identified beneficial effects on cognitive function especially on long term memory for words and pictures, working memory for numbers and location, speed of memory processes and power of concentration. The improvements were accompanied by enhancements of various mood states and quality of life indicators. Other trials have assessed the effects of the combination with the cognitive challenge design and hypothesis of action explored through EEG.
Over 600 volunteers had taken part in the trials, the study populations comprising student populations, healthy middle-aged adults, healthy elderly people, and volunteers with neurasthenia.
FROM: http://www.ameinfo.com/136443.html
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Ginseng juice eyed as anti-diabetic dietary supplement
By Stephen Daniells
20/09/2007 - An extract from American Ginseng berry may reduce blood sugar levels by 30 per cent and aid weight loss, reports a new study from the University of Chicago using obese diabetic mice.
If the results are repeated in further studies and are extrapolated to humans, it could mark the arrival of Ginseng juice on the dietary supplements market offering potential benefits for the management of diabetes.
"Our data suggest that Ginseng berry juice, as a dietary supplement, may have functional efficacy in consumers with diabetes,"
wrote the authors in the Journal of Food Science.
An estimated 19 million people are affected by diabetes in the EU 25, equal to four per cent of the total population. This figure is projected to increase to 26 million by 2030.
In the US, there are over 20 million people with diabetes, equal to seven per cent of the population. The total costs are thought to be as much as $132 billion, with $92 billion being direct costs from medication, according to 2002 American Diabetes Association figures.
The new study used a water extract from American Ginseng, obtained from field-grown American Ginseng berry collected in Wausau, Wisconsin, and fed this to adult male C57BL/6J ob/ob mice for ten days (0.6 mL per kg body weight). This mice model is known to be hyperglycemic, glucose intolerant, and obese, thereby resembling human type-2 diabetes.
The researchers, led by Chun-Su Yuan, measured fasting blood glucose levels on day 0 and day 10 of the study, and report that while blood glucose levels of all the mice were high at the start of the study, supplementation with the Ginseng berry juice was associated with a 31 per cent reduction after day 10, from 230 to 157.8 milligrams per decilitre of serum. No significant decrease was observed in the control group (no supplementation with the juice).
"Interestingly, after cessation of the [American Ginseng berry juice] administration, its hypoglycemic effect continued," stated the authors. "On day 20, ob/ob mice still had a significantly reduced blood glucose level (146.6 mg/dL compared to vehicle)."
Benefits were also observed with respect to body weight after ten days of supplementation with the Ginseng berry juice, with an average reduction of 2.5 grams per animal reported (from 76.6 g on day 0 to 74.1 g on day 10. No bodyweight changes were observed in the control group.
"Data from this study demonstrated that oral administration of AGBJ significantly reduced high blood glucose levels and body weight in ob/ob mice,"
wrote Yuan and co-workers.
"Our results suggest that the hypoglycemic activity of the berry juice may prove to be beneficial in the prevention and management of type 2 diabetes."
The researchers report that the active compounds in American Ginseng are dammarane saponins, also known as ginsenosides, and that these compounds are also likely to be the active components in the berry juice. They did measure concentrations of the major ginsenosides using HPLC analysis, and this could be used to develop quality controls for subsequent commercial preparations.
Formulations of Ginseng are already established in the dietary supplements market, with the herb typically taken to enhance stamina and reduce feelings of fatigue and physical stress.
The herb has been gaining popularity in Western societies, finding its way into, for example, energy drinks. In the US it is estimated to be the second top-selling herbal supplement, with $62m (€48.2m) in annual sales last year.
Source: Journal of Food Science. Published on-line ahead of print, doi: 10.1111/j.1750-3841.2007.00481.x
"American Ginseng Berry Juice Intake Reduces Blood Glucose and Body Weight in ob/ob Mice"
Authors: J.T. Xie, C.Z. Wang, M. Ni, J.A. Wu, S.R.Mehendale, H.H. Aung, A. Foo, C.S. Yuan
FROM: http://www.nutraingredients.com/news/ng.asp?n=79933&m=2NIE921&c=tbcofwatvvhylkj
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Korean Air Provides Red Ginseng Tea
09-17-2007 - A homemade-style red Ginseng tea is available on Korean Air flights.
The carrier Monday started offering red Ginseng tea to passengers in the first and business classes on the Gimpo-Haneda route, and another kind of red Ginseng drink to passengers in the economy class.
The service will be expanded to flights between Gimpo and China's Hongqiao, which are scheduled to launch next month.
Instead of instant tea bags, the airline provides the tea after decocting red Ginseng twice for more than six hours with pure underground water from Jeju Island.
Red Ginseng, one of the nation's representative health foods, has three times more efficacy than ordinary Ginseng. It is said to be good for diabetes and stomach-related diseases, as well as to improve immunity, speed up metabolism, and help recover energy.
A traditional Korean desert made of dried persimmon and walnut is also offered to first class passengers, and economy class passengers can have another type of red Ginseng drink.
``Korean Air has developed Korean-style, well-being in-flight meals such as `bibimbap' and `bibim noodle.' We expect the homemade-style, quality tea will gain popularity among Japanese and Chinese passengers,'' a Korean Air official said.
FROM: http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2007/09/113_10314.html
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Alternative Herbal Medicines - Best Way to Cure Disease
September 12, 2007 - Alternative herbal medicine is one of the best ways to cure chronic or other disease, in many cases. The major benefit of herbal medicines is that it is 100% natural and does not have any side effects, if taken according to the advice of a competent doctor. Look for and use organic herbs when ever possible.
Gamma Linoleic Acid (GLA) is the wonder medicine made from primrose, borage or currant seed oil that is extremely effective for treatment of alcohol addicts. Alcohol intake in huge amounts has the chances of slowing down your brain cells. This particular effect of alcohol can be checked by Valerian herb. Another effectual herbal medicine for people suffering from emotional or physical stress is Skullcap.
The alternative herbal remedies for stress, anxiety or depression are St. John's wort, ashwagandha, valerian and hops, ginseng, and Motherwort.
If one is suffering from any degree of sleeplessness, the most helpful herbal medicines are lemon balm, linden, chamomile and ginger tea. For quick relief from common ailments like the odd headache, you can go for eucalyptus or peppermint oil and lavender while for rapid pain relief or inflammation, one can take meadowsweet or willow bark instead of chemical painkillers.
Salicylic acid, the chief component of the pain-killer aspirin, is found in its salicin form in willow bark and meadowsweet. The salicin is reacted upon in the stomach and transformed to salicylic acid, which grants you instant relief from pain. Ginger, which reduces the prostaglandin levels in the body, is another useful pain reliever.
Thanks to the hectic modern style of present day living, most of us suffer from stress in different forms. Herbal medicine is a great way to counter this. ginseng and Siberian ginseng are two of the most potent stress relievers. Herbal medicines like gingko biloba, ginseng, Siberian ginseng and gotu kola are also successful in curing partial memory loss. Hawthorn, ginseng, motherwort, valerian and pineapple are the wonder herbs that help in curing angina or irregular heartbeat.
Most herbal medicines are prepared from the major herbal ingredient along with other contents. At present, almost 80% of all the medicines have some herbal ingredients.
Although herbal medicines have been extremely successful in treating many diseases, prescription drugs still hold the fort when it comes to treating critical diseases. Thus, one should not consider alternative herbal medicine to be a competitor of prescription drugs, but as a new and effective form of medicine that works in tandem with prescription drugs to treat certain illnesses.
Another benefit of herbal medicines is that it is accessible to most everyone. Herbal treatment is not at all expensive and the herbs can even be grown in your backyard! In fact, prescription drugs are much more expensive and associated with a greater amount of risk.
Alternative medicine is cheap, effective and most importantly, natural and free from any side effects.
FROM: http://www.americanchronicle.com/articles/viewArticle.asp?articleID=37454
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Letter from South Korea: The gold rush over wild ginseng
By Norimitsu Onishi
August 22, 2007 JINAN, South Korea: Aroadside restaurant here was abuzz one recent morning with talk of a $65,000 Ginseng plant.
The only customers, a small group of Ginseng seekers, had assembled for a breakfast of tofu soup before driving off to a nearby mountain that they planned to scour for the sought-after plant.
Belying the early hour and the rain, their conversation grew increasingly animated with each retelling of the news from the night before: Someone had just found a 235-gram, or 8.3-ounce, 30-year-old Ginseng plant, assessed at $65,000!
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Photo: A wild-Ginseng digger bows to a wild-Ginseng that he find before digging its root in mountain in Jinan County, South Korea, on July 17. |
In South Korea and elsewhere in Asia, wild Ginseng roots have traditionally been prized for their supposed preternatural healing powers, properties believed to be missing in the farmed variety. South Korean media periodically report on the discovery of extremely rare wild Ginseng plants that command tens of thousands of dollars and fuel the dreams of Ginseng seekers across the country.
So armies of them forage through the country's thickly forested mountains, where wild Ginseng can be found, if it can be found at all, in nooks with the right mix of air, sunlight and humidity. As mountains are regarded as holy places, the search tends to take on a spiritual, or at least superstitious, dimension.
The finder of the $65,000 Ginseng was reported to have seen three pillars of fire in a dream just before stumbling on the plant on Sobaek Mountain, in the middle of the country.
Here in the southwest, Pae, a professional Ginseng seeker, was guide to a group of a half-dozen amateurs.
"I used to be really depressed, so I started looking for Ginseng," said Pae Duk Soon, a 42-year-old homemaker, who is not related to the group leader.
She isn't in it for the money, she said. In the 10 months she had been looking for Ginseng, she had dug up a handful of young, little plants, perhaps worth a few hundred dollars, and given them away to relatives. "But the professionals," she whispered, "get stressed out if they go three days straight without finding anything."
After driving to their destination, Woonjang Mountain, the group split into two, with Pae Young Gun and an experienced member of the group choosing an untrodden path. No sooner had they left their cars than they were climbing up a steep hill and hacking bush with a scythe. Arriving at a clearing on a steep slope, Pae laid a squash, some dried fish and rice crackers at the foot of a tree.
"I'm just telling the mountain gods that we're starting our trip and asking them to look after us," he explained after prostrating himself and pouring out two bottles of a milklike drink. "I'm also offering some drinks to the demons surrounding the gods so that they won't be envious."
It was 17 years ago that the 43-year-old started looking for Ginseng after befriending an older seeker during a mountain hike, he said. The older man taught him where to search and how.
"The point is not to be greedy, to empty your heart," Pae said. "Go into the mountain. Make sure you are walking and working very hard so that your labor will be rewarded."
He decided to devote himself full-time to searching for Ginseng four years ago after giving up his job as a fisherman.
"Until last year, I was torn - do I like the sea or the mountain more?" said Pae, a stocky, bearlike man able to plow through dense forests of trees and bush with surprising ease. "I made up my mind - it's the mountain."
Many South Koreans have made a similar choice, though not necessarily for the same reason.
Lim Duk Hwan, an official at the Taeguk Ginseng Assessment Association in Seoul, said he had noticed an increase in people turning to Ginseng in the past two to three years.
"Because the economy hasn't recovered, people are trying to supplement their incomes by looking for Ginseng," Lim said. "But most people end up doing poorly. They can't even recover their expenses."
The price of a particular plant depends on a host of innumerable factors like age, size, color, the soil and the angle of the terrain from which it was dug out, Lim said. While it is easy to separate a farmed Ginseng plant from a wild one, other cases require more expertise.
Given the huge prices that wild Ginseng fetches in South Korea, some people import wild Ginseng plants from China and replant them here, he said.
Telltale signs include uneven spacing between the rings around the root and differing shades of color.
If aristocrats used to be the biggest consumers of wild Ginseng, it is now the business and political elite who are said to exchange the most prized roots as gifts or even bribes.
"We're the losers here," Pae said. "It's hard for us to find one and, once we do, we just hand it over to the middleman."
On this particular day, hours of searching had yielded nothing.
"This is a great place for Ginseng, but I don't see any," Pae said as he walked down a hill, making a zigzag path. "It's frustrating."
He came to a rest at the foot of the hill, his face covered in sweat and his eyeglasses steamed up.
"If I don't find one today, I'll find one tomorrow. So I don't get frustrated," he said.
"Once you find one, it becomes an addiction. You can't go back to your old job," he said. "All you can see in front of your eyes is Ginseng."
FROM: http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/08/22/news/letter.php?page=1
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In perfect balance with ginseng
By Joanne Yap, TODAY
21 August 2007 SINGAPORE: Ginseng, valued for its nourishing properties, has been a common fixture in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) for the past 2,000 years.
Researchers have also found that the humble root contains anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects.
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Photo: MANAGING ONE'S QI: Ginseng's active component, Ginsenosides, helps to restore the body's energy imbalance |
Ms Seah Ai Wei, TCM physician with Raffles Chinese Medicine, explained that Ginseng is commonly prescribed to patients to build up their immunity.
"Ginseng can help boost resistance to stress, improve stamina as well as one's mental and physical well-being," Ms Seah said.
Ginsenosides, the root's active component, also helps to restore qi - what TCM physicians term the vital energy circulating within the body.
Ms Seah said: "When the qi in certain organs like the lungs or stomach is weak, breathing problems and poor digestion can occur because the person's immune system is low."
Ginseng is thus given to patients to restore their body's energy imbalance.
Dietitian Grace Quek of Excellence Healthcare agrees that Ginseng can be beneficial.
She said: "The Ginsenosides found in the Ginseng root contain anti-inflammatory properties and efficacy has also been established in its benefits for chronic fatigue syndrome."
But the root shouldn't be taken indiscriminately. According to Ms Nehal Kamdar, dietician at Raffles Hospital, Ginseng can interact with other medications such as warfarin and phenelzine adversely.
"Overdosing on Ginseng can also cause gastrointestinal problems, insomnia and hypertension," she said.
Symptoms of a Ginseng overdose may include diarrhoea, nausea and vomiting.
Ms Seah thus cautions against supplementing one's diet with too much of the root. "Boiling Ginseng slices in soup once a week is fine, but taking Ginseng supplements on a daily basis is too much and not beneficial for the body."
Her advice is to consult a TCM physician, who is better able to prescribe the right amount and type of Ginseng most suited to the condition of your body, as Ginseng comes in both warm and cool varieties.
Ms So Hwee Mei, dietitian at the Dietetics Department of the National University Hospital, explained: "Not all Ginseng is heaty. Korean Ginseng is the heatiest of the lot, while Chinese Ginseng is also heaty, but to a lesser extent. American Ginseng on the other hand, has more cooling and relaxing properties."
Taking the wrong type of Ginseng - trying to correct a deficiency in yang energy with a Ginseng that restores yin energy - can also have side effects such as an energy imbalance.
Therefore, physicians have to understand the patients' ailments before prescribing the appropriate Ginseng.
Dang Shen is recommended for supplementing vital energy and blood. TCM physicians prescribe it for patients with stomach, spleen and lung problems, and those with a deficiency in energy, fluid and blood.
Tai Zi Shen supplements both energy and body fluid.
Xi Yang Shen or American Ginseng helps the lungs and kidneys, and is suitable for those with a deficiency in yang energy.
Hong Shen or Korean Ginseng is nourishing for one's yang energy.
Ways to prepare and eat Ginseng:
Brew slices in soup with pork, chicken or fish.
Place a few thin slices in hot water to make Ginseng tea.
Grind the Ginseng into a powder, to be swallowed as a capsule.
Double-boil slices over a small fire for a few hours.
Chew on Ginseng slices slowly before swallowing.
FROM: http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/health/view/295143/1/.html
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Skin Care in Summer
Feeding Skin With Nourishing Foods
By Chung Ah-young, Staff Reporter
08-09-2007- Summer is often the season when people find it hard to care for their skin because of the heat and humidity, which turns skin oily and sweaty.
So many people think that not applying anything to the skin is the best way to prevent problems resulting from too much oil and sweat.
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Photo: "bokbunja", Korean black raspberry |
The skin is being severely damaged by sun, salty seawater and a lack of sleep because of ``tropical nights'' to name a few reasons.
Despite such ``challenges'' for the skin, a simple approach makes a big difference in summer, especially for fatigued skin exposed to too much sun at beaches and mountains during your vacation.
Just like the efforts to seek nutritious foods to boost your physical metabolism, good nourishment is also the key treatment for the skin.
Nutritious products such as black raspberry widely known as ``bokbunja,'' Ginseng and other summer fruits are popular to care the skin.
Instead of letting your stomach consume these foods, why not let the skin do the consumption?
Ginseng
From ancient times, Ginseng has been highly appreciated as a plant good for health and vitality, and the enhancement of longevity and quality of life.
Even today, it has become one of the most favorable plants among many other medicinal plants.
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Photo: Ginseng |
Many cosmetic products launch facial cleansing milk, Ginseng tonic, lotion, and cream. Each formula is blended with quality pure plant oils and other genuine natural ingredients that activate and energize the skin.
Sansim produced by Hankook Cosmetics (50,000 won) contains the extracts of wild Ginseng, or ``sansam,'' to provide nutrition ideally suited for sluggish, congested, devitalized and lackluster skin.
