When it comes to herbs and supplements, ginseng has wide-reaching applications and benefits, which is why it is often referred to as the King of all herbs. The ginseng plant has been reputed as an aphrodisiac and has long been used in Chinese medicine to treat sexual dysfunction as well as the enhancement of sexual behavior.
But you may be thinking, will it really help increase my testosterone levels? We're here to help answer that question in this blog post. We'll cover everything you need to know about the ginseng plant and how it can help your testosterone levels as well as the herb's other benefits.
What Is Ginseng?
Ginseng is a perennial plant that is also called Ginnsuu in some parts of Asia. The name of this plant was derived from a Chinese word that translates to "person plant root," which refers to the forked shape of the ginseng's root that loosely resembles a pair of legs. There are many species of ginseng plants that are broken down into four main types, which we will explain below.
Types Of Ginseng
As mentioned, there are four types of ginseng plants that you can find in supplements or your local health and nutrition stores; Asian, American, Siberian, and Indian.
- Asian Ginseng: This type is also known as Korean or Panax ginseng and is often used to reduce fatigue, increase physical endurance, and help you cope with stress.
- American Ginseng: With the scientific name Panax quinquefolius, this type of ginseng is used to balance blood sugar levels and boost your immune system.
- Siberian Ginseng: Despite its name, this type of ginseng is not actually a true member of the family and contains no ginsenosides, which are found in Asian and American ginseng. Typically, Siberian ginseng is used to improve your body's resistance to stress, increase energy levels, and reduce fatigue.
- Indian Ginseng: Indian ginseng is also not related to the ginseng family, and you may know it by its more common name, Ashwagandha. This herb has many benefits and has also been linked with helping to increase testosterone levels.
Ginseng And Testosterone
Studies into the link between ginseng and testosterone are still ongoing, but the results have been promising, with research involving animals finding that ginseng can boost arousal and sexual performance. Further research on a mixed-gender study confirmed the findings of the study, with both men and women self-reporting improvements to their bedroom encounters.
Ginseng has been shown to reduce inflammation caused by oxidative stress, restoring normal function to blood vessels & tissue that is essential for the production of testosterone.
Other studies found a link between nitric oxide and ginseng, which is a win for men who struggle with erectile dysfunction as nitric acid enhances the blood flow to your penis, which could also increase your overall performance in the bedroom.
Improving Erectile Dysfunction
Speaking of erectile dysfunction, when it comes to sexual health, ginseng is best known as an alternative and effective treatment to relieve the symptoms of this condition, such as protecting your body against oxidative stress and increasing the production of nitric oxide.
There have been many studies into the effects of ginseng on erectile dysfunction. Researchers found that men experienced a 60% improvement in their symptoms when compared to more traditional medications.
Reducing Inflammation
As we've already mentioned, ginseng has fantastic anti-inflammation properties, and this is due to the ginsenoside compounds found in the plant. This is fantastic if you're regularly hitting the gym, as it could help improve your recovery time by reducing the inflammation markers in your body, which will, in turn, reduce the damage to your muscles. The effects of ginseng in this manner were confirmed by one study on athletes that were part of a seven-day experiment.
Boosting Brain Function
If you find that you're tired in the middle of the day or have trouble focusing on important tasks with deadlines fast approaching, ginseng could help improve your focus by reducing mental fatigue.
Small, short-term doses of ginseng have shown that you can improve your mental performance when you need it most, whether that's for upcoming meetings or big exams. This uptake in your cognitive abilities has also been found to boost your mood, which, as a result, can help improve how you perform in social interactions.
Strengthens The Immune System
No one likes getting sick, especially now after the pandemic, and if you're prone to catching colds, having a secret weapon to help you combat that would be a blessing.
Most of the research has been conducted using a variant of Asian ginseng, so while we can’t speak for all types of ginseng, many studies have shown that it can boost your immune system and even enhance flu vaccinations.
Fights Fatigue And Increases Energy
In today's modern world, most people feel like they're fighting a losing battle against fatigue while desperately trying to boost their energy levels. Many people use ginseng to help give them the push they need in the mornings that will keep them going throughout the day.
Both Asian and American ginseng have been studied extensively for how they affect fatigue. Research has been promising as most participants experienced less mental and physical fatigue in their daily lives.
When you have more energy, you're able to do more with your day and night without feeling like crashing on the couch as soon as you walk through the front door. You could be a little more spontaneous again and take your partner out for a mid-week meal as a treat, or stay up a little later watching the latest movie release. You could even add extra romance into your lives by taking advantage of your new-found energy and trying out all the things you never had time for before.
Lowers Blood Sugar
Ginseng is often referred to as the King of all herbs due to its many outstanding benefits, and improved pancreatic cell function is one of the top ones. As a result, ginseng is excellent for people with diabetes as it increases your blood sugar levels and improves insulin production.
Of all the studies conducted on ginseng and how it can be helpful for managing diabetes, fermented red ginseng has proven to be the most effective and is the type most often chosen by those looking to improve their blood sugar levels.
Easy To Add To Your Diet
There are many ways you can add ginseng to your diet if you want a little extra in your daily routine, but studies have shown that smaller doses work better.
The preferred way for many is to make ginseng tea with the roots by purchasing some at your local health food store. You can do this by simply slicing the root and adding hot water before allowing it to steep.
The root can also be eaten raw, but the flavor depends on the type; Asian ginseng is considered to be more warming than American ginseng, so whichever you choose will depend on your personal preferences.
If you don't fancy chomping down on the root and tea isn't your thing, then you could always add ginseng to your favorite stir-fry recipes, or get creative if you're good in the kitchen and develop a whole new recipe to go with your ginseng root.
On the other hand, if you prefer to keep things simple, you could always settle for adding ginseng to your routine as a supplement on its own or as part of a mixture of vitamins, minerals, and amino acids, all designed to increase your testosterone levels.
Potential Side Effects
After all the research that has been conducted on ginseng, it's safe to say that this plant does not appear to cause any adverse side effects.
People who need to keep their blood sugars from getting too low should monitor their intake to ensure that ginseng does not cause any sudden drops.
As with any dietary supplement, whether you choose to take it in tablet form, tea or mix it into your food, you should always consult a medical professional first to ensure that it will not interact with any drugs you are currently taking and that it will not impact any pre-existing health conditions.
