Commentary by Peter Benner, journalist and Monteagle Herbs sales representative,
on a Globe and Mail article by Krista Foss, April 10, 2000.
Ginseng reduces blood sugar
I have always been a proponent of bioregionalism and sustainability. In particular, I like to see all-natural, renewable resources
used right in our back yard, ones that promote good health and healing without having to be brought in from a country on the other
side of the world, thus incurring high energy costs and import fees. Rather than importing these expensive remedies, I'd rather see
our increasingly health-conscious population support local farmers and buy their organic crops wherever possible. This is why I work
for Monteagle Herbs.
Many tobacco belt farmers wanting to distance themselves from the
"smoking gun" and lessen their depency on a beleagured tobacco growing industry, are growing ginseng.
American Ginseng, or Panax quinquefolium, has been shown by researchers to lower blood sugar in people with Type 2 diabetes.
Many Canadians are already taking this Canadian-grown ginseng to boost their energy levels and stimulate the sex drive.
A study funded by the provincial government and a major ginseng grower,
says that when patients with adult-onset diabetes swallowed three grams of ground Ontario-grown ginseng before or during a meal,
their blood-sugar levels dropped 20 per cent on average compared to when they took placebos.
Dr. Vladimir Vuksan, a nutritional scientist at the University of Toronto and
author of the study published in the Arhives of Internal Medicine, feels that regular ingestion of ginseng would help people avoid
common Type 2 diabetes complications.
Two years ago, another study of those with adult-onset diabetes showed that control of blood-sugar and blood pressure can reduce damage to nerves, kidneys and eyes.
American Ginseng is the most commonly grown variety in Ontario, and the provincial government encourages tobacco farmers to plant it as an alternative crop.
This sounds like wonderful news for diabetics, especially those who are environmentally conscious. It is always good I feel to be using herbs that happen to grow in the bioregion or area in which you live. These herbs often have an affinity for the body's of the local people who use them and I would like this to be the root of more study and research to verify it.
Note that the article warns more research is needed "before people start taking the root." This study was a short term study and more work needs to be done, the researchers say, before ginseng should be considered as a viable alternative to other medications. However, it's good to note that no one has ever died from taking herbal remedies before, while many have had serious complications from taking pharmaceuticals. I wouldn't worry too much about this caution as there are not likely to be side effects from taking ginseng. Most herbalists would advise to take a break after several continuous weeks of taking ginseng, to give the body a rest from it just to be sure.
There are other herbs that can work in tandem or by themselves to lower and stabilize blood sugar levels. Note that ginseng in this study lowers blood sugar levels. Other herbs such as gymnema sylvestris, lower AND stabilize those levels at the same time. Gymnema sylvestris is an Ayurvedic herb from India, that has been used for centuries in Ayurvedic medicine to treat blood sugar levels gently and safely, without any side effects. (More in a separate article titled Gymnema: How sweet it isn't!)
Diabetics might also want to investigate stevia herb. This South American herb is many, many times sweeter than sugar and it also helps stabilize blood sugar to a lesser extent than gymnema. It also has been shown in research studies, to reduce cavities in the teeth!
See my article, "Stevia: How sweet it is!"
Monteagle Herbs carries a wide variety of ginsengs for customer use. Juniper berries can also be used to lower blood sugar levels, and are wildcrafted by Monteagle Herbs in our bioregion.
Jerusalem artichokes as part of your diet, will also reduce blood sugar levels. They are easy to plant, propogate amazingly and are very versatile in recipes. Here on Morninglory Farm, our solar powered community just north of Monteagle Herbs, we grow jerusalem artichokes and add them to many of our recipes. They are an excellent vegetable to add to your root cellar and keep well.
Peter Benner
Monteagle Herbs
Ginseng reduces blood sugar
I have always been a proponent of bioregionalism and sustainability. In particular, I like to see all-natural, renewable resources
used right in our back yard, ones that promote good health and healing without having to be brought in from a country on the other
side of the world, thus incurring high energy costs and import fees. Rather than importing these expensive remedies, I'd rather see
our increasingly health-conscious population support local farmers and buy their organic crops wherever possible. This is why I work
for Monteagle Herbs.
Many tobacco belt farmers wanting to distance themselves from the
"smoking gun" and lessen their depency on a beleagured tobacco growing industry, are growing ginseng.
American Ginseng, or Panax quinquefolium, has been shown by researchers to lower blood sugar in people with Type 2 diabetes.
Many Canadians are already taking this Canadian-grown ginseng to boost their energy levels and stimulate the sex drive.
A study funded by the provincial government and a major ginseng grower,
says that when patients with adult-onset diabetes swallowed three grams of ground Ontario-grown ginseng before or during a meal,
their blood-sugar levels dropped 20 per cent on average compared to when they took placebos.
Dr. Vladimir Vuksan, a nutritional scientist at the University of Toronto and
author of the study published in the Arhives of Internal Medicine, feels that regular ingestion of ginseng would help people avoid
common Type 2 diabetes complications.
Two years ago, another study of those with adult-onset diabetes showed that control of blood-sugar and blood pressure can reduce damage to nerves, kidneys and eyes.
American Ginseng is the most commonly grown variety in Ontario, and the provincial government encourages tobacco farmers to plant it as an alternative crop.
This sounds like wonderful news for diabetics, especially those who are environmentally conscious. It is always good I feel to be using herbs that happen to grow in the bioregion or area in which you live. These herbs often have an affinity for the body's of the local people who use them and I would like this to be the root of more study and research to verify it.
Note that the article warns more research is needed "before people start taking the root." This study was a short term study and more work needs to be done, the researchers say, before ginseng should be considered as a viable alternative to other medications. However, it's good to note that no one has ever died from taking herbal remedies before, while many have had serious complications from taking pharmaceuticals. I wouldn't worry too much about this caution as there are not likely to be side effects from taking ginseng. Most herbalists would advise to take a break after several continuous weeks of taking ginseng, to give the body a rest from it just to be sure.
There are other herbs that can work in tandem or by themselves to lower and stabilize blood sugar levels. Note that ginseng in this study lowers blood sugar levels. Other herbs such as gymnema sylvestris, lower AND stabilize those levels at the same time. Gymnema sylvestris is an Ayurvedic herb from India, that has been used for centuries in Ayurvedic medicine to treat blood sugar levels gently and safely, without any side effects. (More in a separate article titled Gymnema: How sweet it isn't!)
Diabetics might also want to investigate stevia herb. This South American herb is many, many times sweeter than sugar and it also helps stabilize blood sugar to a lesser extent than gymnema. It also has been shown in research studies, to reduce cavities in the teeth!
See my article, "Stevia: How sweet it is!"
Monteagle Herbs carries a wide variety of ginsengs for customer use. Juniper berries can also be used to lower blood sugar levels, and are wildcrafted by Monteagle Herbs in our bioregion.
Jerusalem artichokes as part of your diet, will also reduce blood sugar levels. They are easy to plant, propogate amazingly and are very versatile in recipes. Here on Morninglory Farm, our solar powered community just north of Monteagle Herbs, we grow jerusalem artichokes and add them to many of our recipes. They are an excellent vegetable to add to your root cellar and keep well.
Peter BennerMonteagle Herbs