Also, Suhyangjin Boyang Keumyul Pack by the Face Shop (10,900 won) retains herbal ingredients including Ginseng and nano-gold, which all function to moisturize the skin.
Fruit and Vegetables
Vitamins might be the most important nutrient for recovering energy because the skin tends to easily lose this through sweating.
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Photo: Suhyangjin boyang Keumyul Pack offered bij the Face Shop |
Both have a revitalizing, nourishing and often astringent effect on the skin. Masks give a soft peeling effect that removes dead skin cells, blackheads and excess pigmentation.
Vitamin A, called retinol, prevents the skin from wrinkling and keeps it revitalized.
Vitamin C and E protect the skin from ultraviolet rays, slow the aging process and make skin healthy and shiny.
Also, vitamin C is good for controlling the creation of melanin _ the source of skin pigmentation _ and whitening it.
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Photo: Classic Homme Multi Energy offered by the Face Shop |
Classic Homme Multi Energy (12,900 won) offered by the Face Shop targets men with its whitening and wrinkle-preventing effect.
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Photo: Skin Food's Lettuce and Cucumber Water Jelly Watermelons Cream by Skin Food |
``The skin tends to sag and easily lose vigor as it suffers from strong sun in the daytime and a lack of sleep because of sweltering nights,'' Park Mi-ok, manager of the product development department, said.
``For fatigued skin, vitamins are desperately needed. Cosmetics containing rich vitamins such as black raspberry and other herbal elements are easy to apply to the face skin. Also massage packs made with natural ingredients using summer fruits are very effective to provide abundant moisture and nutrition for revitalization,'' Park said.
``Bokbunja,'' which refers to berry trees growing in Korea's mountains, is known to help men who have impotency, premature ejaculation, urinary problems and hyperactivity.
But also it helps promote healthy skin, vision and to maintain a healthy liver. The plant makes the skin turn soft and shiny.
Skin Food's Lettuce and Cucumber Water Jelly Cream (10,000 won) includes abundant moisture with cucumber extracts to repair damaged skin.
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Photo: A package of Tomato Whitening Serum, Cream, Emulsion and toner by Skin Food |
Amore Pacific's Happy Bath Body Repair 24 Essence (12,000 won) contains extracts of squash and honey to enhance the moisture effect and tighten the muscles of the face.
Self-Massage with Natural Ingredients
If you are keen on clear and vital skin, prepare a massage pack with natural fruits and vegetables that are easily found in the market.
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Photo: Squash |
Also, keep in mind that you should make a small amount as natural ingredient packs should not be used more than once.
Watermelon
Watermelons are one of the most popular summer fruits in Korea and easily available.
Use the white parts of the watermelons because they are rich in fructose and glucose, sources of abundant moisture. Grind them and mix with wheat flour and milk. Then apply the result to the face and cover with gauze. Wash away after 15-20 minutes.
Peach
Peach skin is effective in improving the complexion. Softly massage the inside of peach peelings on the face every night for a few minutes. The moisture will thoroughly cleanse the skin and pores. It also has an astringent effect and tightens the muscle of the face slightly, thus preventing sagging tissue.
Cabbage
Grind a couple of cabbage leaves and extract juice. Dissolve one-fourth teaspoon of yeast in it and stir in one teaspoon of honey. Mix well and apply thickly over face and neck. Keep it on for 15 minutes. Remove with cotton wool soaked in water. This mask will work against wrinkles and dryness and will revitalize your skin.
Tomato
Tomato is also good for getting a good complexion. Apply the pulp of a tomato to the face. Leave for a while and then wash off with warm water. Repeat this daily. You will have a good complexion. It will also quickly remove pimples.
Cucumber
Grind a cucumber. Apply this over the face, eyes and neck for 15 to 20 minutes. Regular use of cucumber prevents pimples, blackheads, wrinkles, and facial dryness.
FROM: http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/art/2007/08/203_8013.html
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Ginseng labelling causes dispute
U.S. officials complain about Canadian and Chinese produce
Bruce Constantineau, Vancouver Sun
August 08, 2007 - U.S. lawmakers say Canadian and Asian Ginseng is being deliberately mislabelled in the U.S. as "Wisconsin-grown," fooling consumers into buying what they feel is an inferior product.
It's a claim that riles B.C. Ginseng farmers, who insist the quality of their product is as good as any in the world.
"This [mislabelling] is more of an issue down there with Chinese-grown Ginseng,"
Associated Ginseng Growers of B.C. vice-president Menno Schellenberg said in an interview.
"It just seems they have thrown Canada in there for good measure, because we're not the primary problem."
A bill introduced in the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives would make it necessary for raw Ginseng root to be labeled stating exactly where it was harvested.
Ginseng Board of Wisconsin executive director Butch Weege said he has no problem with Canadian growers, blaming U.S. wholesalers and retailers who mislabel and "do whatever they can to make a buck."
But he said there are differences between Canadian and Wisconsin Ginseng, with Canadian plants generally being larger, sweeter tasting, and with a drier appearance on the skin.
One U.S. media report this week said chemicals used on Canadian Ginseng leave residues that impair quality. Weege said Canadians use an effective fungicide called quintozene, but U.S. farmers can't use it because it's a possible carcinogen. Schellenberg said Ginseng farmers throughout the world use fungicides and pesticides to protect and enhance their crops.
"We produce more per acre because Wisconsin has been hit with plant disease problems over the past decade,"
he said.
"It was a combination of bad weather and misuse of pesticides that created resistance problems and made them less effective."
Wisconsin produces 95 per cent of the Ginseng grown in the U.S., with 200 farmers producing about 270,000 kilograms of Ginseng annually. B.C. farmers produce about 360,000 kilograms a year, while Ontario produces 1.8 million kilograms.
B.C. produced about 1.1 million kilograms of Ginseng in 1994, but global overproduction forced prices down, so production dropped.
Schellenberg said Chinese production of North American Ginseng species has increased in recent years, which continues to drive prices down.
He said stories about inferior or tainted B.C. Ginseng come at a time when his association is trying to boost local marketing efforts.
"Anything that makes it into the news saying that ours is inferior or contaminated will certainly hurt those efforts," Schellenberg said. "So we certainly have to respond vigorously."
Weege said Wisconsin producers have no intention of stopping Canadian or Asian Ginseng from being sold in the U.S.
"All we're trying to do is make sure everyone is honest at the retail level so consumers know where the stuff comes from,"
he said. "They can buy whatever they want."
But Weege warned that Chinese Ginseng producers have much lower labour costs than North American growers.
"If they mislabel their product and put prices down where it just blows us out of the market, what can we do about that?" he said. "We'll be cooked, and you guys will be cooked too."
FROM: http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/business/story.html?id=ecdacef7-3e02-4258-b625-6e1958e2f463&k=90636
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Pharmacogenomics and the Yin/Yang actions of ginseng
July 16, 2007- In Chinese medicine, Ginseng (Panax Ginseng C.A. Meyer) has long been used as a general tonic or an adaptogen to promote longevity and enhance bodily functions. It has also been claimed to be effective in combating stress, fatigue, oxidants, cancer and diabetes mellitus.
Most of the pharmacological actions of Ginseng are attributed to one type of its constituents, namely the ginsenosides.
In this review, we focus on the recent advances in the study of ginsenosides on angiogenesis which is related to many pathological conditions including tumor progression and cardiovascular dysfunctions.
Angiogenesis in the human body is regulated by two sets of counteracting factors, angiogenic stimulators and inhibitors.
The 'Yin and Yang' action of Ginseng on angiomodulation was paralleled by the experimental data showing angiogenesis was indeed related to the compositional ratio between ginsenosides Rg1 and Rb1. Rg1 was later found to stimulate angiogenesis through augmenting the production of nitric oxide (NO) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF).
Mechanistic studies revealed that such responses were mediated through the PI3K?Akt pathway. By means of DNA microarray, a group of genes related to cell adhesion, migration and cytoskeleton were found to be up-regulated in endothelial cells. These gene products may interact in a hierarchical cascade pattern to modulate cell architectural dynamics which is concomitant to the observed phenomena in angiogenesis.
By contrast, the anti-tumour and anti-angiogenic effects of ginsenosides (e.g. Rg3 and Rh2) have been demonstrated in various models of tumor and endothelial cells, indicating that ginsenosides with opposing activities are present in Ginseng.
Ginsenosides and Panax Ginseng extracts have been shown to exert protective effects on vascular dysfunctions, such as hypertension, atherosclerotic disorders and ischemic injury. Recent work has demonstrated the target molecules of ginsenosides to be a group of nuclear steroid hormone receptors.
These lines of evidence support that the interaction between ginsenosides and various nuclear steroid hormone receptors may explain the diverse pharmacological activities of Ginseng.
These findings may also lead to development of more efficacious Ginseng-derived therapeutics for angiogenesis-related diseases.
Authors: Patrick Ying Kit Yue, Nai Ki Mak, Yuen Kit Cheng, Kar Wah Leung, Tzi Bun Ng, David Tai Ping Fan, Hin Wing Yeung, and Ricky Ngok Shun Wong
FROM: http://www.scientistlive.com/18218/pharmacogenomics-and-the-yinyang-actions-of-ginseng.thtml
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Ginseng standard to cover one species?
By Alex McNally
16/07/2007 - A regional standard for Ginseng in Asia currently being drawn up by Codex should only cover one species of the herb, the International Alliance of Dietary/Food Supplement Associations (IADSA) has said.
The draft standard by the Codex Coordinating Committee for Asia (CCASIA) recommends applying the standard to species Panax quinquefolius and Panax Ginseng.
The Codex Alimentarius Commission has said that once the regional standard has been adopted, discussions would begin as to whether or not to the standard should be converted into an international standard.
However, only one species of Ginseng should be regulated under the regional Codex Standard for Ginseng Products, IADSA said on Friday.
And the group, which represents 58 national trade associations across six continents, has called for Codex to remove P. quinquefolius from the draft.
It says that integrating more than one species to the standard would be outside of Codex's scientific resources.
Guidelines to regulate Ginseng in Asia by Codex have already been more than two years in the making. When a draft set of regulations were first mooted it spelled the beginning of the herbal being accepted as a food ingredient rather than a drug.
Since then changes have been made to the draft, and earlier this year P. notoGinseng Burk and derived products were deleted from the list.
David Pineda, IADSA's manager of regulatory affairs, explained:
"Panax Ginseng is the main species in Asia, and as the regional standard will apply to the Asian members of Codex only, it is logical that it should cover only this species."
The decision to endorse the standard as regional is currently at step five of the eight-step Codex decision-making procedure.
The Ginseng standard includes requirements on quality, methods of production of the herbal and product characteristics.
Ginseng is typically taken to enhance stamina and reduce feelings of fatigue and physical stress. It is also believed to have an anti-cancer function and has been reported to normalise blood glucose levels, improve insulin sensitivity and reduce the risk of obesity.
The herb has been gaining popularity in Western societies, finding its way into, for example, energy drinks. In the US it is estimated to be the second top-selling herbal supplement, with $62m (€48.2m) in annual sales last year.
FROM: http://www.nutraingredients.com/news/ng.asp?n=78205&m=2NIE719&c=tbcofwatvvhylkj
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Korean chilli paste, ginseng products receive recognition as distinct food
SEOUL, July 15, 2007 (Yonhap New) South Korea's traditional chilli paste and Ginseng-derived products have received initial recognition as distinct foods by an international standard-setting commission, the government said Sunday.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry said the Codex Alimentarius Commission (Codex) approved food standards forwarded by South Korea on chilli paste or "gochujang," and dried and liquid extracts of Ginseng.
Gochujang had been considered a form of hot sauce made with powdered chilli, salt and vinegar. The Codex's decision recognized it as a fermented food possessing unique flavor.
The ministry said that the decision made by a gathering of food experts in Rome to pass the food standards for Ginseng is positive for exports. South Korea considers the root a health food but some countries classify it as a medicinal substance. Medicinal substances operate under different import rules than ordinary food, which makes trading them more difficult.
The latest decision by Codex will be forwarded to member countries of the organization for feedback. That feedback and the initial review will then be examined in detail by a sub-committee board before it becomes an international standard.
The commission, created in 1963 by both the World Health Organization and the Food and Agriculture Organization, is tasked with developing food standards.
The agriculture ministry, meanwhile, said if gochujang is made a standard it will be the second local dish after kimchi to win global recognition as a distinct Korean food. Codex approved the spicy side dish as a distinct international food in 2000.
FROM: http://english.hani.co.kr/arti/english_edition/e_business/222672.html
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Herbs and Herbal Supplements for Fertility
Alien Sheng
July 9, 2007 Over the last several decades the rise in infertility rates among men has prompted medical experts to look for the causes. Men's sperm counts have dropped dramatically and some experts fear an even greater decline in fertility in the future. One theory for this reduction is the over-exposure to estrogen and estrogen-like substances. These are found in pesticides, meat and dairy products, and even our water sources. This estrogen causes a reduction in testosterone production and overall sperm count.
To counter this assault on male fertility there are some herbal choices that may offer help. Herbal treatments are most successful for fertility issues caused by hormonal problems or weak sperm, as opposed to those involving structural problems such as a blocked sperm duct. Prescription drugs have shown promise in treating fertility but often lead to other complications, requiring additional drugs to counter these.
Testosterone is necessary to manufacture healthy sperm in adequate amounts to support fertility. Unfortunately, testosterone levels peak in late teens to early twenties and then gradually decline after that, sometimes as low as 20% by age 80. Even more troubling is the finding that testosterone levels have dropped world-wide since the 1940s, with some figures showing as much as a 50% drop. Ginseng has research-based support for its testosterone boosting properties. Ginseng has also been reported to increase the duration and firmness of erection. The overall health boosting benefit of Ginseng is an added bonus.
Medicinal Herbs That Might Be helpful in Increasing Fertility in Males
The African herb pygeum, the Indian herb Ashwaganda, and the Chinese herb fo-ti are all potential testosterone boosting herbs that have been shown to increase sperm counts and overall sperm "strength." Pygeum is an evergreen tree found in the higher elevations of some regions of Africa. An extract from the bark has been found to help in cases of infertility where lower prostatic secretions are responsible. Pygeum helps by increasing these prostatic secretions. Pygeum has also been shown to support the health of the testes and the seminal vesicles which produce and house the sperm. The Ashwaganda root is an ancient Indian sexual tonic for infertility and the Chinese have used fo-ti for centuries to increase sperm count. Even the common household herb ginger has some promise as a testosterone and sperm count boosting agent.
Another herb with ancient roots and modern scientific support is tongkat ali. It was used as an herbal aphrodisiac first and recently has been studied for its effect on male fertility. Through an increase in the body's testosterone production tongkat ali helps to combat infertility by increasing libido, boosting sperm count, and protecting the health of the sex organs.
A few other herbs have also been shown to support fertility and sexual function. dong quai is an herb that has been shown beneficial to both males and females in fertility treatment. Through blood purification this herb will help maintain healthy blood flow to the reproductive organs. Astragalus extract may help stimulate sperm motility. Saw palmetto may not boost production of testosterone but it supports the prostate to release more testosterone. Sarsparilla supports the production of anabolic hormones, one of which is testosterone. It also supports nerve tissue which is sometimes an issue in infertility.
The Use Of Herbal Supplements To Increase Fertility
Herbal remedies and supplements for infertility are not guaranteed to work. Each person will be affected by the herbs, and their active compounds, differently. The major benefit of most herbal treatments is the lack of side effects associated with them. It is still important to check for any cautions or drug interactions when starting on any herbal supplement. It is also important to be patient and allow the herbs time to work.
FROM: http://www.americanchronicle.com/articles/viewArticle.asp?articleID=31687
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Diet Pepsi MAX: "Wake Up, People!"
6/25/2007 - New Invigorating Cola with ginseng and More Caffeine Hits Shelves this Week Survey Reveals the News Behind the Slump.
PURCHASE, NY - June 2007 - Americans are tired of being tired. According to a new survey commissioned by Diet Pepsi MAX, an invigorating zero-calorie cola with ginseng and more caffeine, 84 percent of Americans* experience a daily "afternoon slump." They're also having a tough time being discreet about it. More than half of respondents admit to yawning up to five times a day and another 86 percent believe that those yawns are contagious. Diet Pepsi MAX, which arrives on store shelves nationwide this week, plans to do something about it.
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"It's evident that Americans are tired and could use an extra kick to help get them through the day," said Russell Weiner, VP, Colas, Pepsi-Cola North America. "Diet Pepsi MAX was designed to offer a great-tasting solution with a unique formula that invigorates the mind and body, preventing those ill-timed yawns from taking over." |
Additionally, Diet Pepsi MAX has launched a Web site, www.WakeUpPeople.com, which features a "Yawn-a-Thon," offering a humorous take on telethons. The site also provides the option to send a celebrity wake-up call to a friend from Ben Stein. The site was created by Tribal DDB.
