High Blood Pressure and Gensing

**Cyndie32** · 11-01-2011 10:56 AM

does anyone have any reputable info on the use of gensing and increased blood pressure. i have read conflicting information and i really don't know what to believe. i don't have access to a nutritionalist or herbalist.

**ItsASecret** · 11-01-2011 12:05 PM

If there is reputable scientific information to be found it will be in the research Journal mega-hub called PubMed. That is the search engine for research Journals pertaining to scientific studies. A quick search of Ginseng high blood pressure resulted in 87 papers, examples:

Rhee MY, Kim YS, Bae JH, Nah DY, Kim YK, Lee MM, Kim HY. (2011). Effect of Korean red ginseng on arterial stiffness in subjects with hypertension, Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 17(1), 45-49.

- summary of that article was there was no difference and the placebo group had more change in their systolic and diastolic blood pressures compared to active treatment groups.

Stavro PM, Woo M, Leiter LA, Heim TF, Sievenpiper JL, Vuksan V. (2006). Long-term intake of North American ginseng has no effect on 24-hour blood pressure and renal function. Hypertension, 47(4), 791-796.

-summary was despite so many people taking it there has been no long-term scrutiny that Ginseng has an effect on blood pressure. Participants were treated for 12 weeks, with 24hr monitoring of blood pressure. Treatment groups showed no difference compared to placebo condition.

Stavro PM, Woo M, Heim TF, Leiter LA, Vuksan V. (2005). North American ginseng exerts a neutral effect on blood pressure in individuals with hypertension. Hypertensino, 46(2), 406-411.

-Summary, different North American Ginsengs with different contents did not alter blood pressure in hypertensive patients. The overall effect of treatment vs. placebo was that of a neutral effect.

In general when you are dealing with herbals you are going to come across information that goes against popular belief, and you can search and find information that does support it. It is very hit and miss unless many many studies have been consistent in their results, with ginseng being "we do not know". It will not harm you to take it just in case though, just make sure it is from a reputable shop and not online or in one of those back alley 'magic' herbal shops. It must have a certified specialist, well educated individual, or pharmacist or herbalist or naturopathic doctor.

**KMonte85** · 11-01-2011 12:07 PM

Whenever I have questions like this, I typically go to the Mayo Clinic's website and read their information on the subject. I figure if they're one of the best hospitals in the world, the advice they give should be pretty darn sound! A quick search of their health advice column yielded this:

"Ginseng: Preliminary evidence suggests that ginseng may lower blood sugar, decrease fatigue or boost the immune system. It also may raise or lower blood pressure. Ginseng is best avoided by patients with high or low blood pressure concerns." — Brent Bauer, M.D., Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn.

**Goosey** · 11-01-2011 10:08 PM

I've actually done a small amount of research on Ginseng. And nothing is all that concrete when it comes to it.

Some studies have show it lowers blood pressure, others have shown the opposite. (So for me personally I'm not sure how much I'd rely on ginseng as a blood pressure "medication").

**Cyndie32** · 11-02-2011 07:09 AM

thanks all. you have just confirmed my research as well. my husband and i WERE taking a vitamin suppplement with gensing in it. he already has high blood pressure and i believe it was a contributing factor in raising it even higher. spoke to a pharmacist yesterday and she said why take the chance and so i swiched vitimins. i will let you know next week if his blood pressure lowers. i think it all depends on your individual circumstances.

**ItsASecret** · 11-02-2011 02:27 PM

By alternative medicine's standpoint taking Ginseng is proposed to decrease blood pressure, not increase it. Though no one really agrees on what it does so some will say it will increase it.

**Goosey** · 11-02-2011 07:59 PM

There has been studies done that have shown otherwise --- basically it just isn't consistent. It effects ppl in different ways, more than other things. Again, I don't think it would make things worse (or much worse), but its probably not going to significantly help either.

**ItsASecret** · 11-02-2011 11:37 PM

Yeah it is one of the many alternative medicines that are simply a shrug-the-shoulders type response. No one can prove anything other than saying they did some work on Ginseng. Basically, use doctors for the real medical concerns and add things like Ginseng if you see fit but, as you have been doing, do not assume any real response will occur.