More products to optimize sexual life of women and men

More products to help for specific health problems - digestive, cardiovascular, respiratory, rheumatic, nervous, hemorrhoids, thyroid, poor memory, fatigue, edema and more

SOME WORDS ABOUT DONG QUAI

Many of the offered products contain dong quai as one ingredient. Here are some facts about this herbal medicine.


Botannical facts

Dong quai or Angelica sinensis is a herb indigenous in China and Japan. The botannical classification of the herb is: Kingdom - Plantae, Angiosperms, Eudicots, Asterids, order - Apiales, family - Apiaceae, genus - Angelica, species - Angelica sinensis.

It grows along riverbanks, by lakes, in wet ravines in the mountains and on wet meadows.

The stem is 3-8 feet high, round, has grooves, is hollow and is a blue or purple tinged.

The flowers are small and greenish-white and are gathered on short branches going out from a common point in the tops of the stem or in the top of the branches of the stem. It blooms in May to August.

The leaves resamble those of parsley and carrot plants. It has a thick root with many thick branches.

Thr root is used powdered to make spice, for use as herbal medicine, and to use as tea. It is also used for production of extracts for medical purposes.


The health effects of dong quai

Dong quai has a general strengthening effect on the body's physiology, like ginseng, and in China dong quai is used allmost as much as ginseng. The effect is however strongest upon the specific physiology of women, and the herb works best in combination with other herbs.

It alleviates cramps. However, if the herb is cooked and the watery extract from the cooking is used, the effects on the cramps disappear, but the strengthening effects remain, probably because etherical oils thereby are damped off.

The herb strengthens the function of the heart, lungs and liver and all organs connected to these organs through acupuncture meridians. The herb decreases the blood pressure and makes the heart pump the blood more effectively so that the puls rate decreases. It enforces the blood.

It helps to prevent atherosclerotic plaque in the walls of blod vessels and the chemical tendency of blood components to glue together, and thereby helps to prevent heart attacks, thrombosis and poor blod flow. The herb also improves the composition and function of the blood and it increases the blood production.

The herb helps to alleviate chronic bronchitis and asthma. It lubricates the stomach and intestines.

The herb specifically ballances the functions playing part in the menstrual cycle. It alleviates menstrual pain and cramps in the uterus. The herb also alleviates problems during the menopause, like heat flushes. It is also used aginst dryness in the vagina, against poor fertility and lack of milk production.

Dong Quai seems to strengthen and normalize the function of the immune system. It seems to work against allergy.

Dong quai counteracts the growth of fungi, viruses and bacteria. It is shown that the herb counteracts the growth of various bacteria such as Bacillus dysentricae, Bacillus typhi, Bacillus comma, Bacillus cholerae and haemolytic streptococs.

Therefore it may be useful against infections by bacteria, fungi and vira. Powdered root may for example give effect against herpes zosta.

Dong Quai may counteract the development of tumors and there is research going on about using the herb in the treatment of cancer. These effects is probably connected with the immune-strengthening effect of the herb.


Contraindications

Dong quai is a safe herb for most people under most circumstances. Dong quai is however not recommanded during pregancy, since it may increase the risk of miscarriage. Taken in too great amounts the plan may enhance blleding tendencies and may give greater sensitivity of the skin to ultraviolet light. People taking blood thinners or having tendencies to bleed should be cautious about taking this herb.


What dong quai is used to - traditional use of dong quai

In eastern countries dong quai is used both as a general strengtening tonicum, as ingredients against specific diseases and as spice in food dishes. It is used both as extract and as crushed powder. It is also used as a tea.

In chinese medicine the root is used to strengthen the organs along the cardiovascular, lung and liver meridians. It is used to enforces the blood and to promotes blood circulation. It is used to regulates the menstrual cycle and to elieves menstrual pain. It is used to lubricate the stomach. In eastern medicine the herb is mostly used in combination with other herbs.

Dong quai is called the women's ginseng, and in China the herb is at least as important than ginseng itsel. In China the herb is the next most used after liquorice for medical purposes. It is used by allmost any Chinese family as a strengthening medicine and against women's problems. According to an early Chinese text dong quai has a bitter, sweet and spicy taste, it warms the body and is not toxic.

In western countries it is usually sold as pure extracts or powdered to use as herbal remedy for diseases. This is however not the most effective way of using the plant, according to chinese authorities.

The history of the herb in the western countries is much shorter that in Cjina. The German company Merck itroduced the herb onto the European market in 1899, and sold it as liquid extracts and tablets against menstrual problems.

There has been performed little scientific research about the herb in western countries, but Asian in countries one has studied the medical use of the herb. In addition eastern medicine has a long practical experience from the use of the herb.