Diet Pepsi MAX Survey
According to the survey commissioned by Diet Pepsi MAX (a national consumer poll of 1,102 adults conducted by Harris Interactive), one-third of Americans (31 percent) blame the workplace as the reason for their exhaustion. But America is also transforming the cause into the solution, because half of all survey respondents have caught someone asleep on the job, while 28 percent have confessed to falling asleep at work themselves. The most popular ways respondents overcome their slumps at work include walking around the office (58 percent) and consuming caffeinated beverages (52 %). The survey also revealed the following:
- About one in five respondents (18 percent) has faked a yawn to get out of a conversation
- Nearly one in ten (8 percent) Americans has yawned while on a job interview
- Half (50 percent) of respondents say they've caught someone sleeping at work
- 54 percent of working Americans say they would take a nap at work to reinvigorate themselves in the afternoon if given permission by their supervisor
- One-third (32 percent) have admitted to yawning on a date
- Nearly one in ten (9 percent) Americans has had a bug fly into their mouth while yawning
About Pepsi-Cola North America
Purchase, N.Y.-based Pepsi-Cola North America (www.pepsi.com) is the refreshment beverage unit of PepsiCo, Inc., in the United States and Canada. Its U.S. brands include Pepsi, Mountain Dew, Aquafina, Sierra Mist, IZZE, SoBe, Mug, Tropicana Twister Soda, Tropicana Juice Drinks, Dole and Ocean Spray single-serve juices. The company also makes and markets North America's best-selling ready-to-drink iced teas and coffees, respectively, via joint ventures with Lipton and Starbucks.
About the Survey
This survey was conducted online within the United States by Harris Interactive on behalf of Diet Pepsi MAX, between May 11 and May 22, among a nationally representative sample of 1,102 U.S. adults ages 18 and older and over-samples among 122 adults in Boston, 180 in Chicago,
179 in Los Angeles, 184 in New York City, and 110 in Washington DC.
Figures for age, sex, race/ethnicity, education, region, and household income were weighted where necessary to bring them into line with their actual proportions in the population. Propensity score weighting was also used to adjust for respondents' propensity to be online.
With a pure probability sample of 1,102, one could say with a ninety-five percent probability that the overall national results would have a sampling error of +/- 5 percentage points. The five over-samples would have the following sample errors: Boston +/- 13 percentage points; Chicago +/- 11 percentage points; Los Angeles +/- 11 percentage points; New York City +/- 11 percentage points; Washington DC +/- 13 percentage points. Sampling error for data based on subsamples would be higher and would vary. However, that does not take other sources of error into account. This online survey is not based on a probability sample and therefore no theoretical sampling error can be calculated.
*For purposes of this study, Americans were defined as adults ages 18+.
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Ginseng May Improve Cancer-Related Fatigue
2007-06-15
Researchers affiliated with the North Central Cancer Treatment Group, N03CA trial have reported that American ginseng Doses of 1000-2000 mg/day may be effective in alleviating cancer-related fatigue. The details of this randomized trial were presented at the 2007 meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology in June.
Fatigue is one of the major complaints of patients with cancer. In some instances fatigue is related to anemia which can often be alleviated by the administration of epoetin alfa (Procrit®, Epogen®) or darbepoetin alfa (Aranesp). There are several alternative or complementary medicines that are taken by patients to alleviate cancer-related fatigue, including ginseng.
These researchers performed a randomized trial of three doses of ginseng versus placebo in 282 patients with cancer-related fatigue. There were no differences in toxicity measurements between the 4 groups. Patients receiving the higher doses of ginseng were reported to have improved fatigue endpoints. Approximately one quarter of patients receiving the higher doses of ginseng reported better fatigue levels compared to 10% of patients in the placebo group and patients receiving the lowest dose of ginseng (750 mg/day). The fraction of patients satisfied with treatment was 13% in the control group and 24-34% in those receiving ginseng. These authors suggest that further studies of ginseng are warranted.
Comments: This is one of the few studies to show possible benefit from alternative or complementary herbal treatments.
Reference: Barton DL, Soori GS, Bauer B, et al. A pilot, multi-dose placebo-controlled evaluation of American ginseng (panax quinquefollius) to improve cancer-related fatigue: NCCTG trial NO3CA. Proceedings from the American Society of Clinical Oncology. Chicago/IL. 2007. Abstract # 9001
FROM: http://professional.cancerconsultants.com/oncology_main_news.aspx?id=39967
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Alternative therapies
June 11, 2007 - Most cancer patients try herbs, vitamins, or other untested treatments in search of relief, or even a cure. Now, scientists are figuring out which ones might really work.
Doctors used to toss cancer treatments like ginseng tea into the category of "unproved remedies" along with faith healing and laetrile, the now-discredited medicine made from apricot pits that can cause severe poisoning. But the medical profession's disdain didn't stop most cancer patients from trying a wide array of these alternative treatments in their desperate hope for a cure, or at least comfort.
Today, scientists are gaining respect for home cancer remedies as carefully designed studies show that some may actually work.
Last week , scientists at major research centers released studies showing that ginseng appears to help patients fight the fatigue that accompanies chemotherapy, while a grain called flaxseed appears to shrink prostate tumors. A third study suggested that ground up shark cartilage -- popularized by the book "Sharks Don't Get Cancer" -- does nothing to help lung cancer patients. But the study's existence underscores the new seriousness about alternative medicine.
"Patients ask me about these things they have snookered away in their purses and pocketbooks: 'Will they help me?' Most of the time, we can't answer," Dr. Bruce D. Cheson , chief of hematology at Georgetown University Hospital in Washington, D.C., said at a Chicago press conference unveiling the studies. He called the research, which he had no role in, "some of the first and most rigorous studies" ever of complementary and alternative cancer treatments, adding, "We take our cancer advances wherever we can get them."
So far, the most persuasive evidence concerns treatments that ease the suffering that goes with cancer -- such as nausea, pain, and anxiety. It's harder to show that alternative treatments attack the disease itself. However, a few researchers have raised intriguing possibilities: a small four-year study at Creighton University in Nebraska last week suggested that taking vitamin D supplements reduced the risk of cancer in older women by up to 60 percent.
Longtime observers of alternative medicine say the most hopeful sign is that leading researchers are moving into the field, applying the same tough standards they would to test conventional medicines. The ginseng, flax, and shark cartilage studies were carried out by researchers at the Mayo Clinic, Duke University Medical Center, and M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, respectively, all considered among the best cancer centers in the country.
"It's refreshing to see institutions that are well respected in the oncology field . . . applying acceptable, high quality, rigorous standards of proof to look at these things as fairly and dispassionately as possible," said Dr. David Eisenberg , director of the Osher Institute at Harvard Medical School and a leader in research to evaluate complementary and alternative medicine. "If you think of oncologists doing studies like this 10 years ago, there were few, if any."
The rising tide of research comes as the number of people dying from cancer is slowly declining, thanks to a big drop in smoking, better screening to catch tumors early, and improvements in treatment such as the availability of Herceptin for breast cancer. Today, two-thirds of those diagnosed with cancer are likely to be alive in five years compared with a 50 percent survival rate in the mid-1970s.
But cancer patients are not willing to rely solely on conventional medical care, turning to alternative treatments -- including dietary supplements, herbal remedies, yoga, and acupuncture -- about twice the rate of the general public, according to the National Center for Health Statistics. A survey of cancer patients in 2000 showed that they don't tell their doctors about half the time.
For oncologists, the pervasive use of unconventional treatments has long been a problem because they can undermine the patient's care. Researchers caution women with breast cancer against taking soy supplements, for example, because they contain isoflavonoids that may partially neutralize the Tamoxifen that helps prevent cancer recurrence.
"Just saying that it's a vitamin or a leafy green something or other doesn't mean it doesn't have potential side effects," said Cheson, speaking at the annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology.
The National Cancer Institute spends more than $120 million a year supporting studies of complementary and alternative cancer treatments, such as the largest-ever study of prostate cancer prevention, now underway, and the shark cartilage research. Already, agency-funded studies have shown that vitamin E does not protect women against cancer, but a low-fat diet may help women avoid breast cancer recurrence.
However, scientists have struggled to apply scientific methods to a largely unregulated industry when they can't be sure that the ginseng tea on store shelves contained ginseng. In 2002, researchers from the University of California at San Francisco and the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston suspended a study into a promising herbal prostate cancer treatment called PC-SPES after they discovered the product was contaminated with an artificial estrogen that could have enhanced the anticancer effect.
In the research released last week, scientists took pains to avoid similar pitfalls, obtaining their natural alternatives from reputable suppliers rather than taking it off the shelf. They were also careful to avoid the hyperbole that has so often surrounded alternative cancer treatments. For instance, Debra Barton , lead researcher on the ginseng study at the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota, said she would want a larger study before she would recommend routine use of ginseng to combat fatigue.
Wendy Demark-Wahnefried of Duke University in North Carolina was measured in her conclusions about the role of flaxseed in fighting prostate cancer. Flax, a grain widely used in medieval foods, is unusually high in omega-3 fatty acids and lignans, both believed to have cancer-fighting properties. Her analysis of prostate glands surgically removed from prostate cancer patients showed that the disease was growing 30 to 40 percent more slowly in men who had eaten flax supplements in the weeks before the surgery.
Still, Demark-Wahnefried isn't pushing flax, noting, "This is just the first study."
Researchers will need years to sort out the science behind alternative cancer treatments and to determine what works best -- even then, people will have to be careful to use products that are not contaminated or fraudulent.
But patients already can bank on a few nondrug options: exercise, massage, and acupuncture relieve many of the physical and psychological stresses of cancer and its treatment. Dr. Glen Aukerman , director for the Center for Integrative Medicine at Ohio State University, said certain nutrients such as omega-3 fatty acids almost certainly help fight off cancer.
But cancer patients need to tell their doctors which complementary and alternative treatments they are following, Harvard's Eisenberg said. "Don't ask and don't tell is an era that we would want to see behind us."
FROM: http://www.boston.com/news/globe/health_science/articles/2007/06/11/alternative_therapies/?page=1
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Study Shows That Pilot Ginseng Provides Greater Improvements in Cancer-Related Fatigue
Jun 8,2007-Traditional Chinese medicine and current understanding of ginseng's function both point to its characteristics as an adaptogen -- a substance that helps the body overcome the effects of environmental stress.
North Central Cancer Treatment Group (http://ncctg/) (NCCTG) researchers, based at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., have generated preliminary data suggesting that a form of American ginseng provides greater improvements in fatigue and vitality in patients who receive the highest doses tested, compared to lower doses or no treatment.
The results of their scientifically rigorous pilot study, the first to evaluate the Wisconsin species of American ginseng as a possible therapy for cancer-related fatigue, were presented at the annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology.
Many cancer patients face extreme fatigue after diagnosis and during treatment. Getting more sleep or rest often does not relieve the fatigue, nor is it related to activity levels. Other than exercise, there isn't a good solution available for these patients.
"We hope that Wisconsin ginseng may offer us a much-needed treatment to improve our patients' quality of life, and we look forward to further evaluation," says Debra Barton, Ph.D. (http://mayoresearch.mayo.edu/mayo/research/staff/barton_dl.cfm), a registered nurse, Mayo Clinic cancer researcher (http://cancercenter.mayo.edu/) and the study's primary investigator.
"Cancer-related fatigue is one of the most profound and distressing issues patients face," she says. This unique type of fatigue can have dozens of causes, and for patients who have completed cancer therapy, fatigue is among their foremost concerns, second only to fear of disease recurrence."
Traditional Chinese medicine and current understanding of ginseng's function both point to its characteristics as an adaptogene -- a substance that helps the body overcome the effects of environmental stress. Since cancer patients have stressors ranging from the psychological stress of diagnosis to the physiological stresses of chemotherapy and radiation, if ginseng helps, the researchers think it would be a valuable addition to currently available therapies.
"With animal data indicating the possibilities of ginseng with respect to increased swimming endurance, and the availability and verified product quality of Wisconsin ginseng, we decided to move forward with a pilot study," says Dr. Barton.
The investigators enrolled 282 patients in a randomized, placebo-controlled trial, averaging 71 patients per each of four arms, with between 39 and 48 patients in each arm completing the eight weeks of treatment. Treatment arms consisted of placebo, and three different daily doses of Wisconsin ginseng -- 750, 1,000 and 2,000 milligrams.
Of the four treatment arms, patients receiving the placebo and the lowest dose of ginseng reported very little improvement in fatigue or other areas of physical or psychological well-being. The patients receiving the larger doses showed improvements in overall energy levels, reporting higher vitality levels and less interference with activity from fatigue. They also reported an improvement in overall mental, physical, spiritual and emotional well-being.
Because this was a pilot trial designed to pinpoint which aspects of fatigue ginseng might help alleviate, determine likely dosage options, and identify possible side effects, Dr. Barton cautions against immediate addition of ginseng supplements to any patient's therapeutic regimen. "While results were promising, we have more research to conduct," she says. "And besides, it's just not a good idea to grab the nearest bottle on the supermarket shelf - consumers need to research the company and the product. Because there is less federal regulation of dietary supplements, there is no consistency in currently available products. In fact, some research has shown various supplements to contain little or no amount of the ingredient on the label, and sometimes even harmful contaminants."
FROM: http://www.nutritionhorizon.com/newsmaker_article.asp?idNewsMaker=14177&fSite=AO545&next=nh
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Ginseng could relieve cancer-related fatigue
05/06/2007 - ginseng may help patients suffering from cancer-related fatigue, according to researchers based at Mayo Clinic, Rochester, US.
Researchers with the North Central Cancer Treatment Group (NCCTG) have suggested that patients who take high doses of a form of American ginseng suffer less from fatigue that their peers.
Many cancer patients face extreme fatigue after diagnosis and during treatment and getting more sleep or rest often does not relieve the problem.
"We hope that Wisconsin ginseng may offer us a much-needed treatment to improve our patients' quality of life, and we look forward to further evaluation," said Debra Barton, the study's lead researcher.
The scientists enrolled 282 patients in a randomized, placebo-controlled trial, whereby different groups received daily doses of Wisconsin ginseng of 750, 1,000 and 2,000 milligrams respectively.
Patients receiving the placebo and the lowest dose of ginseng reported very little improvement in fatigue or other areas of physical or psychological well-being, said the researchers.
But those receiving the larger doses showed improvements in overall energy levels and reported higher vitality levels and less fatigue. They also reported an improvement in overall mental, physical, spiritual and emotional well-being.
NutraIngredients.com has not seen the full data.
Despite the positive results, Barton said she would like to carry out further research before advising patients to supplement their diet with ginseng.
"While results were promising, we have more research to conduct,"
she affirmed.
"And besides, it's just not a good idea to grab the nearest bottle on the supermarket shelf - consumers need to research the company and the product."
Her team hopes to begin a clinical trial in 2008 looking at a specific dose of Wisconsin ginseng versus placebo, with the aim of a confirming a new treatment option for cancer-related fatigue.
ginseng is typically taken to enhance stamina and reduce feelings of fatigue and physical stress. It is also believed to have an anti-cancer function and has been reported to normalise blood glucose levels, improve insulin sensitivity and reduce the risk of obesity.
The herb has been gaining popularity in Western societies, finding its way into, for example, energy drinks. In the US it is estimated to be the second top-selling herbal supplement, with $62m (€48.2m) in annual sales.
Source: The results were presented on June 3 at the annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology
FROM: http://www.nutraingredients.com/news/ng.asp?n=77088&m=2NIE607&c=tbcofwatvvhylkj
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Poaching of endangered plants
May 17, 2007
Law enforcement officials have tried a number of different methods to stop plant poaching in our national parks and conservation areas.
After 13 pounds (or about 8000 plants) of illegally harvested ginseng were seized over just 10 days from the Great Smokey Mountains National Park, park officials asked Jim Corbin to look for a solution to illegal poaching Corbin is a plant specialist with the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and found a simple dye marker method to mark ginseng in the ground. He also had to find a way to mark plants with the location in which they were grown, otherwise poachers could simply claim that they had strayed onto government land accidentally and that the ginseng in their possession had originated elsewhere.
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13 pounds (or about 8000 plants) of illegally harvested ginseng , such as this one, were seized over just 10 days from the Great Smokey Mountains National Park |
Corbin also trained a dog to detect the dye.and the dog has since partici pated in over 100 seizures of illegally harvested ginseng. Park officials said that the effect on poaching has been tremendous. Other high-dollar poaching targets such as goldenseal, black cohosh, blue cohosh, bloodroot, lady's slipper, lilies, trillium, and galax have been marked in a number of other parks around the country.
Similar technology is now being tested to deter theft of petrified wood from preserves in Arizona.
FROM: http://www.unionsentinel.com/news/2007/0517/home/060.html
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Herbal Medicine Taken On Faith?
Many People Don't Consult Scientific Guidelines On Herbal Supplements
May 11, 2007 - About two-thirds of people taking herbal supplements to treat a health condition don't check scientific guidelines, say University of Iowa researchers.
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"Physicians, pharmacists, and other health professionals should proactively educate consumers and advocate for public health policies that would disseminate evidence-based information regarding the appropriate use of herbs," says researcher Aditya Bardia, MD, in a University of Iowa news release. |
In the survey, more than 3,300 adults said they had taken herbs to treat a specific health condition.
