Other Name:
Araliaceae  (family) / Siberian Ginseng / Devil's Root / Touch-Me-Not / Acanthopanax Senticosus / Devil's Bush / Eleuthero / Wu-chia-p'i
Botanical Description:
Shrubs, to 6 m tall. Branches with dense to scattered, slender, terete, bristle like prickles.
Petiole 3-12 cm, slender, sometimes with fine prickles; petiolule of central leaflet (0.6-)1.2-2 cm, usually brownish pubescent; leaflets (3-)5, elliptic-obovate or oblong, 5-13 × 3-7 cm, papery, abaxially pubescent on veins, adaxially with scattered hairs, secondary veins 6 or 7 pairs, conspicuous on both surfaces, base broadly cuneate, margin sharply biserrate, apex shortly acuminate or acuminate.
Inflorescence terminal, a solitary or compound umbel, borne on leafy shoots, usually with 2-6 umbels together; peduncles 5-7 cm, glabrous; pedicels 1-2 cm, glabrous or slightly pubescent at base.
Calyx subentire or with 5 inconspicuous teeth, glabrous.
Corolla purple-yellow.
Ovary 5-carpellate; styles united into a column.
Fruit ovoid-globose, ca. 8 mm; styles persistent, ca. 1.5 mm.
Part of Plant Used:
Root
Main Uses:
A nutritional supplement used for thousands of years as an all round tonic, aid for stress, and particularly beneficial for the very active and the elderly.
 
 
 
Contra-indications:
Allergy or hypersensitivity to any of the ingredients.
Do not take ginseng without first talking to your doctor if you have a bleeding or blood clotting disorder, diabetes, high blood pressure or heart disease, or if you are taking any medicines to prevent or treat these conditions.
Warnings:
Rated relatively safe when taken in appropriate quantities for short periods of time.
When taken for any ailment if symptoms persist for more than one week consult your doctor or herbal practitioner.
Treating infants and children under 2 with any herbal preparation may be hazardous.  Always consult with your doctor or herbal practitioner.
Interactions:
Do not take ginseng without first talking to your doctor if you are taking any of the following medicines: any heart or blood pressure medicines; a medicine to control blood sugar levels such as insulin, glipizide (Glucotrol), glyburide (Glynase, Diabeta, Micronase), chlorpropamide (Diabinese), tolbutamide (Orinase), tolazamide (Tolinase), troglitazone (Rezulin), rosiglitazone (Avandia), repaglinide (Prandin), metformin (Glucophage), and others; warfarin (Coumadin); aspirin; a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) including ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, Nuprin, others), naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn, Naprelan, Anaprox, others), ketoprofen (Orudis KT, Orudis), indomethacin (Indocin), etodolac (Lodine), nabumetone (Relafen), oxaprozin (Daypro), piroxicam (Feldene), sulindac (Clinoril), tolmetin (Tolectin), and others; ardeparin (Normiflo); dalteparin (Fragmin); danaparoid (Orgaran); enoxaparin (Lovenox); or heparin.
There are no other known interactions; however, with the proliferation of available drugs it is always advisable to consult your doctor or health care professional before taking this or any other supplements.
Pregnancy & Lactation:
Problems with pregnant women or those planning pregnancy have not been proved. It is however always advisable to consult with your doctor or herbal practitioner before taking any medication or supplements.
Breast-fed infants of lactating mothers should experience no problems when mother takes usual amounts as part of a balanced diet. It is however always advisable to consult with your nutritionist, herbal or medical practitioner.
Side Effects – Only With Mega Doses:
Although uncommon, allergic reactions to ginseng have been reported. Stop taking ginseng and seek emergency medical attention if you experience symptoms of a serious allergic reaction including difficulty breathing; closing of your throat; swelling of your lips, tongue, or face; or hives.
None other expected if you are beyond childhood, basically healthy and do not exceed recommended dosage and use for short periods, but always consult with your doctor before taking this or any medical drugs, herbs or nutritional supplements, particularly if suffering from a serious health condition or on any medication or treatment.