[MPWG] MPWG V1#1 -- ginseng
Ann M Rogers
amelvin3 at verizon.net
Wed Sep 11 21:01:09 CDT 2013
Greetings,
Typing the word "ginseng" in the search box of the National Institutes of Health's Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine database (www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/journals/241/) just yielded 3,084 search results.
Here's an example of the "ginseng" search results -->
Effects of American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius) on neurocognitive function: an acute, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study
The study referenced above concludes, "This preliminary study has identified robust working memory enhancement following administration of American ginseng. These effects are distinct from those of Asian ginseng and suggest that psychopharmacological properties depend critically on ginsenoside
profiles. These results have ramifications for the psychopharmacology of herbal extracts and merit further study using different dosing regimens and in populations where cognition is fragile."
That's just one article among 3,084. An assertion to the effect that ginseng's therapeutic effect is "no better than placebo" would appear to have overlooked much of the wonderful research that we now can access through the miracle of the internet.
Regards,
Ann Rogers
________________________________
From: Jeanine Davis <Jeanine_Davis at ncsu.edu>
To: 'Wendy Applequist' <wendy.applequist at mobot.org>; "'Wolkow, Robert'" <Robert.Wolkow at pfizer.com>; Elizabeth.Blaker at nau.edu
Cc: mpwg at lists.plantconservation.org
Sent: Wednesday, September 11, 2013 6:10 PM
Subject: Re: [MPWG] MPWG V1#1 -- ginseng
Liz,
I am a horticulturist, so not qualified to address this medical angle on
this. I suggest in addition to Dr. Wolkow, that you talk with Mark
Blumenthal at the American Botanical Council in Texas. I believe they
published an article on ginseng efficacy in their
journal a few years back,
I just don't have time to track it down now.
Jeanine
Jeanine M. Davis, Ph.D.
Associate Professor and Extension Specialist
Dept. of Horticultural Science, NC State University
Email: Jeanine_Davis at ncsu.edu
Websites: http://ncherb.org http://ncspecialtycrops.org
http://ncorganic.org
Blog: http://ncalternativecropsandorganics.blogspot.com
Twitter: http://twitter.com/JeanineNCSU
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/people/Jeanine-Davis/1442912228
Address: Mtn. Hort. Crops Research & Extension Center
455 Research Drive, Mills River, NC 28759
Phone: 828-684-3562 FAX: 828-684-8715
> -----Original Message-----
> From: MPWG [mailto:mpwg-bounces at lists.plantconservation.org] On Behalf
> Of Wendy Applequist
> Sent: Wednesday, September 11, 2013 5:47 PM
> To: Wolkow, Robert; Elizabeth.Blaker at nau.edu
> Cc: mpwg at lists.plantconservation.org
> Subject: Re: [MPWG] MPWG V1#1 -- ginseng
>
> Dr. Wolkow,
>
> Since
placebo-controlled clinical trials of ginseng report benefits
including
> normalization of blood sugar levels, improvement of fatigue associated
with
> certain conditions, and reduction of the incidence and duration of common
> colds, I think that this statement is too broad to be justified by the
evidence.
>
> Wendy Applequist
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: MPWG [mailto:mpwg-bounces at lists.plantconservation.org] On Behalf
> Of Wolkow, Robert
> Sent: Wednesday, September 11, 2013 3:51 PM
> To: shsa at sasktel.net; herbalogic at yahoo.com; Elizabeth.Blaker at nau.edu
> Cc: mpwg at lists.plantconservation.org; schenkmj at earthlink.net
> Subject: Re: [MPWG] MPWG V1#1 -- ginseng
>
> Liz,
>
> As a physician I would be happy to talk with you as the medical evidence
that
> ginseng is beneficial indicates it is no better then placebo and so not
robust
> enough to be a valid treatment. So I am not sure why it is being grown
other
> then to make money or perhaps protect our biodiversity which I see as the
> only worthy reason scientifically/medically.
>
> Rob Wolkow MD M.Phil. FAAFP
>
>
>
> Scent from my Droid Smartfon wit glow bull voice wreck ignition
soft
Where?
>
> Peas 4 give n e spelling or gramatickle miss steaks
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> ?