The researchers focused on 609 people who reported treating a specific health condition with any of 10 herbal supplements, including Echinacea, ginseng, garlic, St. John's Wort, soy or kava kava.
Bardia's team checked to see if there was scientific evidence supporting the use of those herbal supplements for the participants' health conditions.
Overall, about 55% of the participants used herbal supplements backed by scientific evidence for their condition.
However, the percentage of participants using herbal supplements in accordance with scientific evidence ranged from 68% for Echinacea to 3% for ginseng.
Apart from Echinacea and ginseng, about one-third of the participants used herbal supplements based on scientific evidence, the study shows.
Part of the problem may be that many patients and doctors don't talk about herbal supplements. That should change, note Bardia and colleagues.
FROM: http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/05/11/health/webmd/main2792209.shtml
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Edmonton adds ginseng product to pandemic stockpile
May 11, 2007 (CIDRAP News) - The city of Edmonton, Alta., recently announced that it was stockpiling an herbal supplement in the hope of boosting the immunity of police, firefighters, and other essential workers during an influenza pandemic.
By buying a ginseng product from CV Technologies, Inc., a company based in Edmonton, the city has become the first in North America to add an herbal supplement to its pandemic stockpile, according to media reports.
The supplement, COLD-fX, is a proprietary extract of North American ginseng that contains what the company calls unique polysaccharide components. It is Canada's top-selling over-the-counter cold and flu remedy, according to an Apr 23 company press release. Warren Michaels, CV Technologies' vice president of media relations, told CIDRAP News the company launched COLD-fX in the United States in October 2006 and that sales have been modest.
City says decision took time
Bob Black, Edmonton's director of emergency preparedness, said in the CV Technologies press release that COLD-fX is another tool the city can use for pandemic preparedness. "There are so many unknowns in planning for a possible pandemic that anything we can do to be prepared makes sense," he said. "We need to take every reasonable precaution to help our emergency personnel stay on the job, so they can help others."
The stockpile will be used to treat 5,000 key city employees, such as police, firefighters, paramedics, and waste disposal workers. It consists of 600,000 pills, an 8-week supply, according to an Apr 25 report by the Toronto Globe and Mail.
CV Technologies, which pitched the stockpiling idea to Edmonton's pandemic planners, said it would split the $250,000 cost of the program with the city as part of the company's social responsibility program. Black told CIDRAP News that the agreement stipulates that Edmonton will pay $30,000 up front to secure access to a stockpile of COLD-fX and will be required to pay its remaining share only if and when the city needs the remedy in a pandemic setting.
The product has a 5-year shelf life, but the company said it would make sure the city has access to a fresh supply regardless of when it uses the stockpile.
Jacqueline Shan, PhD, DSc, CV Technologies' chief executive officer and chief scientific officer, said that in a pandemic, "COLD-fX may help provide additional protection to front line workers by enhancing their immune systems" until an effective vaccine becomes available.
Black said the city spent more than a year considering if it should stockpile COLD-fX. Senior officials and an epidemiologist from the city's occupational health and safety office were involved in the discussions. "It wasn't a spur-of-the-moment decision. On the balance, it seemed like a prudent thing to do" he said.
Emergency preparedness officials are faced with tough questions about whether workers, particularly those in health and public safety jobs, like paramedics, firefighters, and police, will come to work during a pandemic, Black said. Having an herbal remedy on hand that might boost immunity could potentially make employees feel more confident about showing up for work, he said.
Canadian health officials may have a heightened sensitivity about protecting workers during a public health emergency because of their experience with SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome) in 2003, Black said. A final report on the outbreak that was issued in January faulted hospital officials for not doing more to protect their workers; nine hospital workers in Toronto contracted SARS while caring for critically ill patients.
Studies suggest possible benefits
Some randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled studies have suggested that COLD-fX can help people reduce their number of colds and the duration and severity of symptoms.
Two controlled trials were described in one report in the January 2004 issue of the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society. The researchers evaluated the effect of COLD-fX on the number of laboratory-confirmed acute respiratory illnesses in 198 nursing home and assisted-living residents (average ages, 83.5 and 81) in the 2000 and 2000-01 flu seasons.
Ninety percent of the subjects had received the influenza vaccine. Half received a 200-mg COLD-fX tablet twice a day, while the others received placebo tablets.
Investigators found that more people in the placebo group (9 of 101 subjects) than in the treatment group (1 of 97 subjects) were diagnosed with flu or respiratory syncytial virus. They calculated that the overall risk was reduced by 89% in the treatment group and concluded that COLD-fX was a safe, well-tolerated, and potentially effective treatment for preventing acute respiratory illnesses.
During the 2003-04 cold and flu season, another research group, headed by Gerald N. Predy of the regional public health agency based in Edmonton, studied whether the ginseng supplement could prevent colds in a group of 323 Edmonton adults aged 18 to 85 who had not received seasonal flu vaccination. Their findings appeared in the October 2005 issue of the Canadian Medical Association Journal (CMAJ).
The volunteers, who had a history of at least two colds the previous season, randomly received two COLD-fX capsules or a placebo daily for 4 months. Colds were verified by a symptom scoring system and graded on a 4-point severity scale.
Researchers found that those who took COLD-fX had fewer colds and the colds they did have were milder and less persistent. The authors concluded that the treatment appeared to reduce the number of recurrent colds by almost 13%, the severity of colds by 15.4%, and the average duration of colds by 2.4 days.
In a commentary published in the same issue of CMAJ, Ronald B. Turner, MD, professor of pediatrics at the University of Virginia School of Medicine in Charlottesville, wrote that problems with natural remedy studies typically include a lack of information about the active ingredients they contain, lack of a clear understanding of the mechanism of action, and lot-to-lot variability in the products. However, he said the COLD-fX was standardized to reduce such variability.
Turner wrote that it was not clear how the effects of North American ginseng relate to viral respiratory infections. "Enhancement of interferon-gamma activity might be expected to reduce the severity of symptoms, but enhancement of the elaboration of inflammatory cytokines might be expected to increase the severity," he wrote.
Few rigorous, reproducible studies have shown either conventional or alternative cold treatments to be beneficial, Turner wrote. Further studies involving well-characterized and standardized ginseng preparations were needed to confirm the results of the CMAJ study, he stated.
Public health experts weigh in
Paula Steib, communications director for the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO) in Washington, DC, told CIDRAP News in an e-mail that it's not surprising to see a metropolitan area like Edmonton stockpile a natural remedy. Canada, along with Australia, Britain, and other European countries, has a long tradition of using homeopathic and herbal remedies, which are available in pharmacies and often prescribed by physicians, she said.
"The situation is very different in the US where most homeopathic and herbal remedies are scoffed at by the medical establishment," Steib said. "ASTHO is unaware of any state that is stockpiling remedies that are not part of the CDC's strategic national stockpile program."
Jeffrey Duchin, MD, chief of communicable disease control for Seattle King County Public Health in Washington, said Edmonton's plan to stockpile COLD-fX for its essential employees sounded interesting, but he said it was unclear from the studies whether the remedy would be of value.
"It appears safe and inexpensive, but it shows how little else people feel they have to turn to," he said.
Communities that consider adding an alternative remedy to their stockpiles should weigh the costs and benefits, Duchin said. If they have met other stockpiling needs, such as having adequate supplies of oseltamivir (Tamiflu) and personal protective equipment, and still have money left in their pandemic preparedness budgets, then it might be reasonable to consider adding something extra, he said.
Black said the city has increased its supplies of personal protective equipment and other items its employees would need and noted that other public health functions, including stockpiling vaccines and antivirals, are handled by the province and its health authorities.
NIH says ginseng may have potential
The CMAJ study caught the attention of the US National Institutes of Health (NIH), which in September 2006 included it in its annual bibliography of significant advances in dietary supplement research. "These findings suggest that North American ginseng may be an attractive natural prophylactic for upper respiratory tract infections," the NIH said. "Additional studies are needed to confirm these findings."
In January, the Nutrition Action Health Letter, a publication of the Center for Science in the Public Interest, a health advocacy group, included COLD-fX in a review of eight popular over-the-counter cold remedies. The publication said that more studies are needed to confirm that COLD-fX can shorten or prevent colds or flu. "Even so, COLD-fX is the only remedy we found with any evidence that it might improve your chances of getting through the cold and flu season without coming down with something," the article said.
Michaels said CV Technologies doesn't want to overstate COLD-fX's potential in a pandemic situation, but he said the company believes the product has merit and is a legitimate candidate for incorporation into pandemic plans.
The company is exploring the possibility of applying for US Food and Drug Administration approval to market COLD-fX specifically as a preventive for colds and is conducting a phase 3 clinical trial for that purpose. The company also recently launched a trial to see if COLD-fX improves the immunity of healthcare workers and is investigating the precise biochemical pathways by which the product affects the immune system, according to information on the company's Web site.
FROM: http://www.cidrap.umn.edu/cidrap/content/influenza/panflu/news/may1107ginseng.html
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Recommended doses of ginseng & ginkgo biloba do not interfere with drug absorption
May 4, 2007
Recent findings that the widely-used herbal supplement Saint John's wort could dramatically affect the absorption and metabolism of many prescription and non-prescription drugs raised concerns that other popular herbal supplements might cause similar changes, thus significantly altering drugs' therapeutic or toxic effects.
What, for example, about ginseng and ginkgo biloba, two of the most widely used herbal supplements in this and other countries?
Speaking on May 1 at Experimental Biology 2007, University of Kansas Medical Center scientist Dr. Gregory Reed reports a study that found daily use of ginseng or ginkgo biloba supplements at the recommended doses, or the combination of both supplements, are unlikely to alter the pharmacokinetics - by which drugs are absorbed, distributed, metabolized, and eliminated by the body - of the majority of prescription or over-the counter drugs. Dr. Reed's presentation was part of the scientific program of the American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics.
The research team, led by Dr. Reed and the late Dr. Aryeh Hurwitz, recruited 72 healthy non-smoking adults (31 men and 41 women, ages 20 to 59) who were not taking any prescription drugs or dietary supplements. The participants were given a "cocktail" of five drugs, each drug in the cocktail chosen because it provides a measure of the activity of a key drug metabolism pathway. Taken together, the five drugs in the cocktail provide measurements of the pathways that determine the pharmacokinetics of over 90 percent of prescription drugs. The scientists then measured the presence of these drugs or their metabolites in each subject's blood and urine in order to establish a baseline for how each individual absorbed and metabolized the different prescription drugs in the absence of herbal supplements.
The 72 individuals next were randomly assigned to one of four groups. For four weeks, the first group received a ginseng supplement and a placebo for ginkgo biloba; the second received ginkgo biloba and a placebo for ginseng; the third received both ginseng and ginkgo biloba supplements; and the fourth received placebos for both supplements. The prescription drug cocktail was again administered and blood and urine samples taken in order to determine the absorption and metabolism of these drugs in the presence of either or both of the herbal supplements.
The scientists found no significant differences between those who received one, both, or none of the ginseng and ginkgo biloba supplements in how their bodies absorbed or metabolized any of the five prescription drugs. This suggests, says Dr. Reed, that neither ginseng nor ginkgo biloba will affect the pharmacokinetics of the majority of prescription or over-the counter drugs. He does note, however, that the team did not investigate any possible effects of the herbal supplements on pharmacodynamic interactions: the way drugs produce desired therapeutic effects or cause adverse side effects. The possibility of these pharmacodynamic, as opposed to pharmacokinetic, interactions remains to be investigated.
FROM: http://www.spiritindia.com/health-care-news-articles-9041.html
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Ginseng roots up for grabs for US$75,500 on S. Korean auction site
SEOUL, April 25 2007 (Yonhap) -- A set of wild ginseng roots has been put up for sale on the South Korean Internet auction site Gmarket Inc., the company said Wednesday
The estimated price of the package of five 120-year-old roots was 70 million won (US$75,500), Gmarket said.
Wild ginseng is highly valued in South Korea because many people believe it can improve one's health or even help cure diseases.
Gmarket is South Korea's biggest Internet auction site, ahead of Internet Auction Co., owned by U.S. online auctioneer eBay Inc.
FROM: http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/Engnews/20070425/640000000020070425122300E7.html
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Edmonton stockpiles ginseng extract for essential staff
April 25, 2007 CALGARY - Edmonton is turning to a homegrown immunity booster, pitched by a local hockey hero, in a bid to prevent vital city services from being shut down in the event of an influenza pandemic
The city will become the first municipality in North America to stockpile COLD-fX to treat 5,000 key employees such as police, fire fighters, paramedics and waste-disposal workers. The anti-flu, anti-cold ginseng extract was developed by Edmonton-based CV Technologies Inc. and is endorsed by former Edmonton Oiler Mark Messier.
"It may make the difference between us having essential service workers on the road or not," Bob Black, director of Edmonton's office of emergency preparedness, said yesterday. "It seems to be the prudent thing to do."
The city and the company said this week that they have struck a $250,000 deal, a cost that will be split evenly as part of CV's social responsibility program, to ensure Edmonton has an eight-week supply - 600,000 pills - at the first hint of an outbreak. (The pills will be supplied on demand, which will eliminate worries about a best-before date.)
The company approached the city last year and now the agreement, which was finalized in the past few months, gives CV something to crow about after a string of bad luck.
Last week, the Alberta Securities Commission issued a cease-trade order against the Toronto Stock Exchange-listed company while it restates its financial statements to reflect an overstatement of U.S. revenue. The commission has given CV until May 2 to amend its balance sheet to reflect returns of unsold products in the United States.
Jacqueline Shan, CV's president and chief executive officer, said yesterday the company plans to speak with other municipalities about using COLD-fX in their pandemic planning to provide additional protection.
COLD-fX, which has become Canada's No. 1-selling cold and flu remedy, has a solid pedigree for cold and flu control.
In 2004, an independent study by the University of Alberta and Edmonton's Capital Health Region found that COLD-fX reduces the chances of getting sick, and for those infected it eases symptoms.
The 15-year-old company has invested millions in research. Its supplement contains oligosaccharides and polysaccharides - chemical molecules found to stimulate the immune system - from North American ginseng, and has been standardized through a process that identifies the chemical makeup of the product.
FROM: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20070425.wcoldfx25/BNStory/specialScienceandHealth/home
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Ginseng Cold-fx to be used by Canadian emergency crews
4/23/2007 - In a new claim to fame, CV Technologies announced that Canada's sixth largest city, Edmonton, will stockpile Cold-fx for emergency workers as part of a broad pandemic preparedness plan
The ginseng supplement has had blockbuster success in Canada where it quickly became a household name and somewhat of a phenomenon. In the United States Cold-fx is marketed as an immune enhancing dietary supplement, whereas in Canada it is now marketed as an over-the-counter remedy.
The endorsement by the city's emergency departments represents positive advertising for the product at a time when supplement marketers are increasingly leaning towards using spokespeople or sporting events to increase awareness of their supplements.
As part of CV Technologies social responsibility program, a C$250,000 supply of Cold-fx will be made available to the city of Edmonton through a cost-sharing arrangement with the company. The supply will then be available for use by police, fire and emergency medical personnel.
Cold-fx has a treatment claim that is approved by Health Canada, stating the product
"helps reduce the frequency, severity and duration of cold and flu symptoms by boosting the immune system."
The supplement is a standardized extract developed by the spin-off company of the University of Alberta. It contains 80 percent poly-furanosyl-pyranosyl-saccharides and 10 percent protein from the ginseng roots. It is freeze-dried and encapsulated to contain 200mg/capsule.
"This is one more tool we can add to our pandemic preparedness toolkit,"
said Bob Black, director of Edmonton's Office of Emergency Preparedness
FROM: http://www.nutraingredients-usa.com/news/ng.asp?n=75980-cold-fx-cv-technologies-ginseng
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A Big Disappointment in Food-Drug Reclassification: Expectations are not always realized
2007-04-16 - The current Japanese nutraceutical industry is like a sitting on a surfboard in the ocean and looking behind, waiting for the next big wave to arrive. When you finally see the big wave coming and get ready to ride, the big wave just disappears. It's disappointing to say the least.
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I'm referring to a recent announcement from the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare (MHLW) regarding food-drug reclassification (de-regulation). Since 2001, the agency has conducted 3 food-drug reclassifications. They have been conducting reclassifications almost once a year, but over the last 3 years the agency still hasn't completed one. This year will be the 4th |
In 2002, CoQ 10 moved to non-drug status and the market grew from almost zero to $100 million in two short years. Echinacea, ginkgo biloba, lutein, glucosamine, and L-Carnitine also have stimulated the market in the past. In 2003, it was alpha lipoic acids (ALA). Since then, the agency hasn't done any food-drug reclassification. After three years of silence, the MHLW announced for the first time, its intent to open a public hearing for the potential next reclassification ingredient lists, prior to making a final announcement. This is a significant improvement on their part; it has never happened before. Last December, the MHLW published the potential next reclassification ingredient list.
In the list, there were 55 botanical, animal and chemical ingredients listed. The largest number were in botanicals with 33 ingredients. Pyrola japonica, canarium album, citrus tachibana, panax quinquefolium, juncus effuses, agreratum conyzoides, clitoria ternatea are some of the botanicals with reclassification potential.