In Europe the dong quai classified as a commodity, while in China, Japan, Korea and other countries in Asia is an important ingredient in the official medical arsenal. The principles for the use of the herb in East Asian medicine is not well understood in the west. In the west it is most sold as a solitary hern or hertbal extract, but in East Asia it is mostly used together with other hetbs.


The working ingredients of dong quai

Poluyaccarids seem to give the good effects upon the blood composition. Etherical oils seem to play an important role in alleviating cramps. Coumarin and pheroulic asid seem to give some of the effects on the functions of the blood circulation. Butylidenphthalide og ligustilide seem to give the effect upon inflammations in the respiratory system.

The plant also contains phytosterols and flavonoids



Some knowledge about ginseng

Many of the offered products contain ginseng as one ingredient. Here are some facts about this herbal medicine.


Botannical facts

Ginseng is the common name for the botannical family Araliaceae (division Magnoliophyta, class Magnoliopsida, order Apiales, family Araliaceae), a family of herbs, shrubs, and trees that often grow as prickly plants, but sometimes appear in climbing forms. Most species ar tropical or subtropical. However, some variants live in temperated zones in the north of Asia and America, and these are those most used as medicine plants.

The East Asian species mostly used as a medical herb is the Panax Ginseng, growing mainly in the north of China and Korea. A Siberian variant, Eleutherococcus Senticosus, and an American variant, Panax quinquefolius are also used, and some experts regard the American variant to be better than the Asian variants. However, the variants do not effect completely equivalent actions on the body. The East asien and American species are by now mostly exterminated in the wild by commercial exploitation.

Today, almost all the ginseng roots on the market are cultivated in China, Korea, and Japan.

The first historical reference to the ginseng plant used as a medical herb originates from the Han dynasty (from 206 B.C. to 24 A.D.). The name of the plant used then was "sheng" and later "jen sheng" that then became the term "ginseng".

The plant has a thick root, often man-shaped, with a rich system of thin secundary roots with occational thickenings.

The plant has a thick an long root. From the root there is a rizome (stalk hidden in the soil) going up that ends in a bud over the soil. From the bud there are stalks with a compound leave consisting typically five leaflets.

There are also a stalks from the bud with small white flowers in the top arranged in a ball-like fashion.

The fruit of the ginseng plant are small light-red berries where the seed is situated. In the first two years it doesn't bear any fruit. Not until the third year after the cultivation it appares for the first time.

The leaves are shed in the automn and come back in the spring. The seeds mature in the autumn, and they sprout in the spring. The first yeart only one small compund leaf develops, but the root develops amply very soon. The subsequent years more leaves are added.

The herbal medicine ginseng is prepared from the plants' dried roots. There is scientific works going on to exploit also the berries of the plant for medical purposes.


The basic health effects of ginseng

A well documented affect of ginseng is as a tonic effector. Ginseng exerts general tonic and adaptogen actions. When something is acting tonically, there is a strengthening of most physiological processes in the body, or the general vitality. An adaptogen substance increases the ability of the body to respond with a certain action when the need is felt, for example leading more blood to an organ when it is under stress and needs more oxygen and nutrients to manage that stress.

Because of the tonic action, ginseng gives a person a greater feeling of general strength, makes the person more awake, improves the memory, improves concentraion and attention, gives a person greater endurance and possible also increases a persons muscular force.

The tonical effects are espesially strong at the genital system, making the herb work as an effective aphrodisiac. It increases both the libido and the sexual performance. This effect stems directly from the substances in the ginseng and not indirectly from an increase of the hormonal levels.

Another well documented effect of the herb is a lovering effect of the blood sugar level.

Ginseng inhibits inflammation according to one scientific study.

The above effects are well documented by scientific studies. Other effects are less not so well docymented scientifically yet but are observed through a long tradition or indicated by some studies: These are listed here below:

Ginseng may strengthen the immune system. Gginseng may therefor helps to prevent and fight several diseases, for example infections.

Ginseng may lower the cholesterole and fat level in the blood. More specifically it may decrease the serum levels of total cholesterol, the levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL) and the amount of triglycerides, and increase the serum level of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL).

The ginseng root may act to relax the walls of blood vessels, and block the blood-clotting compound thromboxane, thus thinning the blood.

Ginseng may stimulates cell growth and tissue regeneration after disease and physical damage. Therefore it may help to recover from diseases that hurt tissues.

As a consequence of the above listed actions, ginseng may effects the following benefits: To lower the blod pressure. To prevent angina and cardiovascular disease and ammeliorate manifest angina, and recover form cariovascular disease.

The substances contained in the herb sem to give strong anti-oxidant effects. An anti-oxidant work by mopping up free radicals formed during the chemical prosesses in and outside the cells, before those have the time to attack vital cell components and structural components between the cells. The genetical compound (DNA) and structural fibres outside the cells are especially voulnerable to such processes.