>
>
>
>
>
>
> ;::,,
>
>
> o
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Elizabeth Ann Blaker [Elizabeth.Blaker at nau.edu]
> Received: Wednesday, 11 Sep 2013, 4:01pm
> To: Connie Kehler [shsa at sasktel.net]; herbalogic at yahoo.com
> [herbalogic at yahoo.com]
> CC: mpwg at lists.plantconservation.org [mpwg at lists.plantconservation.org];
> Michael Schenk [schenkmj at earthlink.net]
> Subject: Re: [MPWG] MPWG V1#1 -- ginseng
>
> Hello all,
> I am a science/nature writer and have been following this thread with
> interest. I am thinking about writing an article about the real issues
with
> ginseng conservation, setting the record straight.
>
> Several of you have written very interesting posts on this topic, and I
hope
> you won't mind if I contact you individually by e-mail to ask some
questions. I
> find it both sad and interesting that government policies meant to protect
> ginseng are seemingly having
the opposite effect - I would like to talk to
> anyone who is conducting studies on this.
>
> I would like to talk to people from as wide a range of perspectives as
> possible, including researchers, conservationists, herbalists, harvesters,
> wholesalers, and even those who poach.
>
> Please send me e-mail if you would like to talk with me.
>
> My background is in both science and writing -- I have a master's degree
in
> Biology and have written articles for magazines, public radio, websites,
and
> various university projects.
>
> Thanks,
> Liz Blaker
> ________________________________
> From: MPWG [mpwg-bounces at lists.plantconservation.org] on behalf of
> Connie Kehler [shsa at sasktel.net]
> Sent: Wednesday, September 11, 2013 12:41 PM
> To: herbalogic at yahoo.com
> Cc: mpwg at lists.plantconservation.org; Michael Schenk
> Subject: Re: [MPWG] MPWG V1#1 -- ginseng
>
> Very very well put!!!
>
>
>
> CHECK US OUT AT www.saskherbspice.org<http://www.saskherbspice.org>
>
> On 2013-09-11, at 1:33 PM,
> herbalogic at yahoo.com<mailto:herbalogic at yahoo.com> wrote:
>
> Bravo Bob!
>
> Sent
from my iPhone
>
> On Sep 8, 2013, at 7:45 AM, Robert Layton Beyfuss
> <rlb14 at cornell.edu<mailto:rlb14 at cornell.edu>> wrote:
>
>
> Here is he letter as it was sent out yesterday. My thanks to my friend
Scott
> Persons for editing!
> Dear CBS News,
> I was troubled to read and watch the segment you aired the morning of
> September 5th regarding North Carolina wild ginseng. It contains factual
> errors and shows a bias towards sensationalism that is disappointing.
> Your choice to interview only one dealer, Mr. Eidus, was a poor one, since
he
> does not represent the majority of ginseng dealers. Indeed, his opinion --
> that 90% of the wild ginseng he purchases has been poached - is certainly
not
>
shared by the majority of other ginseng dealers. His willingness to
purchase it
> nevertheless is a bad example, which reflects poorly on the industry in
> general. His opinion that ginseng will be gone in 10 to 20 years is pure
> nonsense, as a simple "fact check" with state or federal regulatory
officials
> would have easily revealed. Is it the policy of CBS news to quote
> unsubstantiated sources when legitimate sources of information are readily
> available?
> What is even more troubling is your lending credence to the proposition
that
> the major threat to ginseng is posed by poachers.
> This erroneous assumption is so often repeated by the media that it is now
> widely accepted as fact, but a recent article published in "Science"
> magazine by the leading Ginseng Conservation Biologist Professor, James
> McGraw of West Virginia University, states that predation by
white tailed
> deer is the most serious threat to the species and not poachers.
> Most individuals who harvest wild ginseng also replant seeds, thereby
> expanding existing populations, often relocating them to areas that are
more
> secure from deer or development. I can understand your ignorance
> regarding the population dynamics of a wild plant, but published data by
> Professor McGraw, as well as other legitimate researchers, suggests that
> stewardship of wild populations by harvesters can significantly increase
> populations, Ironically, even poachers, such as Mr. Hurley, sometimes aid
in
> the preservation and perpetuation of the species (although those who hunt
> out of season, take every plant they find, and fail to plant the berries
> certainly do not).