In the animal category, candida utilis, and hyriopsis cumingii are included. L-citruline is the only chemical ingredient among the ingredients list.
Absent from the list are the industry's highly anticipated ingredients for reclassification: taurine and glutathione. Taurine is a nonessential sulfur-containing amino acid that is an active ingredient in many energy drinks. And glutathione is the strong antioxidant widely used in dietary supplements in the U.S. If these ingredients were to be de-classified, industry anticipated it would become the next CoQ 10 or ALA, and it might restart the Japanese nutrition industry which has been stalled for the last 15 months. But, it didn't happen. Despite the fact that they are among the U.S government and the Japanese health organizations requested reclassification ingredients, taurine and glutathione weren't on the list. There were no explanations from the MHLW as to why these two ingredients were missing from the list, and no scientific or safety reasons either.
Immediately after the list was published, the U.S. Camber of Commerce in Japan and other Japanese industry organizations filed petitions indicating that the lists are not reflecting their requests and asking them to include omitted products in the list.
Now, the pressure is on MHLW. Whether MHLW will change their mind remains to be seen. No date has been set for the announcement of the final reclassification ingredients list.
FROM: http://www.npicenter.com/anm/templates/newsATemp.aspx?articleid=18281&zoneid=45
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Controversy Brewing Over New Energy Drink
April 5, 2007 - WASHINGTON - Prom night check list: camera, cash, and a new energy drink called Spyke?
The new two ounce brew has parents worried because it contains caffeine, ginseng and 12 percent alcohol.
It costs about a dollar and comes in bottles that look like neon nail polish. Even though you have to be 21 to purchase Spyke, some groups are worried that under age drinkers will be the main consumers.
"These products come in small, colorful packages that are bound to appeal to millions and millions of children out there," said George Hacker, who heads the Alcohol Policy Project for the Center for Science in the Public Interest's (CSPI).
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Hacker is demanding that Anheuser-Busch, the company producing the new drink, take Spyke off the market.
Spokesperson Francine Katz with Anheuser-Busch says it's up to adults to be responsible, especially since the drink is targeted towards beer and shot drinkers in their early to mid twenties. |
The marketing field for this new drink however has primarily been through the blogosphere, where the audience consists of many underage drinkers.
"Saying that it is the parent's responsibility to keep it out of the hands of young people is absolutely ridiculous," Hacker said.
The four different flavors of Spyke will add a kick to your beer or soft drink, but parents might want to kick it out of their teenagers' pockets and backpacks.
FROM: http://www.wtopnews.com/index.php?nid=106&sid=1107956
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The Latest Functional Drink? Coffee
7-Eleven Says Its Juiced-Up Java Will Help to Keep You Healthy
April 01, 2007 - CHICAGO (AdAge.com) -- You've heard of doctoring up cocktails with energy drinks. Now your morning cup is getting an extra energy kick.
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7-Eleven's new 'Energy Coffee' contains an herbal boost of ginseng, guarana and yerba mate |
Convenience chain 7-Eleven has begun selling coffee with an herbal boost of ginseng, guarana and yerba mate to attract consumers hooked on Starbucks and Red Bull. Called Fusion Energy, it's the first mass-marketed java to capitalize on the swelling popularity of functional drinks. The newest entry in the competitive $18 billion coffee-to-go market is just the beginning of what promises to be a new platform for the convenience-store chain of juiced-up joes that enhance immunity, mental focus and appetite control.
"We saw so many customers were looking for energy beverages and wondered: could we possibly look for an energy product in a coffee product?" said Donald Driver, 7-Eleven coffee-category manager. Energy drinks are the fastest-growing segment in the convenience store's cold vaults, up 20% so far this year compared to the same period last year. Moreover, consumers ages 18 to 24 who are increasingly downing energy drinks in the morning are also the fastest-growing segment of coffee drinkers. The total daily coffee habit for that age group has nearly doubled in the past three years, according to the National Coffee Association, with 57% of them consuming coffee every day.
Coffee sales
Ready-to-drink-coffee volume grew 10.4% to 43 million gallons last year, according to Beverage Marketing Corp., while energy-drink volume grew 49.1% to 227.4 million gallons.
Merging the two trends was a no-brainer at 7-Eleven, where one in four sales involve coffee, which contributes 6% of total sales and 12% of profit.
The Fusion Coffee brand is sold from decanters with bright-yellow rims and handles to differentiate it from the dozen other varieties and flavors on the coffee bar. 7-Eleven supported the launch mainly with a video news release and bold yellow-and-black in-store displays and at gas pumps at co-branded petroleum units. It set a deal with USA Today to promote the brand on newspaper racks, offering a free paper with a 24-ounce cup of coffee. It also bought quarter-page ads in the paper on Mondays and Fridays on the back page in the sports section to take advantage of March Madness readership. FreshWorks, Dallas, a virtual shop from Omnicom Group comprising team members from Tracy Locke, TPN, Integer and Dieste Harmel & Partners, is 7-Eleven's agency.
Within six weeks, 7-Eleven's line had helped push coffee sales and units up double digits, especially on the West Coast and in Texas; the energy coffee accounts for 11% of those sales. "In just a month and a half, it's been amazing what this product has done," Mr. Driver said. Franchisee Sajid Ahmed, who owns four stores in Chicago's southwest suburbs, keeps two pots going at a time. He said of the 300 to 350 total cups of coffee he sells per store daily, about 65 to 70 cups are the Fusion Energy coffee. "They're saying this is the future of coffee," he said.
Source of nutrition
Tim Stock, managing director, ScenarioDNA, says the brand is in line with a trend he calls "ironic consumption," where both baby boomers and Gen Y pursue more-healthful beverages but in different ways. "Gen Y buys potion beverages while their boomer parents down drinkable yogurts to build their immunity," he said. "What's going to be critical for 7-Eleven is keeping up with the ingredients. The consumers that respond to the Fusion program will be packing a lot into that moment of imbibe. They'll be seeing their coffee as a source of nutrition and looking for it to do more and more as new functional-foods concepts get introduced."
That's coming soon. In the fall, the chain plans to unveil Fusion Defense to boost immunity and is mulling iced and frozen versions of the line. It's too early to tell whether the strong early results will continue, but industry observers think 7-Eleven is on to something. They're not alone. Beverage marketers in traditionally indulgent segments under pressure for having empty calories are also going functional. Soft-drink giant Coca-Cola Co. last week launched its Diet Coke Plus, enhanced with vitamins and minerals, while PepsiCo this fall will launch Tava mineral-enhanced sodas.
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EC plans legal challenge over Spanish herbal ban
29/03/2007 - The European Commission is set to challenge Spain over its ban on the import of herbal products before the European Court of Justice - a policy it says is an unjustified and disproportionate barrier to EU trade.
Under Spanish law, products containing herbal ingredients are classified as medicines unless they are included on a list of permitted plants drawn up in 1973. The list was last updated over 30 years ago, since which a number of extracts have become available in other member states - such as guaraná, ginseng, espirulina and passiflore - but are systematically removed from the Spanish market in Spain.
If the EC is successful in its bid before the ECJ, it could open up considerable new opportunities for the sale of herbal supplements in Spain - giving suppliers access to the 40 million-strong Spanish population.
According to Euromonitor International, retail sales of herbal supplements in Spain totalled €63.2m in 2005, compared to €81.9m in Italy, €105.3m in the UK, €193.7m in France, and a massive €404m in Germany. The market researcher predicts that Spanish sales will grow to €76.1m by 2010.
Spanish health product groups welcomed the 2002 dietary supplements directive as the first legal recognition of food supplements in the country, but herbals do not presently fall under the scope of this piece of legislation.
In fact, there have been some complex regulatory shifts over the last 30 years relating to herbals and the broader supplements category, but the current scenario is that a number of ingredients that were previously permitted are now not.
According to the EC, Spanish practice exceeds what is necessary in terms of public health, and the problem lies in restrictive interpretation of the relevant law.
Originally some products excluded from the 1973 list, such as ginseng, were initially permitted on the market under a far-reaching dietetic foods law from around the same time.
However this law was later replaced by Europe's Parnuts regulation, which created a much stricter definition of dietetic foods that left the likes of taurine, CoQ10, carnitine and isoflavones that were not on the market prior to Parnuts out in the cold, since they were not recognised by any law.
The situation was somewhat addressed by the 2002 supplements directive. But since 2002 Spanish authorities have since 2002 decided to enforce a later regulation, published in 1990, to regulate herbals.
This law sought to create a 'traditional plants' category as distinct from registration drug products. But having no references for traditional plants, the regulators have looked to the herbal preparations listed on the annex to the 1973 law, despite no mention of 'traditional' under this list.
For herbals not on this list, the, the only route to market is to gain permission for the plant to be sued as a medicine - a long, arduous and expensive path that, there can be little doubt, stifles new product development and product launches.
The EC has said it "considers the absence of adequate procedures for assessing the risk to public health allegedly posed by products containing plant extracts an unjustified and disproportionate barrier to intra-EU trade".
FROM: http://www.nutraingredients.com/news/ng.asp?n=75359-spain-herbal-supplements
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M'sia wants tongkat ali to be its GINSENG OF TOMORROW
March 21, 2007 - Plans to use traditional 'Viagra' herb to spearhead push into biotechnology
THE herb's name may mean 'walking-stick of Ali' in Malay.
But the traditional herb tongkat ali (above) is what Malaysia is going to run with in its push into biotechnology.
It now faces the challenge of convincing the world that its answer to Viagra is both potent and safe.
As Malaysia looks to biotechnology for economic growth, scientists are taking a harder look at the reputed aphrodisiac qualities of tongkat ali, and they say it could lead to drugs to treat cancer and malaria.
Surging interest in tongkat ali has spawned dozens of products - from pills to beverages - that play up its reputed aphrodisiac properties, and could even threaten the sway of ginseng, a more-widely established herbal product in Asia.
A Malaysian industry and government group says the rapidly-growing global market for aphrodisiacs is worth US$4billion ($6b) and could reach nearly US$7 billion by 2012.
But plans for tongkat ali to grab a share of this pie hinge on proving it is safe.
In Taiwan this year, Taipei city officials banned six brands of coffee from supermarkets because they contained tongkat ali, saying the herb had not been evaluated for safe use, although there were no confirmed reports of side-effects, newspapers said.
The episode in January stirred indignation in Malaysia, where some officials publicly defended the herb, saying its safety and efficacy had been demonstrated by hundreds of years of use.
Others said the incident showed how far Malaysia still has to go to prove its claims for the herb.
Makers of ginseng, which has a global market of US$2 billion a year, according to some industry estimates, would be ruthless in battling competition from tongkat ali, said Mr M Rajen, chief executive of Tropical Botanics.
'What we see in Taiwan and elsewhere is an example of this ruthlessness,' Mr Rajen added.
'Because we have not done our homework, we cannot fight it.'
But Malaysia is confident it will convince the world.
Officials of Power Root Malaysia, which exports drinks containing the herb to Japan and South Korea, have said they are looking to the US and the Middle East.
Tongkat ali, marketed in tablet form, has started to make inroads into Japan, Utusan Malysia reported.
Scientific studies show that concoctions of tongkat ali can help hormone production, making rats and mice more frisky. But researchers say they have yet to prove it can reliably produce the same effect in humans.
ENERGY
MrAbdul Razak, head of the Forest Research Institute of Malaysia, said: 'For me, (the herbs) gives me the energy to play a game of golf without getting tired, but has no other effects.'
Five years of research studies in collaboration with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the US helped to identify key compounds in the herb, MrRazak said.
'We are now in the process of carrying out clinical studies, and hopefully after some time we might even commercialise this,' he added.
Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak said in January at the launch of a US$7 million biotech research centre that will study ways to clone the herb: 'One day, tongkat ali will be marketed internationally, even in Harrods of London.' -Reuters
FROM: http://environmentalnews.blogspot.com/2007/03/msia-wants-tongkat-ali-to-be-its.html
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Ginseng boost to sexual health
20 Mar 2007 - IF you are healthy, everything works. Sexual health relates to unity, a partnership with no coercion, said Dr Mohd Ismail Tamby, an andrologist or specialist in sexual and reproductive health medicine, at a Bio-Life health seminar in Kuala Lumpur recently.
Dr Ismail was also there to reveal the positive results in sexual health he had recorded, over a six-week period, after evaluating the response of 50 male subjects to a herbal product containing Horny Goat Weed, ginseng, ginkgo biloba, puncture vine, muira puama, withania and damiana.
In the tests, three internationally recognised Quality of Life (QOL) scores were used: Ageing Male Symptoms, Sexual Health Inventory for Men (SHIM) and Grade of Erection.
Substantial improvements were recorded on all three scores, regardless of the age of the subjects. In fact the first week of supplementation already produced results, which improved as the study went on.
Dr Ismail put it down to the adaptogen effect of the herbs in the supplement.
"Herbs are food forms that have to be taken every day for some time to see the changes taking place. These bring about positive changes, adapt into your system and improve your level of wellness. This food substance is adaptogen.
"The commonest adaptogen is ginseng, which gives a lot of goodness to your system. It has food functional properties and has been used to boost health. In the supplement for sexual health, most of the herbal extracts are associated with wellness."
Two of the herbs in the supplement are withania and damiana. withania acts as an adaptogen to fight the effects of stress. damiana stimulates the natural desire for sex. "You feel more relaxed, as that part of the body becomes more intense and the drive increases. You are not taking drugs but food which changes something in your body."
Dr Ismail had gathered 50 people for the trial initiated by Bio-Life Marketing, from a young productive age to older. "A lot of them were having diabetes, high blood pressure and even coronary problems. It was an open trial to see if there would be any improvement in wellness, increase in alertness and boost in sexual energy.
"We used a special Quality of Life questionnaire to find out. The Aging Male Score refers to one's capacity in terms of wellness and mental health and strength.
"The Sexual Health Inventory for Men looks into the libido and the capacity and strength to perform sexually.
"The Quality of Erection takes into account the natural erection, with physiological markers from Grade 1 to 5.
"The guys went through all the markers before the study. They were checked one week later, then two weeks, and three weeks later. We evaluated data and found there was improvement in all the markers as early as one week."
The participants saw changes in their body, improved health, better immunity and higher energy levels. "This is what food form supplementation will do. It adapts to improve function and processes and gives a lot of benefit. They do not have side effects unlike drugs.
"You may feel a little heaty, perhaps a rash for a couple of days and sleepy with the herbal supplement, but these are just the initial detoxification effects.
"All the subjects had positive effects not only sexually but also in physical and mental health. From the study, the younger ones became more vitalised, while the older guys simply felt better.
"In terms of sexual function there are lots of factors involved, such as desire, a good feeling and relationship and good health in order to perform. The energy derived thus from supplementation is not only for sex but also for work."
He said that the herbal supplement for sexual health he tested could be taken at the recommended dose to reach the peak, then reduced to half for maintenance for the long term. "Even if you miss one day it does not matter."
Dr Ismail is a visiting consultant at LPPKN (National Population and Family Development Board). He also contributes to a weekly question and answer column in Harian Metro, titled Sakit Tuan.
"Now guys with sexual problems know where to seek help. It's nothing to be shy about," said Dr Ismail, who views sex as a wholesome activity and not just about lust. "Small deficiencies can be overcome with a combination of herbs and food supplementation. These can improve the quality of life and bring on the passion, even if you are elderly or suffering from diabetes, coronary problems and hypertension. Love-making is more than just penetrative sex.
"Herbs have been evaluated internationally for such purposes. I did some work 12 years ago on Tribulus terrestris or Puncture Vine while looking for a treatment for male infertility. I got some samples from Bulgaria where it's grown, and got good results.
"I have also done a lot of work on Tongkat Ali. I was the one who initiated most of the clinical trials. From there, I worked on other herbs like Saw Palmetto and ginkgo biloba and a combination of other herbs to enhance passion and sexual function."
Dr Ismail has also looked into a lot of herbal preparations to which drugs have been added. He warned: "They seemed harmless initially, but the side-effects would show later."
Dr Ismail is also Professor Emeritus Andrology in Shenyang, China, where he regularly visits, and also treasurer of the Asian Oceanic Society of Andrology based in Shanghai
FROM: http://www.nst.com.my/Tuesday/Features/20070319170725/Article/index_html
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Fancy ginseng in your beer?
March 03, 2007 THE ingredients list reads like a recipe for tom yum soup or a herbal tonic: ginseng, tamarind, lemongrass and Goji berries (a Tibetan fruit that closely resembles wolfberries or cranberries)
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Mr Eddie Tay (left), who works in the financial sector, says he's trying boutique beer out of curiosity. Pictures: KELVIN CHNG, CHONG JUN LIANG |
That regular can of cold fermented barley, malt, hops and yeast is now sharing its bubble space with Asian ingredients normally marketed to the health-conscious generation.
The latest brewery to jump on the healthy beer bandwagon with ABC ginseng stout is local giant Asia Pacific Breweries Singapore (APBS), the makers of Tiger Beer.
