Enjoying great renown in Asian countries, ginseng is a general tonic for the body touted by traditional Chinese medicine. Commission E and the World Health Organization both recognize its use to tone the body of weakened people and to help recovering people regain their strength. It must be said that scientific research is rather provided on the subject^1-4 . Studies in humans and animals have shown its value in the prevention and treatment of respiratory infection, through stimulation of the immune system.

How to take it

– Standardized extract (4% to 7% ginsenosides): take 200 mg, 1 to 3 times a day.

– Dried root: boil 1 g to 2 g of roots in 150 ml of water for 10 to 15 minutes, three times a day.

Scaglione F, Cattaneo G, et al. Efficacy and safety of the standardised Ginseng extract G115 for potentiating vaccination against the influenza syndrome and protection against the common cold [corrected]Drugs Exp Clin Res 1996;22(2):65-72. McElhaney JE, Gravenstein S, et al. A placebo-controlled trial of a proprietary extract of North American ginseng (CVT-E002) to prevent acute respiratory illness in institutionalized older adults.J Am Geriatr Soc. 2004 Jan;52(1):13-9. Erratum in: J Am Geriatr Soc. 2004 May;52(5):following 856. Predy GN, Goel V, et al. Efficacy of an extract of North American ginseng containing poly-furanosyl-pyranosyl-saccharides for preventing upper respiratory tract infections: a randomized controlled trial.CMAJ. 2005 Oct 25;173(9):1043-8 Efficacy of COLD-fX in the prevention of respiratory symptoms in community-dwelling adults: a randomized, double-blinded, placebo controlled trial. McElhaney JE, Goel V, et al. J Altern Complement Med. 2006 Mar;12(2):153-7.