My client recently consulted me after his partial knee replacement, seeking help to expedite the recovery process. Four weeks after the surgery, there was still quite a bit of inflammation. Understanding the rehabilitative properties of Ginseng, I recommended the Ginseng protocol in conjunction with his twice weekly Physical Therapy sessions. I started him on a daily dose of 8 oz tea, containing 11.5 grams of Korean red Ginseng. When I saw him two weeks later, he reported a marked shift in terms of decreased inflammation, increased mobility, and a reduction in discomfort.

The therapeutic effects of Korean red Ginseng are well documented. Traditionally, it is used as a herbal tonic to boost power, drive, and vitality. More recently, the medicinal application of Ginseng has been extended to the field of Sports medicine. Athletes with sustaining injuries, or those simply looking to speed up recovery time, are utilizing this ancient Chinese herb to facilitate the body’s own healing response.

Korean red Ginseng has demonstrated the promotion of total White Blood Cell and Platelet count. Increased platelets in the blood plays an important role in healing injuries. Growth factors and proteins found in the platelets speed up the body’s tissue repair process; especially in muscles, tendons, and ligaments.

The major active components of Korean red Ginseng are ginsenosides. Ginsenosides are a group of glycosylated triterpenes, also known as saponins. Structurally, saponins are said to be steroid-like. But rest assured that saponins are not steroidal in the conventional sense. I think of them as a ” phyto-hormonal agent “, meaning it is plant derived. They can be found in over one hundred different plant families and sources including beans, legumes, yucca, and yams. The reason that saponins are considered ” steroidal ” is that they may have some positive impact on levels of testosterone, the male hormone that increases muscle mass, fat burning, and libido.