Ginseng
Before you start on Ginseng, Ginseng is one of the most widely studied botanicals, having been the subject of more than 3,000 scientific studies to investigate how it helps improve a person's physical and/or mental performance, notes Robert McCaleb . Studies have shown this herb helps increase memory and learning by improving circulation. It's also been shown to reduce cholesterol and protect the liver from toxins. According to Michael Tierra , it is known to strengthen the lungs, nourish body fluids and calm the spirit. It may be used for shock, collapse and heart weakness, as well as for promoting longevity and increasing resistance to disease. It is an extremely slow growing plant taking a minimum of 5 years to come to harvest. And, interestingly enough, even though the origins of this plant were in Asia, the American version of the plant is now the one being sought all over the world. 
A Japanese study showed cancerous liver cells could be reverted to normal cells in a Petri dish culture when treated with Panax ginseng extract. Siberian ginseng - which is not a true ginseng since it is missing the ginsenosides found in the Panax and American versions of this herb - has also been shown to stimulate the immune system. And studies just completed in May 2009 at the University of Hong Kong have definitively shown the herb to have anti-inflammatory effects. This information from this study bodes well for the discovery of ways to control chronic inflammation in humans.The Panax or Asian version of the herb is almost extinct in the wild although it is still being cultivated. The American version is still being found in the wild as well as being cultivated. The two versions of the herb have two different purposes according to Traditional Chinese Medicine. The American herb has more cooling properties thus making it more valuable for fever and disorders of the respiratory tract. The Panax or Chinese version of the herb has more heating properties making in more suitable for improving circulation. This herb is one of that group of herbs known as adaptogens which increase resistance to physical, chemical and biological stressors and build energy and general vitality. In much of Asia, it is thought to be a revitalizing element for the whole body. As such, it can cause the normal activity of the various body systems to become enhanced. So, if you were taking a drug to support one of those systems, you would want to carefully note the interaction between the two. You might even need to decrease your intake of one or the other to keep your system in balance. It goes almost without saying that if you begin taking this herb, you'll want to notify your physician that you're doing so and allow him or her to help you balance your intake of the herb with your intake of drugs. Some people feel that the herb, also known as man-root because of it’s shape, may be more suitable for men than for women.
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