HERBAL VIAGRA : GINSENG

HERBAL VIAGRA : GINSENG

Ginseng has a secure place in the lore on sex-enhancing herbs. The root’s passing resemblance to a human body only added to its mystique. Most sought after were roots with an appendage attached in a suggestive place, commanding even today hundreds or thousands of dollars a root for the very best. The best known ones are the chinese (or korean) variety, Panax ginseng, and its close american cousin, Panax quinquefolius. The Panax ginsengs are very rich in saponins thought to be responsible for the myriad of effects attributed to ginseng. Ginseng products are now sold widely in North America, probably the best known brand being “Ginsana.” Again, like other herbal viagra alternatives, ginseng can lower high blood pressure, and can lower cholesterol, and can presumably increase blood flow.

Now, in deference to my wife’s protestations about the idea of a third child, my mother stopped giving me ginseng because, as she loves to tell everybody, my wife “needs a break.”

Taking ginseng is not without risk. I remember a UPS driver in the 1970s who used to eat fresh ginseng roots like carrots – a root a day. He had found a large stand of wild plants in a nearby forest so he had a virtually unlimited supply of the fresh roots. Whether the UPS driver’s weakness was due to excessive intake of ginseng is a matter of speculation, but traditional Chinese herbalists warn about inappropriate use of ginseng. For example, the American variety is considered “cooling” and should not be taken by elderly patients, while the Chinese or Korean variety is “warming” and should not be taken by younger patients. Excessive or long term use of either ginseng can lead to debility, herbalists warn, which raises questions about the recent practice of adding ginseng to foods and drinks for everyday use.

Besides the true Panax ginsengs, there are other “ginsengs” gaining popularity in North America for effects superficially similar to those of the real ginsengs. The root of “Indian ginseng,” better known as “ashwaghanda” (Withania somnifera), is a traditional sexual stimulant in East Africa. In ashwaghanda one finds, once again, an aphrodisiac herb that is also known to lower blood pressure. But, like many herbs, this herb is not without potential side effects when used improperly, having narcotic, abortifacient, and sedative properties, among others.

“Brazil ginseng” (Pfaffia paniculata) is a newcomer to the faux “ginseng” trade in North America. In the damiana study mentioned earlier involving sexually sluggish rats, pfaffia root extract was shown to be similarly effective in improving “copulatory performance.” As in the experiments with damiana, ejaculations were more numerous, and intervals shorter, in rats receiving the pfaffia extract. Although there are no confirming studies yet, I bet pfaffia dilates blood vessels, increases blood flow, and lowers high blood pressure just like Viagra and many of the herbal alternatives do.

The ‘lifestyle’ herbs are here to stay. Pfizer’s Viagra has had a big influence on how we think about enhancing our lives with drugs and herbs. What’s the next big taboo the drug companies will turn into a lifestyle issue? It may be difficult to picture now, but not long ago it was hard also to imagine a drug company making millions on a drug sold to enhance sex. Of course, there are plenty of herbs with precisely these ‘feel good’ effects.