Thus ginseng may prevents or slows down oxydative damage to the body. Therefore ginseng may helps to slow down the basic aging process.


What ginseng can be specifically used for

Ginseng can be used as a general tonic in all ages, that is: To strengthen mental and physical capacities, endurance, allertness and abilities and to make oneself feel stronger and more awake.

The general strengthening also affects the sexual functions so that one feels a greater libido and stronger physical sensations, and so that one endures longer and have stronger physical sexual functions as for example erections.

Ginseng is effective against symptoms of aging, both physical symptoms and mental ones. It may help to slow down and to some extend roll back the general aging process, but this basic function is not yet well studied.

Ginseng helps to regulate the blood sugar level within normal ranges and is therefore therefore helpfull for diabetes type II.

Ginseng may help against rheumatic conditions, since it is generally helpful against inflammation.

Ginseng may help to better the blood pressure and prevent heart disease, but these effects are not yet so well studied and documented.

In accordance with a possible immune system strengthening ginseng is further used to treat bronchitis, asthma, TB, poor circulation, digestive irritations, and influenza.

The combination of immune system strengtehening and anti-opxydative effect may help to prevent and treat cancer, but this effect is not well studied yet.

Since ginseng is a general tonic it may help to improve the general condition and well-being by most diseases by increasing the ability of the body to compansate for effects of the disease, also when the herb does not help directly against the disease.


The working ingredients of ginseng

The main working substances in ginseng seem to belong either to the classes triterpenoid saponins, named ginsenosides and to the class phenols.

Terpenes consist of several units of isoprene linked together. Isopren has the structure H2C=CH(CH3)-CH2=CH2. In terpenoids this chain is modified in various ways. It can be folded together and contain additional groups. Triterpenoid saponins have three such isoprene units folded into rings and connected to glycosid units. Glycosides are combinations of sugar molecules with other organic units. The structure gives the molecule a fat-attracting side and a water-attracting side, and they behave physically therefore as soaps in watery solutions and they are therefore called saponins.

Phenols consist of one or more benzene rings connected with -OH groups.

The constituents of ginseng root have been investigated since the beginning of the 20th century, and several more classes of compounds have been isolated: Polyacetylenes, sesquiterpenes, polysaccharides, peptidoglycans, nitrogen-containing compounds.

The phenolic compounds found in ginseng increase during steaming. Thus steaming increases the effect of the plant.

Ginseng contents also include many minerals and nutrients, which are absorbed from the soil during growth stages. Some examples are iron, copper, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, pottasium, sulphur, mangenese, silica, and sodium. In addition to the above, the root also contains vitamins B-1 and B-12.


The growing and harvesting of ginseng

Ginseng do not reproduce asexually. In order to reproduce the plant, it must therefore be allowed to reach maturity before it is harvested. Usually, the ginseng plant will produce seeds when it has grown 2 prongs (or leaves), at age 3 to 4 years. The plant will add a third prong at age 5 to 9 years old. Harvesting requires at least two seasons of producing seeds (or at least 5 years old).

Traditionally ginseng is collected from where they grow naturally deep in the forests. The wild ginseng is however become an endangered species. By know gineng is sawed in planages and grown under conditions resambling the natural habitats. There are also programs for seeding or planting out young plants in forests to estabish new habitats or restore the old habitats.


The basic preparation of ginseng - white and red ginseng

Oriental ginseng (Panax ginseng) products are one of two kinds: white or red. The kind of product is determined by the process used to prepare it.

When making white ginseng one uses 4-6 yeaqrs old roots, and the outer skin of the root is taken away. Then iy is slowly dried.

For making red ginseng one uses roots more than 6 yers old and th outer kin is kept in place. It is then steemed and then slowly dried.

Red ginseng is caramel-colored and resistant to the invasion of fungi and worms. There is evidence showing that rootes steamed at 120 degrees C have a stronger pharmacological effect than roots treated by drying or boiling or steaming in 100 degrees C.

The dried root gets a classy and brittle constitution.


Ginseng products

Extracts from the fleshy root of the perennial Ginseng plant - which grows in the undergrowth of deciduous forests - have been used in traditional oriental medicine for many centuries.

From the dried root one makes powder, juices, extracts and tinctures.

In traditional Chinese medicine one manufactures the product such that all the effective ingredients are kept so tha the product gets a ballanced effect. According to the tradition a product without all the effective substances will stress the nervous system and make e person exhausted.

In western medicine one often concentrate up the ingredients that have a stimulative effect and takes away others.

In the European phytomedicines market, white ginseng is commonly used as crude material, whereas red ginseng is preferred in Asian traditional medicine.

The root can be used to make a tea or simply chewed. In the West it is often sold in a convenient capsule form, which you simply swallow.