What herb is said to help both covid and fibromyalgia? Panax (red) ginseng.
In this post we are going to look at what it is, the research around it (including brand new research from Doctor Teitelbaum) and what the potential benefits for us are.
Doctor Teitelbaum’s call for participants on a research study in 2020 on a type of red ginseng called HRG80™ was interesting to me but as I was both pregnant and not based in the USA, I was exempt.
I filed it away in my head to follow up on and then this article about using ginseng for covid-19 popped up in my inbox (I get Google alerts for research pertaining to chronic illness). I immediately set about Googling.
This article on Webmd says,
“It’s considered an adaptogen, which are natural substances that are believed to stimulate the body’s resistance to stressors. Panax ginseng contains many active chemicals.”
The article also lists potential interactions and people who should not take it.
Of course, I googled ginseng and fibromyalgia.
The results were interesting.
This article on Healthline listed it as first in a list of six supplements for fibromyalgia…
“A study on Panax ginseng use in people with fibromyalgia indicated that it is effective for reducing pain, and the number of tender points found on the body. The same study also indicated that ginseng may:
improve quality of sleep
decrease fatigue
improve overall life satisfaction”
Something to note is that one of the warnings in the previous article was to be careful if you suffer from insomnia, whereas its found to help sleep for people with Fibromyalgia. Such is research.
For many of us – help with quality of sleep is a big need.
Doctor Teitelbaum’s study results are out
An Open-Label, Pilot Trial of HRG80™ Red Ginseng in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Fibromyalgia, and Post-Viral Fatigue, Jacob Teitelbaum and Sarah Goudie (2022)
“This open-label prospective study included participants with severe CFS/FMS who took a daily supplement of HRG80 capsules (200–400 mg) or tablets (100–200 mg) for one month. A total of 188 subject patients completed the one-month treatment trial. Of these, 60.1% rated themselves as improved, with 13.3% rating themselves as being much better.”
That’s 73.4% with significant results!
67% increase in energy
44% increase in overall wellbeing
46% improvement in sleep
33% decrease in pain
This was just a one month study – so longer term studies are needed. But it is a positive start.
It’s enough that I really want to add this to my regime as soon as I am finished nursing.
I took part in Doctor Teitelbaum’s study about Recovery Factors a few years ago and it has really helped me (it’s now my favourite supplement) – read about it here.
As for the link with covid
Ginseng is said to be antiviral and boosting immunity.
“Ginseng showed promising antiviral effects by modulating both natural and acquired immunity. Ginseng might be used as a potential therapeutic agent to prevent SARS-CoV-2 infection along with the vaccine.” https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1226845322000033
I am watching this research carefully, as the long-haul symptoms are curiously similar to fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome, therefore we should have some more answers forthcoming.
Will you try ginseng? Have you already?
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Did you want to see my journey from miserable to thriving with fibromyalgia? I wrote a book sharing it! Grab it here.
This is so interesting. I’ve been doing more reading myself into adaptogens as they seem to have such positive health benefits. I’ve never heard of ginseng though so thank you for sharing all this information about it. It sounds like it could be so beneficial so I’d definitely be keen to try it and see if I notice the same improvements.
Ginseng is HUGE in China and Taiwan. Docs love doling it out and it’s available at every convenience store as well. They love to mix it in with their dishes as well, so I always feel like I’m getting plenty of it. After starting your book, I realized you are also a huge fan of Jacob Tietlebaum and I also did his SHINE Protocol. It was nice to see him mentioned in your book and then again in this article. I love it when doctors have their own personal experience with fibromyalgia and they’re sharing what they’ve learned from a personal point of view. Great job, Melissa.