Chinese ginseng (Panax ginseng) is traditionally used for a wide variety of reasons, such as improving physical stamina, concentration, memory and slowing the aging process. Perhaps less well-known is that Ginseng can help the body fight against both bacterial and viral infections. Not only does Ginseng act directly on bacteria and virus to kill them, as demonstrated in numerous pharmaceutical studies, but the herb favourably modulates the body’s immune function to counter infection. The immune system comprises two major parts: the innate system and the specific (or adaptive) system and Ginseng works on both. It assists the former through enhancing white blood cell activity and the latter by increasing the specific immune response.
Research on Ginseng is particularly active in South Korea, which is the home of Korean Red Ginseng. Red Ginseng is heat-processed Ginseng developed by alternate steaming and air-drying of fresh Ginseng. Compared with fresh Ginseng, the red form has greater activity and stability because of changes that occur in its chemical constituents. However, both raw and processed Ginseng have similar physiological actions – the differences are subtle rather than fundamental. Interested to further investigate claims that Red Ginseng can prevent respiratory infection, Korean researchers conducted a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial in 100 healthy volunteers. At the end of a year, 25% of those taking Red Ginseng reported having one or more respiratory infections in that time, compared to 45% in the placebo group.
This Korean study focused on prevention. But once you get a virus – can Ginseng still help? Although the importance of respiratory infections caused by viruses has been highlighted during the Covid19 pandemic, respiratory bacterial infections remain the more serious cause of mortality worldwide. Bacterial infection of the respiratory tract often follows a viral infection and there are limited numbers of effective antibiotics available to combat them due to increasing antibiotic resistance. If you do get a cold or flu, taking Ginseng may help to reduce its impact, being anti-bacterial as well as anti-viral.
Ann Walker PhD FCPP MNIMH RNutr, Herbal Practitioner and Nutritionist,
Course Director, Discovering Herbal Medicine course
