The C.A.M. Report
Complementary and Alternative Medicine: Fair, Balanced, and to the Point

Archive for the 'Ginseng' Category

Effects of red ginseng extract on sleep in healthy volunteers

Tuesday, September 3rd, 2013

ginssengThe ginseng root has been traditionally used as a sedative.

Researchers at Kwandong University, in Gangreung, Republic of Korea studied the response to red ginseng extract by human volunteers. (more…)

Cognitive benefits of ginseng and bacopa

Wednesday, October 10th, 2012

Researchers at Swinburne University, in Melbourne, Australia, reviewed the evidence and compared the responses to modafinil (Provigil).

Reportedly, Panax ginseng and Bacopa monnieri have consistent acute and chronic cognitive effects, respectively. (more…)

Safety of energy drinks

Wednesday, August 22nd, 2012

Energy drinks are consumed by 30% to 50% of adolescents and young adults. The manufacturers claim they are safe.

Researchers at the University of Miami, in Florida reviewed the evidence and came to a different conclusion. (more…)

Treating cancer-related fatigue with American ginseng

Wednesday, June 6th, 2012

Cancer-related fatigue is occurs in 50% to 90% of all patients with cancer and severely affects quality of life, in addition to decreasing the daily functional capacity.

During the American Society of Clinical Oncology meeting, researchers from several US universities reported that American ginseng reduces general and physical cancer-related fatigue. (more…)

CAM for the common cold?

Tuesday, January 3rd, 2012

While rhinoviruses cause upto half of colds, up to 200 other viruses have been implicated.

Researchers at the University of Ottawa, in Ontario, reviewed the evidence for CAM to treat and prevent the common cold. (more…)

Review: CAM for treating Alzheimer’s disease

Wednesday, November 30th, 2011

Dr. Keith Wollen at Washington State University, in Port Angeles, has written a review of treatment options.

Let’s focus on CAM. (more…)

Risk of drug interactions with dietary supplements

Monday, September 12th, 2011

Researchers in the US reviewed the incidence and severity of potential interactions between prescription medicine and dietary supplements. (more…)

Herbal supplements: Caveat Emptor

Thursday, August 11th, 2011

Researchers at the University of Leeds, in Woodhouse, evaluated written information provided with commonly used herbal products in the UK in advance of a European Union Directive that tightens regulations for some herbal products, including requirements to provide safety information. (more…)

Does ginseng aid cognition?

Tuesday, June 21st, 2011

It’s suggested, based on laboratory and clinical studies, that ginseng may have beneficial effects on cognitive performance (reasoning).

This Cochrane review evaluated the evidence in healthy people. (more…)

Effects of herbals on warfarin therapy

Sunday, June 12th, 2011

Researchers at the University of Hong Kong, in China, studied the risk for an herbal:warfarin interaction in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation. (more…)

Review: CAM to treat menopausal vasomotor symptoms

Thursday, April 21st, 2011

Researchers at the Mayo Clinic, in Rochester, Minnesota, reviewed allopathic and CAM options.

Let’s focus on CAM. (more…)

Response to fermented red ginseng in allergic rhinitis

Tuesday, April 12th, 2011

Many reports state that Panax ginseng and fermented red ginseng have anti-inflammatory effects.

Researchers at Seoul National University College of Medicine, in Korea, studied fermented red ginseng. (more…)

Treating impotence with red ginseng

Thursday, March 24th, 2011

Prof. Ernst and researchers from the Korea Food Research Institute in Sungnam reviewed the evidence. (more…)

The ginseng/warfarin interaction debate

Sunday, October 3rd, 2010

Researchers from Kyung Hee University in Seoul, Republic of Korea studied Asian ginseng (Panax ginseng) and found no interaction with the blood thinner, warfarin (Coumadin). (more…)

Reviewing “energy shot” products

Friday, May 7th, 2010

The American Botanical Council (ABC) has published a 40-page review of an emerging new product and market category called “energy shots.” The report focuses on shots sold mainly in the United States and the United Kingdom. (more…)

Imatinib liver toxicity associated with ginseng

Monday, April 5th, 2010

This is the first reported case of a patient taking imatinib (Gleevec), which is used to treat certain cancers, who developed liver toxicity, apparently related to taking ginseng. (more…)

Risk of taking herbals in people with heart disease

Monday, April 5th, 2010

Researchers from the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota and Arizona collaborated to review the risks of herbal:drug interactions.

The abstract is a bit skimpy on details, but the American Pharmaceutical Association has a nice summary, which will be summarized further here. (more…)

Antidiabetic actions of herbals reviewed

Saturday, April 3rd, 2010

Researchers from the David Geffen School of Medicine, at the University of California, in Los Angeles have reviewed the evidence. (more…)

Drug-herbal interaction review

Saturday, March 20th, 2010

Prof. Ernst reviewed popular herbal medicines.

It’s a long list. (more…)

Prevalence of CAM use during HAART in HIV

Tuesday, December 8th, 2009

HAART is the acronym for Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy — aggressive treatment used to suppress HIV viral replication and the progression of HIV disease.

Researchers from the Hospital San Pedro, in Spain surveyed the use of medicinal plants in HIV patients receiving HAART. (more…)