Ginseng Relieves Cancer Fatigue: Study

Ginseng has been found to relieve cancer-related fatigue, according to a new study. Researchers at the Mayo Clinic Cancer Center looked at more than 300 patients who had completed cancer treatment or were undergoing cancer treatment and found that 2,000 milligrams of ginseng per day increased their energy levels. Sixty percent of the patients studied had breast cancer, reported Medical News Today. Patients received either a placebo or the pure American ginseng root for more than four weeks. Ensuring the consumption of quality ginseng is key, say researchers. "Off-the-shelf ginseng is sometimes processed using ethanol, which can give it estrogen-like properties that may be harmful to breast cancer patients," said researcher Debra Barton of the Mayo Clinic Cancer Center, according to Fox News. The ginseng had no side effects and patients' showed significant improvements in their energy levels. "After eight weeks, we saw a 20-point improvement in fatigue in cancer patients, measured on a 100-point, standardized fatigue scale," Dr. Barton said, reported ANI. Ginseng is known to both lower blood sugar and improve the immune system due to substances called ginsenosides. The study was presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology.