Korean Ginseng

Korean ginseng’s genus name, Panax, is derived from the Latin panacea meaning “cure all”. Traditional Chinese medicine textbooks describe near-mythical qualities for the human shaped root (the word ginseng is derived from the Chinese word for person) such as restoring balance to one’s life force and increasing longevity. In the East, where it is considered to be the most important of all medicinal herbs, wild mountain ginseng was a revered plant (it is now almost extinct), a treasure beyond price, surrounded by many stories of magical lore. While todays mostly cultivated Korean ginseng is not a miracle herb it is clearly an important remedy with an ancient history of improving health. Herbalists classify Korean ginseng as an adaptogen indicating a wide range of therapeutic uses.

Korean ginseng has shown some potential to help calm symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). In a study involving 18 children, aged between six and 14 years old who were diagnosed with ADHD, researchers reported improvements in anxiety, personality and social functioning. The children were given 1000mg of Korean ginseng for eight weeks. The effects of Korean ginseng compared to a placebo were evaluated on 70 ADHD patients aged between six and 15 years old. In the intervention group, 33 patients were given 40mL of Korean ginseng twice per day. After eight weeks a decrease in inattention and hyperactivity scores was recorded in the treatment group compared with the control group.

In another study, 40 children with ADHD, aged between six and 12, were given daily supplements containing omega-3 and Korean ginseng. Results of the study suggest that the combination of the two ingredients may help improve memory and attention in children with ADHD

References

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Korean Red Ginseng on Children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: An

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