Korean Red Ginseng vs. American Ginseng
American ginseng and Korean red ginseng contain the same active pharmacological compounds called ginsenosides. However, each of them is different in their respective aspects. While American ginseng is a good source of the Rb1 group of ginsenosides, Korean Ginseng comes higher in the Rg1 group of ginsenosides.
Another difference that can be noted—between American ginseng and Korean ginseng—is in its potency. While American ginseng allows for a mild ‘qi’-boosting effect, Korean ginseng has an even more powerful effect.
Ginsenosides have been studied for their anti-inflammatory and immune-boosting properties, and researchers have also uncovered additional health benefits. Ginsenosides may be a safe alternative treatment for a variety of conditions.
Korean red ginseng (also called Panax Ginseng) is a well-known and traditionally used herbal medicine, touted for its numerous beneficial effects—the following are some of them.
Heightened Brain Function and Neuroprotective Effects
Ginsenosides, the active ingredients in Korean red ginseng, may have a protective effect against various neurological disorders. While the more conventional treatments of these disorders include expensive surgeries and pharmaceutical-grade medications, surgeries can potentially be dangerous, and the long-term use of medication is often not sustainable and can lead to drug poisoning and addiction issues.
Ginsenosides are thought to improve spatial memory, long-term memory, promote nerve growth and health, and improved mental work capacity. They can also help to regulate the multiple signaling pathways within the brain that are associated with neurological disorders.
While still in the early stages of study, the research community is eager to determine the exact mechanisms behind ginsenosides’ various neurological benefits.
Improved Erectile Dysfunction and Sexual Health
Another health benefit that Korean red ginseng is believed to provide is enhanced sexual performance. Ginsenosides may play a therapeutic role in the treatment of erectile dysfunction by increasing endothelial nitric oxide synthase expression, an enzyme important for vascular health in the body’s corpus cavernosum tissue.
Ginsenosides could also increase secretions of luteinizing hormone, a hormone that signals the production of testosterone, and researchers have demonstrated that ginsenosides extracted from Korean Panax ginseng may boost testosterone levels.
Robust testosterone levels can improve a person’s overall sperm count levels, as well as sperm motility. Therefore, ginsenosides may be a useful therapeutic tool for the treatment and prevention of male reproductive disorders.
Reduction in Inflammation
Chronic inflammation (which is characterized as acute inflammation that lasts more than four weeks) can contribute to a variety of bodily disorders, such as cancer and diabetes. Prolonged inflammation can be caused by many factors, such as persistent injury, toxic exposure, infection, or autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, as well as obesity or stress. These can all be deadly when not treated correctly.
Ginsenosides may reduce chronic inflammation by suppressing the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines in the body, effectively moderating the inflammatory response.
While inflammation plays a crucial role in the way the body responds to injury or infection, chronic inflammation can lead to inflammatory diseases. Ginsenosides can help prevent inflammatory diseases early on and they also exhibit protective and anti-cancer effects.