Released last December for the Christmas and Chinese New Year crowd, the company's brew masters infused their ABC Extra Stout - popular with the older generation - with Korean ginseng.
It has an 8 per cent alcohol content.
Other beers like lagers and pilsners have between 3 and 5 per cent alcohol content.
APBS' brewing manager Tai Seng Kong told The New Paper that the beer was targeted at ABC Extra Stout drinkers as well as beer lovers 'looking for a different type of tipple'.
Mr Tai, who has been in the beer industry for 28 years, said: 'We felt that adding ginseng, a traditional Chinese herbal root known for its medicinal properties, would give a refreshing twist to the original version of the stout.'
They had even considered using pineapple and ginger, but decided to go along with ginseng since 'everyone knows about the health and medicinal properties' of the herb, making it easier to market to drinkers.
His team started developing the drink in 2005 and had consulted traditional Chinese medicine practitioners on how to use the root accurately and effectively.
'We were afraid that ginseng's bitter aftertaste would overwhelm the stout flavour.
'That's why we tried many different types of ginseng until we had one that didn't have that sharp aftertaste,' said Mr Tai.
The ginseng beer variety is not unusual.
Carlsberg launched its own version of ginseng stout, Danish Royal Stout ginseng, last year. Before that, microbrewery Brewerkz introduced a ginseng brew, called the Dragon's Tail Ale, for a limited period several years ago.
EXPENSIVE INGREDIENT
While APBS declined to reveal how much it cost to produce the beer since ginseng is a very costly herb, the ABC ginseng retails for $14.20 for a 4-can pack while the ABC Extra Stout costs $18.65 for a 6-can pack.
Brewers say it is too early to gauge the response to their ginseng beer.
Mr Fal Allen, a master brewer at APBS' subsidiary business Archipelago Brewery, said all this is hardly new to the beer brewing industry.
The 46-year-old Hawaiian-born beer maker, who has been creating different varieties of the foamy tipple for more than 20 years, said American beer brewers have been experimenting with exotic flavours for a long time.
Mr Allen, who has been in Singapore for the last two years, has chilli and garlic beers in his portfolio.
For APBS' two retail outlets, the Archipelago Flagship Outlet and The Straits, he created several beers that included Asian spices and herbs.
The Traveller's Wheat has tamarind, orange peel, ginger and lemongrass, and the Archipelago Ming is made with Goji berries.
Said Mr Allen: 'Don't think I am creating some amazing new drink.
'It is a combination of using traditional Asian spices, which is found in local food, and European style brewing.'
The brews at the Archipelago's pubs retail at $9 during happy hour and $12 after 8pm. A pint is between $14 and $16.
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Mr Tai Seng Kong, brewing manager of APBS, said that his team had started developing the ginseng stout in 2005 |
Both of them were drinking the Traveller's Wheat beer when The New Paper met them at The Straits in Far East Square.
Mr Cheng, whose favourite tipple is Heineken, said of the boutique beer: 'It is smooth and refreshing.
'I am not a beer connoisseur, so I can't even tell there is lemongrass or ginger in it.'
Mr Tay said he was trying the beer out of curiosity.
He said: 'Eventually, we will go back to drinking our usual brands.'
Brewerkz master brewer, Scott Robinson, 43, agreed. He said that while drinkers like the novelty of the exotic drinks, most often go back to the more conventional beers.
Mr Robinson said: 'After all, the brewers of Europe spent many hundreds of years developing these styles and in my opinion, it would be very difficult to improve on them.'
And whether these ginseng/lemongrass infused beers actually have any health benefits is still not known.
At a beer and health symposium in Brussels last year, the medical and scientific community claimed research had shown that beer, when taken in moderation, has several benefits, reported UK newspaper The Journal.
These include lowering blood pressure, reducing the risk of strokes and decreasing the risk of dementia. The silicon in beer is also said to help strengthen bones.
Research from The Edmonton Journal also said that moderate beer drinkers were less likely to develop coronary heart disease.
And interestingly, unlike conventional wisdom, the report said that beer is not fattening. Instead, researchers blame unhealthy eating habits and a lack of exercise for the proverbial beer belly, not beer.
WATCH YOUR DRINK
Brewers say the general rule of thumb is one drink a day for women and people over 60, and two drinks a day for men (no more than one an hour) to experience beer's reported health benefits.
Said Mr Allen: 'Anything over that defeats the health purpose.'
FROM: http://newpaper.asia1.com.sg/show/story/0,4136,124119,00.html
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Herb Experts Report on Benefits of Canadian Remedy for Cold and Flu Symptoms
2007-03-01 - (Austin, TX) The American Botanical Council (ABC), North America's leading nonprofit research and education organization on herbal medicines, today issued a report prepared by some leading U.S. cold and flu and medicinal plant experts concluding a new-generation cold and flu remedy from Canada demonstrated "impressive" benefits.
The report involved a major scientific review (monograph) of the published scientific and clinical studies on the health benefits of CVT-E002, the active ingredient in COLD-fX, a dietary supplement recently introduced into the United States from Canada, available for download from: http://www.herbalgram.org/files/pdfs/5594COLD-fX.pdf. (1)
The comprehensive medical expert review by ABC was conducted by University of Wisconsin Professor Bruce Barrett, MD, PhD and Donald J. Brown, ND, President of Natural Product Research Consultants in Seattle - two of America's leading experts on the scientific and clinical research conducted on herbs and herbal preparations for cold and flu symptoms. The ABC review suggests that COLD-fX is effective in helping to prevent the incidence of colds and flu.
After reviewing both pharmacological and clinical trial data on COLD-fX, Barrett and Brown write that the clinical trial research on COLD-fX is "impressive" and promising, pointing out that the research "found some evidence of preventive efficacy" and "evidence suggesting ability to prevent acute respiratory infection."
"Five independent physicians and scientists with substantial experience and credentials have been involved in the writing and editorial review of this monograph, making it a significant contribution to the understanding of natural medicines," said Mark Blumenthal, ABC's Founder and Executive Director. He added that these authors and reviewers collectively have significant experience in the fields of natural remedies used for upper respiratory tract infections, family practice medicine, and the chemistry, quality control and regulation of herbal preparations in the United States and Canada.
Blumenthal also noted that COLD-fX is a unique, patented product and is the result of extensive scientific research. "COLD-fX represents a new class of herb-based therapeutic products," he said. "Unlike many herbal products that are based on respected historical and traditional uses that go back hundreds or even thousands of years, COLD-fX is the result of intensive scientific research on a natural herb, American ginseng root."
ABC's monograph comes on the heels of a February 15 announcement that the Canadian government's Natural Health Products Directorate (NHPD), a division of Health Canada, approved the following claim for COLD-fX: it "helps reduce the frequency, severity and duration of cold and flu symptoms by boosting the immune system." In Canada, it is one of the very few medicines approved for daily use as a preventive medicine as well as providing symptom relief for colds and flu. Such comprehensive therapeutic claims require support by high level scientific evidence: randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trials.
Since its introduction in Canada in 1996, hundreds of thousands of Canadians have used COLD-fX as a natural immune-enhancing remedy to prevent or treat the symptoms of colds or the flu. It is reported to be the number-one selling cold and flu remedy in Canada. Last fall COLD-fX was cleared for the first time for sale in the U.S. as a dietary supplement by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
The ABC review emphasizes the uniqueness of COLD-fX. Since it is a chemically distinct fraction (a group of chemically similar compounds, in this case complex sugars called saccharides) isolated from the roots of cultivated American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius), COLD-fX has biological properties different from more conventional preparations made from the same ginseng root. Further, it contains no ginsenosides, the well-known and frequently-researched chemicals that are characteristic of various types of ginseng. Thus, most of the historical, scientific and clinical literature on American ginseng root is not directly applicable to COLD-fX.
The authors have reviewed all the trial results and describe two of them as preliminary or Phase 2 trials, but more importantly, they found the highest level of evidence in the third one, a confirmatory or Phase 3 trial. The authors concluded that "All three of these found some evidence of preventative efficacy."
The authors note that COLD-fX is quite safe. Based on the available evidence they could find no evidence of any risks that would require label warnings. Additionally, there are no clear contraindications for its use; that is, there are no persons or conditions for which the use of COLD-fX must be avoided. The review also notes that, based on the extensive use of the product in Canada over several years, relatively few adverse events have been reported, only one of which was considered serious.
Drs. Barrett and Brown also state in their review that if additional clinical research continues to support the results from the existing clinical trials, COLD-fX would be in a class of its own as it would "become one of very few - if any - therapies that are proven to prevent respiratory infection."
The review raises the possibility that, "If it turns out that specially formulated extract preparations from ginseng such as (COLD-fX) are effective for prevention of influenza illness, the next question will be whether these preventive phytomedicines (plant-based medicines) can enhance the effects of flu shots, prevent infection, and reduce morbidity and mortality."
Approximately five to 20 percent of Americans become ill with the flu each year. In addition, an estimated 36,000 Americans die each year and an estimated 200,000 are hospitalized for flu-related complications, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta. (2)
The authors recommend additional research for further confirmation of the effectiveness of COLD-fX. As is standard for all ABC publications, Drs. Barrett and Brown's comprehensively detailed review was subjected to additional editorial evaluation (the oversight process known as peer review in medical and scientific journals) by three leading medical and scientific experts.
Dr. Brown, co-reviewer and lead editor of the review said, "This scientific monograph will serve as an educational tool because many physicians have not been exposed to scientific clinical research on natural alternatives. We as health professionals have a responsibility to evaluate the science on herbal dietary supplements in order to guide our patients appropriately." He further adds, "The monograph provides an excellent overview for clinicians as well as patients who want to better understand the science behind COLD-fX."
The ABC therapeutic review, or monograph, is the first in a series of Product-Specific Monographs that ABC is publishing, focusing on the pharmacological and clinical research on specific commercial herbal products.
"There has been considerable confusion in the media about the extent of research supporting the safety and benefits of many herbal dietary supplements," noted Blumenthal. "In the many years that ABC has been reporting on this research, we realized that much of the scientific and clinical research in the literature is based on specific commercial products, so we decided to review and evaluate studies on these products. This is the first in a series that ABC plans to publish in the next few years," he added.
Blumenthal also emphasized that the publication of the scientific review or monograph should not be interpreted as a promotion or endorsement by the authors or ABC of COLD-fX or its manufacturer. "As an independent nonprofit research and education organization, we have compiled and published this review for educational purposes only," he added. "The public should recognize that there is a growing body of scientific research on herbal dietary supplements that support their safety and potential benefits, and much of this research is based on specific commercial products."
Consumers, health professionals and researchers can obtain the COLD-fX clinical review by logging onto ABC's website at www.herbalgram.org. Included is the extensively-referenced review (monograph) of COLD-fX for health professionals containing a discussion of clinical data with a table summarizing clinical trials. For consumers the site will also host a one-page Patient Information Sheet that is based on information condensed from the larger scientific monograph. A condensed two-page Clinical Overview for quick reading is also available. These publications follow the format established by ABC in its highly-acclaimed reference book, The ABC Clinical Guide to Herbs. The book is accredited for continuing education for physicians, pharmacists, nurses, dietitians, and other healthcare professionals.
About the American Botanical Council
Founded in 1988 the American Botanical Council is the leading nonprofit organization in the United States addressing research and educational issues regarding herbs and medicinal plants. ABC's members include academic researchers and educators, universities and libraries, health professionals and medical institutions, botanical gardens and arboreta, government agencies, members of the herb, dietary supplement, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical industries, journalists, consumers, and other interested parties from over 70 countries. The organization occupies a historic 2.5-acre site in Austin, Texas where it publishes HerbalGram, a peer-reviewed journal on herbal medicine, a monthly e-newsletter, reference books and other educational materials. ABC has published a reference book and a continuing education course for healthcare professionals, The ABC Clinical Guide to Herbs, containing extensive monographs on the safety and efficacy of 29 popular herbs. The CVT-E002/ COLD-fX review will be incorporated in the forthcoming online version of this publication. Information: Contact ABC at P.O. Box 144345, Austin, TX 78714-4345, Phone: 512-926-4900 . Website: www.herbalgram.org.
About Professor Bruce Barrett, MD, PhD
Bruce Barrett MD, PhD, MSPH holds twin doctorates - one in medicine and the other in anthropology from the University of Wisconsin - both awarded in 1992. He did post-graduate work as a fellow of John Hopkins University working in Guatemala, and currently holds joint appointments in Family Medicine, Population Health and Anthropology at the University of Wisconsin in Madison. Dr. Barrett is regarded as an expert in upper respiratory infection (URI) and is a regular guest on radio and TV including National Public Radio, CBC-Radio and has been interviewed by U.S. News & World Report, Fitness magazine, FDA Consumer magazine, Milwaukee Journal, Baltimore Journal, American Medical News, Science News and Consumer Reports. He developed the Wisconsin Upper Respiratory Symptom Survey, an outcomes instrument designed to measure symptoms and dysfunctions from URI. Researchers in 20 groups in 12 countries have expressed intentions of using this instrument. He has been a visiting professor in herbal medicine at other American universities and has written extensively on herbal medicine and respiratory illnesses in dozens of peer-reviewed publications. He has been a principal investigator of two National Institutes of Health (NIH)-sponsored studies, including a trial testing both echinacea and placebo effects in common cold. He is or was a member of the board or advisory board of various peer reviewed journals including the American Botanical Council's HerbalGram, plus FACT (Focus on Alterative and Complementary Therapies), and a reviewer for various peer-reviewed journals including Annals of Family Medicine, British Medical Journal, The Lancet and the Cochrane Collaboration.
About Donald J. Brown, ND
Donald J. Brown is a naturopathic physician and one of the leading authorities in the U.S. on evidence-based herbal medicine and the safety and efficacy of dietary supplements. A former assistant professor at the Bastyr University of Natural Health Sciences in Seattle and a member of the Advisory Board of the American Botanical Council, Dr. Brown has served as an advisor to the Office of Dietary Supplements at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Dr. Brown is a regular contributor and editor for the journal HerbalGram produced by the American Botanical Council. He is the author of Herbal Prescriptions for Health and Healing (Lotus Press, 2003) and contributor to numerous books, including the Natural Pharmacy (Prima Publishing, 2006), the A-Z Guide to Drug-Herb-Vitamin Interactions (Prima Publishing, 2006), and The Textbook of Natural Medicine (Churchill Livingstone, 2006). He authored the Phytotherapy Review & Commentary column in the Townsend Letter for Doctors for over a decade.
References
1. Barrett B, Brown DJ. Proprietary Phytomedicinal Product Therapeutic Monograph: CVT-E002 (COLD-fX(R)). Austin, TX: American Botanical Council, 2007. http://www.herbalgram.org/files/pdfs/5594COLD-fX.pdf.
2. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The flu: Questions & Answers: The disease. http://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/qa/disease.htm. Accessed February 20, 2007.
FROM: http://www.npicenter.com/anm/templates/newsATemp.aspx?articleid=17878&zoneid=28
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Serving the earthy tastes of ginseng
February 28, 2007 - If you have ever shopped in an Asian market and come across the root that looks -- and you may have struggled with this -- like a tiny, oddly shaped man in a small bottle, you have seen ginseng in its purest form. The word ginseng comes from the Mandarin "jin shen," meaning "like a man."
Essentially the root of a flowering plant, ginseng has long been claimed to have health benefits ranging from improved sexual stamina and prolonged life to increased memory and relaxation -- although scientific studies remain inconclusive -- but it can also be an important flavoring agent.
So, as we celebrate the lunar new year, why not try out a new and interesting ingredient -- the ginseng available in our neighborhood Asian markets?
I first came across ginseng when I was in my early teens in New York. My father was an East Coast sales manager of ginseng products for a Korean distributor, and he brought home all sorts of samples.
My favorite was the concentrate. I loved the color, and I liked stirring it into hot water, creating a beautiful golden infusion. The aroma was balanced, but the first time I tasted it I added sugar because it was far too bitter for me and tasted of earth.
My father admonished me, saying, "Don't put sugar in your ginseng tea. You should taste the flavor, just like any tea. You are ruining it."
He then explained that the Chinese do not sweeten teas or herbal infusions. Instead, they offer sweets on the side in the form of pastries to sweeten the palate.
Teas, ginseng-derived included, are sipped after each bite as palate cleansers. As I became accustomed to my earthy infusion, I removed the sugar and learned to taste the ginseng and appreciate it.
When I got older, I also came to think that, true to its reputation, ginseng can be a particularly good energy booster. Unlike caffeine with its ups and downs, ginseng gave me energy that is calm and long-lasting. I began to venture out into shops and markets to find it. I also began to use ginseng in recipes.
The rarest and most prized ginseng is often wild and includes such items as Korean white and North American varieties. These are generally found in Wisconsin, Oregon, New York and Canada. Less expensive cultivated types are also reputed to have health benefits but are generally believed to be less potent than their wild counterparts.
Whether cultivated or wild, the most popular of these species include Panax ginseng (China, Korea, Japan and Russia) and Panax quinquefolius (North America). The word "panax" is derived from the Greek word "panakeia," meaning all-healing -- the root of the word panacea.