>
> Finally, Charlie Rose's, comment wondering why it is not widely grown, is
a
> thoughtful and
legitimate query. Unfortunately, cultivated ginseng is not
> worth very much and suitable habitat for growing "wild simulated"
> ginseng is rare and increasingly threatened by development. Ginseng
> populations may recover from poaching events, but they will never recover
> from being paved. The fact is that most so called "wild" ginseng is
"grown" by
> people who return to the same areas regularly to pick berries and replant
> seed as they harvest mature roots.
> Ms. Leopold's comments regarding the lack of interest in conservation are
> accurate in the sense that it is more "newsworthy" to report the misdeeds
of
> a few individuals, while ignoring the real issues that should be
addressed.
> I am saddened that CBS did such a poor job in reporting this story.
> Sincerely,
> Bob Beyfuss
> Retired American Ginseng Specialist for Cornell University Cooperative
>
Extension.
> Licensed NY State Ginseng Dealer
> Rlb14 at cornell.edu<mailto:Rlb14 at cornell.edu>
>
> 136 Schuessler Lane, Preston Hollow NY 12469
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> ________________________________
> From: MPWG
> [mpwg-bounces at lists.plantconservation.org<mailto:mpwg-
> bounces at lists.plan
> tconservation.org>] on behalf of Michael Schenk
> [schenkmj at earthlink.net<mailto:schenkmj at earthlink.net>]
> Sent: Saturday, September 07, 2013 9:19 PM
> To:
> mpwg at lists.plantconservation.org<mailto:mpwg at lists.plantconservation.or
> g
> >
> Subject: Re: [MPWG] MPWG V1#1 -- ginseng
>
> While we might argue about details and dates of extinction (hey, what do
> you expect from tv?), wild ginseng is definitely heavily threatened, by a
> synergy of factors.
>
> "Poaching". There are gray areas here, where traditional harvesting might
> cross a paper border, but there are clear signs that the nature of ginseng
> harvesting has changed. Here's one anecdote: a
friend who grew up digging
> sang found a good bed. He harvested from that bed for years, but made the
> mistake of disclosing it to an in-law with drug issues. The entire bed
> disappeared. Combine this anecdote with the ongoing recession and the
> spread of meth and painkiller addiction... So traditional diggers are also
> stewards, but there's another, newer ethos going on here.
>
> Habitat loss. Population's increasing, and an awful lot of people of means
> want a lawn in the country. Mountaintop removal coal mining buries
> Appalachian coves in waste; prime ginseng habitat is used as a landfill.
> Interstate highways just have to be built. I'm sure MPWGers can fill in
many
> other habitat issues.
>
> Invasive species. I know we've argued this over in the past, but I've seen
> with my own eyes how stiltgrass and tearthumb can completely dominate
> forest
edge areas, as well as interior areas. With habitat fragmentation,
> there's lots more edge, too.
>
> Climate change. Another hot button, but it's happening. Plants are
especially
> vulnerable to rapidly changing ecosystems, especially slow-growing plants
> with modest seed dispersal. Ginseng likes it cool.
> I've seen it grow best near the foot of a ridge, flushed with rain runoff.
As
> the coves and hollows warm, the cooler zone moves higher towards the
> peak, plus it gets drier. Eventually, we run out of mountain. Animals and
birds
> can migrate to the next ridge over, but how many of those will be passing
> ginseng seed?
>
> Deer. Many populations are out of whack. "Browse lines" are familiar to
> many or most of us, where there's nothing but thick woody stems below
> reaching height for a hungry deer. Not only forest-floor plants, but
future
>
generations of trees, are disappearing there.
>
> These factors make it critical to have protected areas for wild ginseng.
> Cultivated ginseng isn't the same. Commercial seed sources can be
> chemically dependent on pesticides after generations of cultivation. I
grow
> wild simulated, but this is indeed simulated, not a distinctive population
> adapted to a locale over thousands of years (even if wild simulated does
sell
> as "wild"). Ginseng has been shown to develop many isolated, genetically
> distinct populations. Each time we lose a bed, we could be losing the
> equivalent of an entire subspecies.
>
> These problems are beyond the scope of any single or easy solution, but we
> definitely need to protect as many wild populations as we can. Even from a
> commercial viewpoint, this makes sense, to maintain genetic diversity as
> insurance against blight and
inbreeding. Traditional diggers who replant
> probably do more than anyone in this regard. The government is limited in
> what steps it can take, but it does have statutory responsibility in
National
> Parks, as well as responsibility for the trade of endangered species per
CITES.
