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Smart Drugs & Nutrients:

How to Improve Your Memory and Increase Your Intelligence Using the Latest Discoveries In Neuroscience

VOLUME 1 in the Smart Drugs Series

by Ward Dean, M.D. & John Morgenthaler
$12.95 - 224 pages, softcover (Out of Stock)

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Sec 5: Other Cognitive Enhancers

Acetyl­L-Carnitine (ALC) | Caffeine | Centrophenoxine (Lucidril) | Choline & Lecithin | AL721 (Egg Lecithin) | DHEA | DMAE | Gerovital (GH­3) | Ginkgo Biloba: A Nootropic Herb? | Ginseng | Hydergine | Idebenone | Phenytoin (Dilantin) | Propranolol Hydrochloride (Inderal) | Thyroid Hormone | Vasopressin (Diapid) | Vincamine | Vitamins | Xanthinol Nicotinate

Ginseng

Unlike drugs which are designed to act against a specific disease or symptom, ginseng has a wide range of uses. Ginseng appears to function by acting as an adaptogen, a nontoxic substance that increases resistance to stress. Adaptogens have a remarkable ability to normalize conditions in the body, restoring homeostasis, and protecting against stress and fatigue.

Ginseng improves brain function, concentration, memory and learning. In addition, it can reduce or normalize heart beat, blood sugar, and cholesterol, stimulate metabolic functions, and increase endocrine activity. Ginseng can stimulate the circulatory system and digestion, quench free radicals, increase resistance to drugs, alcohol, chemotherapy, and other toxins. It is known to improve athletic performance, shorten recovery time after exercise or stressful situations, benefit insomnia and sleep disturbances, stimulate the immune system, and improve sexual function. It is ginseng's ability to normalize conditions in the body that give it this rather long list of benefits.

The medicinal properties of ginseng appear to be due to a group of chemicals called saponins, also known as glycosides or ginsenosides. These chemicals influence the metabolism of neurotransmitters like serotonin and acetylcholine, which are important for optimum mental functioning. Ginseng seems to reduce the activation of the adrenal cortex, and therefore inhibits the alarm stage of stress. Saponins also increase the activity of the lymphocytes, enhancing immune function. Many of the effects of ginseng are due to its ability to regulate the energy in your body and brain.

Precautions: Individuals with high blood pressure should be cautious about using large quantities of ginseng. In Chinese medicine, there are "types" for whom ginseng is contraindicated. Also, Chinese medicine uses ginseng as a tonic, not necessarily on a daily basis.

Dosage: 500mg to 3000mg per day in divided doses.

Sources: Most health food stores carry several varieties of ginseng. There is tremendous variation in the amount of active ingredients found in different types of ginseng and ginseng products. For sources of ginseng see Appendix A on page 165.

References:

Baburin, E.F. "On the Effect of Eleutherococcus Senticosus on the Results of Work and Hearing Acuity of Radio‑Telegraphers." Brekham, I.I., ed., Eleuthero­coccus and Other Adaptogens Among the Far Eastern Plants. Vladivostok, U.S.S.R.: Far Eastern Publish­ing House. 1966, pp. 179‑84.

Brekham, I.I. Eleutherococcus. Leningrad: Nauka Publishing House. 1968.

Fulder, S. "The Drug That Builds Russians." New Scientist, 1980.

Ginseng, Ten of the Most Commonly Asked Questions About the Root of Life. International Health Publica­tions, 1977 (pam­phlet).

"Ginseng: The Anti‑Stress Therapy." Anti‑Aging News. October 1983, p. 111.

Iljutjecok, R.J., Tjaplygina, S.R. "The Effect of a Preparation of Eleu­therococcus Senticosus on Memory in Mice." The Department of Physiology, Academy of Sciences of the Soviet Union, Novosibirsk. 1978.

Pelton, R., Pelton, T.C. Mind Food & Smart Pills. New York: Double­day, 1989.

Petkov, V., Staneua, S. "The Effect of an Extract of Ginseng on the Adrenal Cortex." Proceedings of the 2nd International Pharmacology Meeting. Prague, 1963. New York: Pergamon Press. Vol. 7, pp. 39‑45.

Petkov, V. "Effects of Standardized Ginseng Extract on Learning, Memory and Physical Capabilities." Ameri­can Journal of Chinese Medicine. 1987, Vol. 15, No. 1, pp. 19‑29.

Petkov, V. Pharmazeutische Zeitung. 1968, Vol. 31.
Quiroga, H.A., Imbriano, A.E. "The Effect of Panax Ginseng Extract on Cerebrovascular Deficits." Orientacion Medica. 1979, Vol. 28: 1208, pp. 86‑7.

Seigel, R.D. "Ginseng Abuse Syndrome." Journal of the American Medical Association. 1979.

Voskersarsky, T., et al. "Effect of Eleutherococcus and Ginseng on the Development of Free‑Radical Pathol­ogy." Proceeding of the Second International Symposium of Eleutherococcus. Mos­cow, 1985, pp. 141‑45.