Dating back more than 5,000 years, Panax ginseng originated in ancient China, specifically Manchuria. Panax quinquefolius, on the other hand, originated in North America and has been used by American Indians for centuries as an herbal medicine and aphrodisiac. Indeed, it is believed that Indians used ginseng as their very own Love Potion No. 9, rubbing it on their bodies to bring back estranged wives.
ginseng is available in several different forms, including fresh and preserved in brine or in brandy. It is also available dried whole or sliced, in capsule form, candied, as an onyx-colored concentrate with the consistency of syrup, and as chewing gum.
These are generally sold in specialty shops in Chinatown. Some are geared toward those who like the curious earthy taste but may not be so serious about the product and its perceived health benefits. In that category, I include ginseng sold in tiny single shot glass cylinders (snap off the tip and drink) and the gum.
Dried ginseng can be very bitter. Sliced, it is chewed raw (and tolerated) or added to recipes for a special bitter flavor note. Capsules are taken orally like medicine. The concentrated form is stirred into hot water and consumed as an infusion.
Fresh ginseng root (available in Chinatown markets or from Internet sources) can be sliced and lightly pickled or served as a fresh salad. (My recipe for this follows.) ginseng is, then, somewhat akin the pungent and versatile ginger root in Asian cooking but less known and less understood as such in the West.
Two of my favorite recipes featuring ginseng come from Korea. One is a chicken stuffed with jujubes (red dates), pine nuts and sliced fresh ginseng and served with sushi rice. The other is a salad of pickled fresh ginseng. Both are delicious and well worth making.
Note that fresh ginseng is less bitter than the dried varieties. As the root dries, the flavors become more concentrated and the bitter notes more pronounced.
Chicken, ginseng and jujube soup
This recipe was adapted from my book, "Essentials of Asian Cuisine" (Simon & Schuster).
1 chicken (2 to 2½ pounds)
Kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
2 ounces ginseng, fresh, preserved in brandy or dry slices
8 small garlic cloves, crushed and peeled
½ cup white short-grain sticky (glutinous) rice
Water
8 chestnuts, boiled and peeled (if dried, soaked overnight)
8 jujubes (red dates), soaked in water to soften (see note)
2 tablespoons lightly toasted pine nuts
2 scallions, root and dark green tops trimmed and thinly sliced into rounds
Rinse chicken, pat dry and season with salt and pepper, inside and out. Stuff chicken cavity with ginseng, garlic and rice. Truss chicken so none of the ingredients can come out while cooking.
Place chicken in a pot and add 2 quarts water, chestnuts and jujubes. Bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer until chicken is cooked through and fork tender, about 1½ hours.
Present whole chicken at table, then dispense chunks of it in individual bowls with a little of everything. Instruct guests to adjust seasoning to taste with salt and pepper and garnish their servings with pine nuts and scallions, if they wish. Makes 4 servings.
Note: Jujubes, or red dates, are sold in Asian markets.
Freshly pickled ginseng (ginseng salad)
1 pound fresh ginseng, peeled and thinly sliced
1 teaspoon Kosher salt
Water
1 cup rice vinegar
1/4 cup sugar
1 teaspoon Korean dried chili powder
Cooked medium-grain sushi rice and roast chicken or pork
Place ginseng in a colander set over a bowl. Add salt and toss. Let drain and cure for 1 hour. Rinse under cold running water and pat dry.
In a large bowl, whisk together the vinegar and sugar until sugar is completely dissolved, about 5 minutes. Add chili powder and stir. Add ginseng and toss. Serve with sushi rice and roast chicken or pork on the side. Makes 4 servings.
ginseng infusion
1 teaspoon ginseng concentrate (see note)
Place ginseng concentrate in a mug. Bring 1 cup water to a gentle boil and pour it into the mug. Stir until concentrate is fully distributed and sip slowly. Makes 1 cup.
Note: ginseng concentrate is sold in small jars in Asian markets.
Corinne Trang is author of "Authentic Vietnamese Cooking" and "Essentials of Asian Cuisine" (Simon & Schuster) and "The Asian Grill" (Chronicle Books).
FROM: http://washingtontimes.com/food/20070227-084732-6151r.htm
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Supplementing as we age
The benefits of daily supplements of vitamins, minerals and phytonutrients, especially for those over 45.
February 25, 2007 - NATURE expects us to take in hundreds of nutrients, including vitamins, minerals and some phytonutrients, each day to support the body's need for constant health protection and to aid healing process. Today, we realise that vast numbers of people eat poorly and do not get all the nutrients from their diet that their bodies need to sustain good health.
As we age, our need for certain vitamins and minerals change. After 45 years, the body becomes less efficient in digesting, absorbing and utilising nutrients. Older people may also suffer nutritional deficiencies for several reasons: tendency to eat less, drug-nutrient interactions and certain chronic illnesses. This is why we need higher doses of several vitamins and minerals when we grow older.
Some individual vitamins and minerals at higher doses than those usually found in ordinary vitamin/mineral supplements have a significant preventive and therapeutic effect for certain diseases, not just nutritional deficiency states. However, having said that, with some nutrients, lower doses are better when we are older.
To meet the specific requirements of those over 45 years of age, it is important to look for new-generation supplements that contain better combinations of vitamins, minerals, ginseng, lutein, rutin and lycopene to address some of the health concerns as we grow older:
- Tiredness, for example, lower energy levels, both physically and mentally
- Heart health, for example, coronary artery disease
- Brain and mental function, for example, forgetfulness
- Lower immunity, for example, higher risk of infection
- Eye health, for example, cataract and age-related macular degeneration
- High blood sugar, for example, diabetes
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Lycopene is a red carotenoid (an antioxidant) found in tomatoes, watermelon, pink-guava and so on. |
For this, higher strengths of vitamin B6, vitamin B12 and folic ac are required for lowering homocysteine
High levels of homocysteine - an amino acid found naturally in the body - is a risk factor for heart disease and stroke. High homocysteine levels can impair cognitive function, including reasoning and memory.
There is also a connection between high homocysteine and people with Alzheimer's disease. There is evidence of an association with nutrient intake as well - inadequate vitamin B6 intake has long been linked to depression, while low stores of vitamin B12 are known to cause neurological damage.
Antioxidants such as lycopene and vitamins C and E are also beneficial for the heart and brain
Boosting energy - physically and mentally
The ability to produce energy declines with age. Your overall health also affects your energy, and ill-health can sap it, leaving you feeling physically and mentally tired. Good quality ginseng as well as vitamin B12 can help boost physical energy.
There are different qualities of ginseng extracts and the price can range from RM200 to RM1, 300 per kilo. The really good quality extract is made from only the main root and not mixed with lateral and hair roots. The lower quality ginseng is adulterated with hair roots, which has a sedative effect.
The main problem with ginseng is that most are laden with pesticides. It is therefore important to look for a supplement that uses a good quality pesticide-free ginseng.
Eye health
Age is by far the greatest risk factor for eye disorders (cataracts, AMD - age related macular degeneration). As we grow older, concentrations of lutein in the eyes also declines.
Lutein in the eye is concentrated in the macula or "yellow spot". Lutein promotes long-term eye maintenance by acting as a filter against the damaging effects of the sun, particularly retinal damage and macular degeneration.
Research has indicated that the decreased concentration of lutein in the macula with ageing and exposure to UV light leads to chronic eye problems such as age-related macular degeneration.
However the body cannot manufacture lutein and the only way to get it is from food or supplements to maintain optimum lutein levels in the eyes.
Boosting immunity
Free radicals that are naturally produced in the body are highly reactive molecules that can cause damage to the body's defence system. Lower immunity is normal as you age, making it even more important to take protective measures like taking adequate antioxidants, which include zinc, manganese, selenium, lycopene and vitamins A, C, and E to neutralise the damaging effects of free radicals.
Studies have shown that antioxidants including lycopene and multivitamins/minerals reduce the incidence of infection and also cancer. This could be attributed to improved immune function.
Lycopene is a red carotenoid found in tomatoes, watermelon, pink-guava and so on. A study by the Department of Epidemiology at the Harvard School of Public Health identified lycopene deficiency as the strongest dietary risk factor for prostate cancer. Women are equally shielded by lycopene from breast cancer. In one study, it was found that cancer risk was inversely related to lycopene levels. (In other words, the lower the lycopene levels, the higher the risk and vice versa)
Blood sugar levels
Eat right, exercise regularly, maintain a healthy weight - these can help you reduce your risk of diabetes as you get older. A number of studies have indicated that biotin and several minerals such as chromium, zinc, copper, selenium are also important for blood sugar metabolism. ginseng also helps normalise blood sugar levels.
FROM: http://thestar.com.my/health/story.asp?file=/2007/2/25/health/16962215&sec=health
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Does ginseng really work? The answer depends on who you ask
February 22, 2007 - For centuries, ginseng in ancient China was touted as a herbal remedy that could treat respiratory ailments and even keep an elderly grandmother warmer during the winter.
With Health Canada's announcement that it has approved a claim that COLD-fX - which uses an extract from North American ginseng - stems colds and flu symptoms, the question is: What are the benefits of ginseng?
"It's purely unique in its immune-stimulatory capacity," said Dr. Sandra Miller, a McGill University researcher studying the effect of ginseng extract in cancer therapy on behalf of CV Technologies, the company that develops COLD-fX.
"The literature is now abundant ... so abundant that Health Canada approved it as a health remedy," she said.
For the proponents of ginseng's benefits, their claims are vast: from boosting energy and physical performance, to solving erectile difficulty and slowing aging.
Heather Boon, an associate professor with the Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy at the University of Toronto, said she would like more clinical trials done on ginseng.
"I'm always on the skeptical side. I would like to see more research," Boon said.
She said it appears evidence suggests that ginseng affects the immune system and helps the body break down glucose.
"The problem with ginseng's studies is there (are) not a lot of clinical studies - period," she said.
Some suggest ginseng helps with erectile dysfunction, but Boon said not enough evidence exists.
Not all ginseng plants are the same, and they may have different effects on the body, she said.
The American Cancer Society has also expressed doubts as to whether ginseng can effectively treat cancer.
FROM: http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/westcoastlife/story.html?id=8b40aed0-db06-45a4-9f14-f4dbf4855860&k=20024
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Pepsi to introduce higher-caffeine diet cola
Wed Feb 21, 2007
SCOTTSDALE, Arizona (Reuters) - PepsiCo Inc. (PEP.N: Quote) plans to introduce a new, energized version of Diet Pepsi that includes more caffeine, as well as ginseng, a PepsiCo spokesman confirmed on Wednesday.
The drink, Diet Pepsi Max is geared toward consumers ages 25 to 34 who like the buzz of drinks like PepsiCo's Mountain Dew, but are starting to become more concerned about their weight, the spokesman said.
Diet Pepsi Max will have about one-third more caffeine than Diet Mountain Dew, the spokesman said, confirming a story on the Web site of Beverage Digest, a magazine that follows the beverage industry.
The drink is scheduled to be launched in June, the PepsiCo spokesman said
FROM: http://ca.today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=businessNews&storyID=2007-02-22T033016Z_01_N21361397_RTRIDST_0_BUSINESS-PEPSICO-DIETPEPSIMAX-COL.XML&archived=False
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Global Standard Set for Wild Medicinal Plant Harvesting
February 20, 2007 - NUREMBERG, Germany, (ENS) - A new standard to promote sustainable management and trade of wild medicinal and aromatic plants was launched Friday in Nuremberg at Biofach, the World Organic Trade Fair. The standard is needed to ensure plants used in medicine and cosmetics are not over-exploited.
About 15,000 species, or 21 percent of all medicinal and aromatic plant species are at risk, according to the report by the Medicinal Plant Specialist Group of the IUCN's Species Survival Commission that sets forth the new standard.
More than 400,000 metric tons of medicinal and aromatic plants are traded every year, and about 80 percent of these species are harvested from the wild.
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Flowers of the threatened medicinal tree ashoka, Saraca asoca (Roxb) de Wilde, grows in the state of Karnataka, India. The dried flowers are used to treat syphilis, the bark for dysentery, and the seeds for urinary diseases. (Photo courtesy ) |
In Ecuador, one of the best known medical herbs in the world, Cascarilla cinchona pubescens - the original source of the anti-malarial drug quinine - may be threatened as a result of over-exploitation, according to the global conservation organization WWF. Today the herb is used to treat a variety of ailments, from upset stomach to immune system problems.
In Eastern Europe, unsustainable collection of the wild herb Pheasant's eye, Adonis vernalis, used to treat cardiac ailments, has led to declines throughout the plant's range, says WWF, and today the species is protected from collection in many countries.
In the United States, large quantities of American ginseng, Panax quinquefolius, and goldenseal, Hydrastis canadensis, are collected in the wild. Although much of the ginseng exported from the United States is now cultivated, enough collection of the wild plant occurs that trade in the species is now regulated.
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American ginseng growing in New York State where a dealer permitting system, conservation practices, and certification procedures are in place. (Photo courtesy NYDEC) |
About 90 percent of the ginseng exported from the United States each year goes to countries in East Asia. The United States imports hundreds of thousands of tons of many different herbs each year to support its $3 billion market.
Following extensive consultation with plant experts and the herbal products industry, the International Standard for Sustainable Wild Collection of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, ISSC-MAP, was drawn up by the Medicinal Plant Specialist Group.
The German Federal Agency for Nature Conservation was involved in the consultation along with WWF-Germany, and the wildlife trade monitoring network TRAFFIC, plus industry associations, companies, certifiers and community-based nongovernmental organizations.
"Traders and companies, collectors and consumers must share the responsibility for maintaining populations of medicinal plants which are valuable natural resources," said Susanne Honnef of TRAFFIC.
"The ISSC-MAP principles and criteria show how this can be achieved in practice," she said.
The standard is based on six principles - maintaining medicinal and aromatic plant resources in the wild, preventing negative environmental impacts, legal compliance, respecting customary rights, applying responsible management practices, and applying responsible business practices.
Traditional Medicinals, a California herbal medicine company, is testing the application of the new standard to the collection of bearberry, a shrub whose leaves are used to treat the kidney, bladder and urinary tract.
"Our German supplier was able to prove the sustainability of their bearberry sources, and we are keen to see how the newly developed ISSC-MAP criteria apply to this trade. Sustainable supplies will mean long-term benefits for the local people who rely on the bearberry trade for supplementary income," said Josef Brinckman, vice-president of Traditional Medicinals.
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Detlev Drenckhahn, president of WWF-Germany, has been involved in consultations for development of the new standard. (Photo by Klaus-Henning Groth courtesy WWF-Germany) |
One of the many challenges in applying a sustainable standard to the collection of wild medicinal and aromatic plants, MAP, is that the dependence of local communities on these resources for health and livelihood security is rarely assessed or recorded.
Little research on harvesting techniques has been done on how to collect wild MAP species sustainably.
Maximum quotas for wild collection of medicinal and aromatic plant species are often based on "overly simple and untested assumptions about the relationship between available supply and regeneration" of these plants, according to the Medicinal Plant Specialist Group.
Products, uses, and markets based on medicinal and aromatic plant species are numerous and diverse, and there is a wide proliferation of labels and claims - such as organic and fair trade - which imply but do not provide a means of verifying sustainable wild collection.
Finally, long and complex source-to-market supply chains make tracing a product back to its source extremely difficult, the specialist group says.
Still, the new standard provides a benchmark to work with.
Monitoring is an important part of the new standard. Collection and management practices must be based on adequate identification, inventory, assessment, and monitoring of the target species and collection impacts.
The standard provides that the conservation status of target MAP species and populations is assessed and regularly reviewed.
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Woman gathers herbs in Nepal's Himalayan highlands. (Photo by Asia Network for Sustainable Agriculture and Bioresources courtesy Rainforest Alliance) |
The standard provides that collection activities are carried out in a transparent manner with respect to management planning and implementation, recording and sharing information, and involving stakeholders.
Managers will work to support quality, financial, and labor requirements of the market without sacrificing sustainability of the resource, and will prevent and minimize the collection of plants unlikely to be sold.
Managers will also provide adequate work-related health, safety, and financial compensation to collectors and other workers, and they will ensure that workers have adequate training, supervision, and experience to comply with the requirements of the new standard.
FROM: http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/feb2007/2007-02-20-01.asp
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Does ginseng really work? It depends on who you ask
February 16, 2007 - For centuries, ginseng in ancient China was touted as a herbal remedy that could treat respiratory ailments and even keep an elderly grandmother warmer during the winter.
With Health Canada's announcement that it has approved a claim that COLD-fX -- which uses an extract from North American ginseng -- stems colds and flu symptoms, the question is: What are the benefits of ginseng?
"It's purely unique in its immune stimulatory capacity," said Dr. Sandra Miller, a McGill University researcher studying the effect of ginseng extract in cancer therapy on behalf of CV Technologies, the company that develops COLD-fX.
"The literature is now abundant ... so abundant that Health Canada approved it as a health remedy," she said.
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Proponents of using ginseng as a health remedy says there's plenty of evidence the root works. Others are not so sure, and want more clinical studies done. Photograph by : Ian Smith, The Vancouver Sun |
Heather Boon, an associate professor with the Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy at the University of Toronto, said she would like more clinical trials done on ginseng.
