Ginseng rich in Chinese medicine

Priced by practitioners of Chinese medicine and their patients, as an effective "tonic", ginseng has been in use since the Han Dynasty some 2,000 years ago and perhaps even longer. Ginseng has been proven to enhance stamina and physical capacity, especially when these are compromised.

In several European countries, ginseng and other phytomedicinals are prescribed by physicians and elements of botanical medicine are again being taught in medical schools. In its Commission E Monographs, which set standards for safety and efficacy of medicinal herbs, the German government recognises use of ginseng as a tonic "for invigoration and fortification during times of fatigue and debility".

Chinese traditional medicine considers ginseng to have salutary effects on physical capacity, alertness and power of concentration, especially in the elderly and those recovering from illness. It is also used by athletes to enhance their energy levels. In the traditional Chinese pharmacopoeia it is described how ginseng strengthens the body's vital energy, the Qi.

Both the World Health Organisation and the Commission E of Germany conclude that, in recommended doses there are no known side-effects of ginseng.

Zinc and magnesium play a vital role in muscle strength and endurance. Magnesium mainly exists in the muscles and bones where it assists with muscle contractions and energy metabolism.