> I've also heard horror stories from private landowner/growers who have had
> years of work dug up in a day, with very limited legal recourse. Maybe we
> could use more rights for small growers.
>
> What do folks think about instituting isolated, single-population ginseng
> growing refuges, clearly identified as to source and lineage?
> (similar to the seed bank Marla proposes on
> change.org<http://change.org>) This would be an active step beyond the
> necessary but somewhat passive protection of wild populations. I tend to
> buy seed
from a single grower, but I have mixed some seed from another
> source.
>
> Bob, for some reason I didn't see your letter in your post, the attachment
> may not have survived the digest format.
>
> Mike Schenk
>
> PS: Let's not point fingers about the video, after all this is "television
> journalism" - low info content, short attention span, high drama. 'Nuff
said
> <grin>.
>
> >
> >Today's Topics:
> >
> > 1. ginseng in the news (Susan Leopold) 2. Re: ginseng in the news
> > (Colin Donohue) 3. Re: ginseng in the news (Michael McGuffin)
> >
> >
> >----------------------------------------------------------------------
> >
> >Message: 1
> >Date: Thu, 5 Sep 2013 17:15:39 -0400
> >From: Susan Leopold
> >To: mpwg
> >Subject: [MPWG] ginseng in the
news
> >Message-ID:
> >
> ><5DE76C5A-A955-4B6D-BCC9-
> A93B83BEB7CB at unitedplantsavers.org<mailto:5DE7
> >6C5A-A955-4B6D-BCC9-A93B83BEB7CB at unitedplantsavers.org>>
> >Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
> >
> >United Plant Savers has started a change.org<http://change.org> letter
> to bring awareness to our members and the public and to show various
> agencies that the public cares and supports ginseng conservation
efforts....
> >
> >Below is a link to the CBS story and to our
> change.org<http://change.org> letter, also you can go to the UpS website
> www.unitedplantsavers.org<http://www.unitedplantsavers.org> for links to
> several recent news articles and ginseng recently published research.
> >
> >Please join this campaign: http://chn.ge/15Eon5H
> >
> >
> >
> >http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-505269_162-57601454/ginseng-poaching-
> threat
> >ens-survival-of-plant-species/
> >
> >Susan Leopold, PhD
> >Executive Director, UpS
> >703-667-0208
> >susan at unitedplantsavers.org<mailto:susan at unitedplantsavers.org>
> >
>
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> Disclaimer
> Any advice given on this list regarding diagnosis or treatments etc.
> reflects ONLY the opinion of the individual who posts the message. The
> information contained in posts is not intended nor implied to be a
substitute
> for professional medical advice relative to your specific medical
condition or
> question. All medical and other healthcare information that is discussed
on
> this list should be carefully reviewed by the individual reader and their
> qualified healthcare professional.
> Posts do not reflect any official opinions or positions of the Plant
> Conservation Alliance.
>
>
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> To unsubscribe, send an e-mail to
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> Disclaimer
> Any advice given on this list regarding diagnosis or treatments etc.
> reflects ONLY the opinion of the individual who posts the message. The
> information contained in posts is not intended nor implied to be a
substitute
> for professional medical advice relative to your specific
medical
condition or
> question. All medical and other healthcare information that is discussed
on
> this list should be carefully reviewed by the individual reader and their
> qualified healthcare professional.
> Posts do not reflect any official opinions or positions of the Plant
> Conservation Alliance.
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> PCA's Medicinal Plant Working Group mailing list
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> ation.org
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> To unsubscribe, send an e-mail to MPWG-
> request at lists.plantconservation.org with the word "unsubscribe" in the
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>
> Disclaimer
> Any advice given on this list regarding diagnosis or treatments etc.
reflects
> ONLY the opinion of the individual who posts the message. The information
> contained in posts is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for
> professional medical advice relative to your specific medical condition or
> question. All medical and other healthcare information that is discussed
on
> this list should be carefully reviewed by the individual reader and their
> qualified healthcare professional. Posts do not reflect any official
opinions or
> positions of the Plant Conservation Alliance.
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Disclaimer
Any advice given on this list regarding diagnosis or treatments etc. reflects ONLY the opinion of the individual who posts the message. The information contained in posts is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice relative to your specific medical condition or question. All medical and other healthcare information that
is discussed on this list should be carefully reviewed by the individual reader and their qualified healthcare professional. Posts do not reflect any official opinions or positions of the Plant Conservation Alliance.
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