- Ginseng G115® in Pharmaton® Vitality
The standardisation for the G115® Ginseng extract used in Pharmaton® Vitality Capsules to provide you with an identical effectiveness of each capsule includes:
• The use of Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer
• Partnership with farmers to help ensure the best growing conditions
• Training of farmers in the correct use of natural fertilizers and fungicides and for the application of other good agricultural practices
• Analysis of botanical and physical characteristics of the ginseng roots, as well as quantification of ginsenosides and control of potential impurities.
• Quality of the roots. As a crop, the quality of ginseng roots can vary from one farm to another, and even from one harvest to another. Without proper quality-assurance guidelines, contamination with toxic chemicals and pesticides is also possible. Today, due to extensive efforts in working with farmers and supervising the cultivation and harvesting processes, almost 90% of incoming Ginseng batches meet our high Pharmaton® standards.
• Standardisation. Every batch of G115® Ginseng extract has the same known and consistent level of the main active constituents. While many other Ginseng products have been shown to vary greatly in ginsenosides content (and a few to have no ginsenosides at all), G115® always contains 4% ginsenosides.
• Analytical controls. Validated analytical methods by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) are used to control the standardisation of the G115® Ginseng extract. The microbiological quality and the possible presence of impurities are always controlled.
Pharmaton® Vitality is the only product that combines the benefits of the standardised Ginseng G115® with other essential ingredients such as vitamins, minerals and trace elements.
- The secret of Ginseng
Ginseng contains several unique active ingredients not found in any other plant. The most important substances with medicinal properties are called ginsenosides, referring to the name of the plant. Chemically several ginsenosides exist and are classified in different groups, all of which contain an "R" in their name. Each ginsenoside has its own special property and effect. The ginsenosides Rg1 and Rb1 are considered the most important to explain the general mode of action of Ginseng.
According to traditional Chinese medicine, the interplay of the two ginsenosides creates the harmonic balance between Yin (passivity, darkness, slowness) and Yang (activity, light, quickness). Rb1 has the ability to calm the human organism at times of stress and agitation. Rg1, on the other hand, increases performance, speeds up reactions and has a positive effect in cases of physical exhaustion and illness.
- The combination makes the difference
While the ginsenosides play an extremely important role in the medicinal action of Ginseng, several other compounds, particularly some types of sugars, work together with the ginsenosides to provide an optimal activity. Therefore the whole extract has an activity that is superior to that of the individual components. In addition, the Ginseng root contains other essential ingredients such as vitamins, minerals and trace elements which have additional important effects on the human body.
- The history of Ginseng
For more than 2,000 years, Ginseng has been used in Traditional Chinese Medicine as a cure-all. Today, the stimulating effect of Ginseng is still believed to restore inner strength. In ancient times it was thought to be a royal plant and was used only by kings. It was literally worth its weight in gold.
- The popularity of Ginseng
The origin of the word Ginseng is Chinese: "Jen Shen" means "The power of earth in human shape".
Ginseng has been the source of a number of myths and legends. In China the plant is still known as the "man root", in Korea as the "root of life" or "human root", and in Japan it is held in such high regard that it is called "wonder of the universe".
- Ginseng goes west
The Ginseng root turned up several times in the West only to be forgotten again.
The first time, Moorish sailors brought it to Spain during the 1st century. In 1642, it was re-discovered by the explorer Alvaro Samedo and then later by 17th-century Dutch sailors. It was only in the 20th century, however, that Ginseng was finally acknowledged as a medicinal plant, when its effects could be tested and documented by scientific methods.
- Species of Ginseng
Ginseng is not all the same.
Within the plant genus Panax there are several species, all of which have different properties. Known species related to Panax Ginseng C.A. Meyer are Panax quinquefolius (the American Ginseng), Panax notoginseng, Panax japonicus, Panax trifolius and Panax vietnamensis.
The most studied with pharmacological trials is the specie Panax Ginseng, contained in Pharmaton® Vitality.
Eleutherococcus senticosus (also called Siberian Ginseng) belongs to the same family (the Araliaceae) and shares some common traits with Panax Ginseng, the Asian Ginseng.
- Important components in Ginseng
The main active ingredients of the Ginseng root are the so-called "ginsenosides" (belonging to the chemical class of triterpene saponins), but other substances (e.g. some sugars and polysaccharides) are also active. The active substances enter the blood stream and are distributed throughout the body and are thus able to exert a beneficial action on our total health system.
The cultivation, processing and storage of the Ginseng roots have to fulfil many criteria. To supply an effective product, it has to contain an appropriate concentration of ginsenosides. Various factors affect the ginsenoside content in the roots: the state of the soil, the age of the plant, the time of harvesting and the conditions of storage.
- Read more about the standardisation of Ginseng ...
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