The Amazing Health Benefits of Ginseng

by Gena Sara Akright, Certified Holistic Doula

Ithink we can all agree that prime-time television advertisements can be super misleading, especially when it comes to discovering the newest vitamins! “Buy this new physician-approved synthetic vitamin to have complete protection from cold and flu season!”—not exactly! Yet many eventually end up falling for such empty promises at some point. I always encourage folks that desire the most recent holistic research to check in with their local health food stores. There, one can find employees educated and knowledgeable enough to recommend the right product options based upon one’s individual health and wellness needs.

At Garner’s Natural Life, we have discovered through modern innovative holistic medicine research that some herbal remedies are far more capable and effective than originally thought. For example, ginseng! The first health benefit that comes to mind is energy, right? Herbalists have used ginseng as an energy booster for hundreds of years. That said, recent research has revealed that the various types of ginseng are capable of more than just putting some pep in your step! In particular, Korean red ginseng is an adaptogen (meaning a natural substance known to aid the body’s response to cortisol). It can help one’s body to achieve homeostasis. Chronic fatigue, stress, anxiety, non-restorative sleep, and high cholesterol are all symptoms and indicators that suggest the potential use of an adaptogen, such as ginseng. In addition to helping to mitigate stress, Korean red ginseng has several other health benefits, such as viral defense (including the stubborn influenza type A), libido and stamina support, anti-inflammatory protection, neurotransmitter support, help with cardiovascular health, diabetic control, and aid with seasonal allergies.

Personally, I don't know of anyone that wouldn’t benefit from a gentle adrenal rehabilitation! The long list includes coffee drinkers, high-powered professionals, parents and caretakers, and meno- pausal women. The concept of consuming a natural gift from Earth that can help balance hormones, prevent illness, and induce energy and happiness seems hard to imagine.

There are many factors to consider regarding the use of ginseng, such as whether it is soil or hydroponically grown and what form it is in—powder, extract, tincture, pill or chewable. I like to recommend a reputable brand that manufactures Korean red ginseng in a very specific way. Terry Naturally, by EuroPharma, offers an ultra-clean ginseng product that is produced for maximum absorbency. Unfortunately, it is very common for people to develop intestinal plaque, which can lead to myriad uncomfortable digestive issues. It is also beneficial to detox regularly to improve nutrient absorption.

Fortunately, cutting-edge scientists today are finding ways to process plants into medicines that promote maximum absorption. Terry Naturally begins with hydroponically grown Korean red ginseng—unexposed to pesticides. Ginseng whole root extraction makes use of the entire ginseng root. Terry Naturally's extraction method worked extremely well in clinical studies, producing noble ginsenosides seven times stronger than usual. The outcomes provided a substantial amount of positive data. Clinical participants reported the following: 72 percent stamina increase, 67 percent overall energy increase, 48 percent cognitive performance improvement, and 46 percent sleep improvement. Terry Naturally produces ginseng in either capsule or chewable form. Try one today!

Garner’s Natural Life has two Midlands locations: 4840 Forest Dr., in Columbia (in Trenholm Plaza, next to Starbucks), and 5166 Sunset Blvd., Ste. C, in Lexington. For more information, call 803-454-7700 (Columbia) or 803-973-3001 (Lexington). Also visit GarnersNaturalLife.com. See ad, page 2 and back page.

One Step Closer to Fusion Power

The U.S. Department of Energy recently announced the achievement of fusion ignition at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL). This is a major scientific breakthrough decades and billions of dollars in the making, paving the way for us to be able to produce clean fusion energy. Fusion power is considered a game-changer because it would allow us to produce electricity with no carbon footprint or radioactive waste, using fewer resources than it takes to harness solar and wind power.

On December 5, 2022, the LLNL team conducted the first controlled fusion experiment in history to reach what is known as “scientific energy breakeven”, meaning that it produced more energy from fusion than the laser energy used to drive it. Merely a theory until now, fusion combines two light nuclei to form a single heavier nucleus, releasing a large amount of energy. To achieve this milestone, LLNL built a series of powerful laser systems housed in a facility the size of a sports stadium. The lasers create temperatures and pressures comparable to cores of stars and giant planets.

There are still enormous challenges to be tackled in the decades ahead. The first is to develop machinery capable of affordably turning the reaction into electricity without destroying the machinery in the process. The hope is to address these challenges in time to have a positive impact on climate change.

Reforestation Is More Than Planting Trees

The United Nations designated 2021 to 2030 the Decade on Ecosystem Restoration to prevent, halt and reverse the degradation of ecosystems on every continent and in every ocean. To that end, the European Union and 26 nations, along with donor support, recently pledged $16 billion to protect, restore and sustainably manage forests. A significant portion of the monies will be spent on reforestation.

Many reforestation projects focus on the number of trees planted, with less attention to how well they survive, how diverse the resulting forests are or how much carbon they store. A study of data from 176 reforestation sites found that on average only 44 percent of newly planted trees last more than five years, with some sites reporting a sapling survival rate of less than 20 percent. Several studies have explored ways to improve survival rates. Promising measures include planting near mature trees, fencing out cattle, improving soil conditions, planting native species first to pave the way for other tree species and involving local people to support reforestation efforts.

Turning Vegetable Waste into Plastic

The World Economic Forum estimates that about 400 million tons of plastic waste are produced globally each year and that 98 percent of single-use plastic products are made from fossil fuels. So, the prospect of replacing the petroleum in plastic with a plant material is exciting news for the planet and humanity.

Toresyoku, a Japanese firm, has developed technology that efficiently removes cellulose (dietary fiber) from plant material for use in plastic production. Using vegetable waste, such as cabbage cores, rice husks, coffee grounds and the leaves and stems of tomatoes and broccoli from local farms, the company extracts the cellulose through hydrolysis (heating under pressure in water) and component decomposition (using enzymes).

Not only does the cellulose reduce the use of petroleum-based materials, but it may also increase the strength of the plastic being made for products such as plastic bottles, appliances and car bumpers. The company expects to start operating their factory soon and be able to process up to a ton of plant waste a day. While other companies have been able to extract cellulose from wood chips, Toresyoku’s technology is more efficient and can be done for a fraction of the cost of competing technologies.