"I'm always on the skeptical side. I would like to see more research," Ms. Boon said.
She said it appears evidence suggests that ginseng affects the immune system and helps the body break down glucose.
"The problem with ginseng's studies is there is not a lot of clinical studies, period," she said.
Some suggest that ginseng helps with erectile dysfunction, but Ms. Boon said not enough evidence exists.
Not all ginseng plants are the same, and they may have different effects on the body, she said.
The American Cancer Society has also expressed doubt whether ginseng can effectively treat cancer.
FROM: http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/story.html?id=9c59543e-3d59-4673-8538-ab20e05c20eb
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Studies sniff out little benefit from remedies
02/05/2007 - CHICAGO - Herbal remedies have been used to treat illness and promote health for thousands of years - and that's enough evidence for some people during cold and flu season. But what is the scientific evidence for alternative cold and flu remedies, such as Echinacea, ginseng and zinc?
Ronald B. Turner, a cold virus expert at the University of Virginia School of Medicine in Charlottesville, says the evidence is weak. But Turner doesn't try to discourage people from spending their money on remedies they think make them feel better, as long as there are no harmful side effects.
"One of the things that permits people to believe in unproven therapies is that it really doesn't matter what you take because you're going to get better anyway,'' Turner said.
Symptoms of the common cold increase rapidly and disappear just as fast, Turner said, making it difficult, but not impossible for scientists to design studies proving what works.
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Cold and flu remedies, such as Echinacea, ginseng and zinc,... (Dan Goodman/The Associated Press ) |
Echinacea: The herbal supplement is made from purple coneflower. Early studies suggested some benefit, but more recent studies with better designs have found no effect on preventing colds or lessening their length or severity. There are no known significant side effects, but commercial products aren't standardized. One study found that about half the Echinacea products didn't contain the species listed on the label.
Zinc: An essential mineral, zinc is found in oysters, beans, nuts and seeds. Studies have yielded mixed results. Those studies that showed zinc to be a successful cold fighter may be because subjects could taste the metallic flavor and believed they were getting the real thing rather than a dummy pill, so they reported they felt better. There are scattered reports of damage to the sense of smell from zinc nasal sprays. High daily doses (80 mg) have been linked to urinary problems. You can buy zinc in a variety of forms - nasal sprays, lollipops, gum, and lozenges, including Cold-Eeze lozenges.
Vitamin C: Found in fruits and vegetables, the nutrient got a huge boost to its reputation for cold prevention in 1970 when Nobel Prize-winning scientist Linus Pauling wrote a book endorsing it. Some studies have shown it reduces the duration and severity of colds when taken daily in doses of 200 mg or more. Other studies found nothing. Turner thinks there's ''probably little true effect.'' Vitamin C can cause gastrointestinal problems in high doses.
ginseng: Traditional Chinese medicine uses the extract of this root to restore energy. The commercial herbal supplement Cold-fX contains ginseng. Some studies have found ginseng lessens number and severity of colds. Turner says the studies were poorly designed. Another study found that most ginseng products contained less than half of what was listed on the label. ginseng may cause insomnia.
Oscillococcinum: This homeo- pathic medicine, made from minuscule amounts of duck hearts and livers, is used to treat influenza. Studies have not produced strong evidence that it works. But New York Times columnist Jane Brody has said she keeps it in her medicine cabinet, adding that it may be the belief in homeopathic medicine that make them work for some people.
Airborne: The brand-name herbal product Airborne now is the second highest selling cold tablet, with sales up 24 percent last quarter over the same period last year, according to Information Resources Inc., a company that tracks retail sales. But there are ''no credible clinical studies so no evidence of effect,'' Turner said.
FROM: http://www.sltrib.com/healthscience/ci_5163009
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Renhuangs New Ginseng Ointment Product Receives Great Interest at Recent Promotional Meetings in China
February 05, 2007
HARBIN, China--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Renhuang Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (or "the Company", Stock symbol: RHGP.OB), a leading provider of natural health care products in the People's Republic of China (PRC), recently held new product promotion meetings in Xinjiang province and Sichuan province separately to introduce and showcase the Company's newly launched product - ginseng Ointment. A total of more than 200 people representing pharmaceutical companies and distributors from the two provinces, independent local sales agents and contractors, representatives from the media and advertising agencies attended the events. As a new product with both bio-nutritional and bio-pharmaceutical value, ginseng Ointment received great interest from the meeting participants. Renhuang believes that the interest showed at the meetings is likely to result in a significant amount of purchasing orders shortly.
The Company launched ginseng Ointment recently in early December, 2006 after it had been approved by the State Food and Drug Administration, P.R. China (SFDA). The complex formula developed in-house is based on an ancient Chinese medical tradition and consists of effective components from ginseng and various herbal plants and animals. The health benefits of this bio-medicine include enhancing energy and blood circulation, improving metabolism and the immune system, and also helping improve liver and kidney function.
This product is a direct result of the Company's Research & Development efforts, broadens the company's offering in bio-pharmaceutical products, and complements Renhuang's main Siberian ginseng product line. The main target group is men and women between the ages of 20 and 50 with higher than average income. The Company estimates that sales of the new product could reach $10 million dollars in 2007 with a projected net profit of $5 million dollars.
About Renhuang Pharmaceuticals, Inc.:
Renhuang Pharmaceuticals is a leading bio-pharmaceutical company located in Harbin in the Heilongjiang Province in Northeast China. Renhuang is primarily engaged in the research, production, and sales of bio-pharmaceutical products in Mainland China. The Company's main products are Siberian ginseng, shark liver oil and several other traditional medical products. It is estimated that 70% of China's natural supply of Siberian ginseng is currently controlled by the Company.
The company also anticipates approval within six to nine months by State Food and Drug Administration ("SFDA") for up to five of its new Monoclonal Antibody Reagent Box series products. These products are 60% more reliable than those from its competitors and also adhere to "Good Manufacturing Practices", or "GMP". Moreover, the company is in the process of building its own immune system research and development function. Overall, the company is able to achieve significant cost savings compared to most of its competitors, who purchase their raw materials from third parties.
Over 2000 sales agents are employed in seventy sales centers across twenty-four districts and cover over 50% of the greater China area and 80% of its population, including the most populous and developed Eastern China. The Company employs over 50 people in its R&D department, a number of which are well recognized and respected pharmaceutical professors and research scientists from National Navy Pharmaceutical Research Center, Beijing Ellionbio Research Center and other well known institutions. State of the art research and production facilities using the latest technologies are currently used by the Company's scientists to develop new and innovative areas, including antiseptic and immune system products and Diagnostic kits. RHGP-G
Safe Harbor Statement
This press release contains certain statements that may include 'forward-looking statements' as defined in the Securities Act of 1933, and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, included herein are 'forward-looking statements.' Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, they do involve assumptions, risks and uncertainties, and these expectations may prove to be incorrect. You should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release.
The Company's actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of a variety of factors, including those discussed in the Company's periodic reports that are filed with and available from the Securities and Exchange Commission. All forward-looking statements attributable to the Company or persons acting on its behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by these factors. Other than as required under the securities laws, the Company does not assume a duty to update these forward-looking statements
FROM: http://home.businesswire.com/portal/site/google/index.jsp?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20070205005520&newsLang=en
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Adaptogens give us less stress
Jan 24, 2007 - Stress is part of everyone's life. It arises from desired events such as becoming a parent, celebrating the holidays or starting a new job. It also develops during hard times emotionally and financially or from physical illness.
For primitive humans, stress most often presented itself in the form of danger, leading to the desire to fight or to flee. We still experience this kind of stress today, but chronic stress is more prominent.
Our bodies secrete hormones in response to stress that affect our body chemistry and influence our ability to run away or defend ourselves. This response, termed fight or flight, includes intense stimulation of the sympathetic nervous system and the adrenal glands. As a result, breathing rates quicken, blood sugar levels increase and the heart beats faster and harder.
At the same time, there is a decrease in digestive secretions. In cases of acute stress, the situation is often resolved quickly, and normal body function returns. However, when stress is prolonged or chronic, the reaction can harm our bodies.
Chronic stress is associated with a wide variety of disorders including angina, type 2 diabetes, ulcers, lowered immunity, hypertension and irritable bowel. People suffering from chronic stress often experience irritability, depression, fatigue, insomnia and headaches that cause them to seek medical advice. For women, prolonged stress often causes premenstrual tension and menstrual irregularities.
To cope better with stress and its damaging side effects, we can use herbs called adaptogens. Adaptogens strengthen the body and increase resistance to disease and stress. These herbs tonify the adrenal glands, which are the body's mechanism for responding to stress and emotional changes. Adaptogens balance the endocrine system and help protect against infections through their immune-stimulating actions. The herbs work well as a tea, tincture or in capsules.
Plants with adaptogenic properties include American and Asian ginseng, licorice, astragalus, Ashwagandha, maca, holy basil, schisandra and certain mushrooms.
Modern research has proven that plant adaptogens help with the above-mentioned imbalances. Use them on a regular basis and expect to sleep better, have more energy and be less anxious. Adaptogens also will increase stamina, improve concentration, evoke a feeling of well-being and increase motivation.
Stress is not an illness, but can lead to a variety of illnesses.
A physician should be consulted about physical symptoms that are out of the ordinary, particularly those that progress in severity or lead to a loss of sleep. A mental health professional should be consulted for unmanageable acute stress or for severe anxiety or depression. Often short-term therapy can resolve stress-related emotional problems.
Eating healthy and exercising regularly form a strong base to cope with stress. Meditation, yoga, biofeedback and massage are additional techniques that help manage stress and reduce its impact on our bodies and minds.
Great Falls and the surrounding area have many practitioners trained in these and other stress management techniques. Consider joining a class where you will have the opportunity to learn and practice them in a supportive environment.
Managing stress better is a noble New Year's resolution that will benefit you and the ones you love for years to come.
FROM: http://www.greatfallstribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070124/NEWS01/701240367/1002
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Ginseng to tempt Asia market
2007/01/08 - People have been "dabbling" in ginseng in New Zealand since at least the 1970s, says Graeme Parmenter, who heads Crop & Food Research's ginseng programme.
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This 124-year-old ginseng fetched $81,000 at auction in 2001. Photo / Reuters |
However, an attempt to go big commercially with ginseng ran into trouble in recent years, with the operation still dogged by legal issues and friction between shareholders.
ginseng NZ - growing under artificial shade on more than 160 hectares in the Bay of Plenty and Waikato - went into receivership in 2005 after a special partnership involving some of its crop was canned.
The special partnership was pulled following differences of opinion between major shareholders Brian Sage and Money Managers founder Doug Somers-Edgar, which led to Sage's exit from the business.
An attempt last year by Somers-Edgar to sell ginseng NZ by tender also failed.
But he said the operation hoped to make a profit of several million dollars in 2007 and was offering plants to professional investors, for harvest in 2008, in an attempt to raise working capital.
The profit expected in 2007 is earmarked to help pay back the many millions he has put into developing the venture, Somers-Edgar said.
He said it was planned that ginseng NZ's crops and leases would be taken over by a new entity owned by him, and that this entity would carry on the business. "You've got to have a clean start."
Sage's lawyer David Garrett said just before Christmas that the High Court was in the new year due to hear an application for an injunction preventing the receiver selling any of the business, pending a hearing on a multimillion-dollar claim by Sage. Garrett was also seeking answers from the receiver to a range of questions relating to the dispute.
The failed special partnership's investment statement raised eyebrows when it suggested dried ginseng root could fetch $350/kg.
But Somers-Edgar said the crop harvested in April and May 2006, which had mostly been sold, had been fetching $500/kg. Buyers had been local manufacturers and re-sellers, with crop being used in beverages, pharmaceuticals, neutraceuticals and tourist products.
Meanwhile, Crop & Food's Parmenter said his organisation was helping R&D work on growing ginseng under artificial shade and forest canopy.
It is supporting two new ginseng-growing trials under pine forest on Maori land owned by Ngati Whakaue near Rotorua and Maraeroa C near Te Kuiti.
The Maori organisations are collaborating with Korean Jae Lee, who has already been working on another trial operation for the past few years on leased land within the Turangi prison farm forest.
"We're trying to assist Jae Lee to demonstrate to potential investors in his business that he has a system that will work under forest," said Parmenter.
Growing ginseng in pine forests - ideal with their straight rows of trees - meant there was potential for mechanical planting and harvesting. "It's one of our competitive advantages," said Parmenter.
Lee said he was a recent graduate from a special ginseng growing course in Korea and had put his and relatives' money into the New Zealand experiments.
He said forests here, unlike those in Korea, provided good conditions.
"Here the forest is very good for environment of ginseng growing," he said.
None of the ginseng Lee has grown here has been sold so far - he said his focus was trying to prove growing in New Zealand could work.
Maraeroa C chief executive Glen Katu said his organisation had five trial ginseng plots on a block of suitable forest land at Pureroa, between Te Kuiti and Mangakino.
He said Maraeroa C should know within about six months whether ginseng would grow well there.
The organisation, which has contributed $5000 towards the trial, would then have to make a decision about planting ginseng more widely, Katu said.
FROM: http://www.nzherald.co.nz/category/story.cfm?c_id=16&objectid=10418080
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Adaptogens give us less stress
2007/01/24 - Stress is part of everyone's life. It arises from desired events such as becoming a parent, celebrating the holidays or starting a new job. It also develops during hard times emotionally and financially or from physical illness.
For primitive humans, stress most often presented itself in the form of danger, leading to the desire to fight or to flee. We still experience this kind of stress today, but chronic stress is more prominent
Our bodies secrete hormones in response to stress that affect our body chemistry and influence our ability to run away or defend ourselves. This response, termed fight or flight, includes intense stimulation of the sympathetic nervous system and the adrenal glands. As a result, breathing rates quicken, blood sugar levels increase and the heart beats faster and harder.
At the same time, there is a decrease in digestive secretions. In cases of acute stress, the situation is often resolved quickly, and normal body function returns. However, when stress is prolonged or chronic, the reaction can harm our bodies.
Chronic stress is associated with a wide variety of disorders including angina, type 2 diabetes, ulcers, lowered immunity, hypertension and irritable bowel. People suffering from chronic stress often experience irritability, depression, fatigue, insomnia and headaches that cause them to seek medical advice. For women, prolonged stress often causes premenstrual tension and menstrual irregularities.
To cope better with stress and its damaging side effects, we can use herbs called adaptogens. Adaptogens strengthen the body and increase resistance to disease and stress. These herbs tonify the adrenal glands, which are the body's mechanism for responding to stress and emotional changes. Adaptogens balance the endocrine system and help protect against infections through their immune-stimulating actions. The herbs work well as a tea, tincture or in capsules.
Plants with adaptogenic properties include American and Asian ginseng, licorice, astragalus, Ashwagandha, maca, holy basil, schisandra and certain mushrooms.
Modern research has proven that plant adaptogens help with the above-mentioned imbalances. Use them on a regular basis and expect to sleep better, have more energy and be less anxious. Adaptogens also will increase stamina, improve concentration, evoke a feeling of well-being and increase motivation.
Stress is not an illness, but can lead to a variety of illnesses
A physician should be consulted about physical symptoms that are out of the ordinary, particularly those that progress in severity or lead to a loss of sleep. A mental health professional should be consulted for unmanageable acute stress or for severe anxiety or depression. Often short-term therapy can resolve stress-related emotional problems.
Eating healthy and exercising regularly form a strong base to cope with stress. Meditation, yoga, biofeedback and massage are additional techniques that help manage stress and reduce its impact on our bodies and minds.
Great Falls and the surrounding area have many practitioners trained in these and other stress management techniques. Consider joining a class where you will have the opportunity to learn and practice them in a supportive environment.
Managing stress better is a noble New Year's resolution that will benefit you and the ones you love for years to come.
FROM: http://www.greatfallstribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070124/NEWS01/701240367/1002
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Sales of smoothies up five-fold
2007/01/04 Sales of smoothies have soared more than fivefold over the past five years, driven by more health conscious consumers, a report has said.
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The report predicts smoothie sales will now triple by 2011 |
Total UK sales of the crushed fruit drinks reached 34 million litres in 2006, up from just 6.3 million in 2001, according to market analysts Mintel.
In financial terms, sales of smoothies totalled £134m last year, a 523% increase over 2001
Mintel now expects smoothie sales to further treble by 2011.
'Success story'
"Healthy eating, and in particular the five-a-day fruit and vegetable campaign, has been the driving force behind continuing rates of exceptional growth," said Mintel's senior market analyst Vivianne Ithekweazu
"Smoothies have been the true drinks success story of the 21st century and are clearly no longer a niche market."
Mintel found that smoothies are most popular among people in the 15-to-19, and 25-to-34 age groups.
Its report covers retail sales of packaged smoothies, and does not include sales over the counter at cafes or restaurants.
Standard smoothies which only contain crushed fruit make up 86% of sales, while those that have added ingredients such as ginseng make up 11%.
The final 3% of sales is for smoothies with added yoghurt or milk.
FROM: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/6230461.stm
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