6 Top Herbal Tonics

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The dosage recommendations throughout this article assume you’re using typical extracts and formulations. When using a commercial product, follow the directions specified on the package. Adaptogens are meant to be taken as tonics, that is, over the long haul for the good of the whole body. For maximum benefit, adaptogens are often taken for at least three months, and while most people can take them daily without side effects, this isn’t true for everyone. If you experience any unusual symptoms while taking adaptogens, discontinue use or consult a knowledgeable health professional. To treat a specific condition, it’s also wise to consult an herbal professional.

Ginseng: Total-body Tonic

Ginseng’s Latin name, Panax, comes from the same Greek root as our word, “panacea,” meaning all-healing. That’s not much of an exaggeration.

A great deal of research shows that ginseng significantly improves athletic performance and relieves fatigue. At the University of Chieti, Italian researchers tested 50 healthy male gym teachers, aged 21 to 47, on a treadmill before and after taking ginseng or a placebo. The herb group showed greater oxygen intake and improved stamina. A Japanese study showed that the herb helps relieve fatigue associated with menopause.

Ginseng also relieves the ravages of stress. Japanese researchers showed that the herb reduces the secretion of stress-related hormones. “Travel causes stress,” says Mark Blumenthal, executive director of the American Botanical Council, the nation’s leading medicinal herb education organization (see “Resources” below). “I’m on a plane almost every week, but I rarely get sick. I’ve taken ginseng for 20 years. I can’t prove that it’s keeping me healthy, but there’s compelling evidence that it helps the body deal with the kinds of stress I face.”

Ginseng also improves immune function. University of Southern California researchers report that, in vitro, the herb increases production of interferon, the body’s own antiviral compound. South Korean researchers discovered that in addition to boosting interferon and another important immune protein, interleukin-1, ginseng also increased the ability of white blood cells to devour germs.

Ginseng’s immune boost helps treat chronic bronchitis, which is common among smokers. Italian researchers treated 75 chronic bronchitis sufferers with antibiotics for nine days, then gave some of them ginseng (200 milligrams/day) in addition. Nine days later, the ginseng group’s lungs showed significantly fewer bacteria.

Ginseng’s immune-boosting action also appears to help prevent cancer. Researchers at the Korea Cancer Center in Seoul surveyed how much ginseng 4,634 Koreans took, then followed them for five years. Compared with those who didn’t take ginseng, those who took it regularly had a whopping 60 percent less risk of developing cancer.

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