Ginseng

Ginseng May Not Improve Hardened Arteries

New research suggests that Korean red ginseng may not reduce arterial stiffness in patients with high blood pressure.

The arteries gradually start to become stiffer as people age. They may also harden as a result of atherosclerosis, a condition in which plaque and fats clog the arteries. Increased arterial stiffness has been shown to increase the risk of cardiovascular problems, such as heart attack.

The recent study included 80 people who were receiving medications for high blood pressure. They were randomly assigned to receive 3 grams of Korean red ginseng or placebo daily for three months.

Blood pressure was measured at the start of the study and again after one, two and three months of treatment. Arterial stiffness was measured using brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) at the start of the study and after one and three months of treatment.

Overall, blood pressure levels were not different between the treatment group and placebo group. The researchers also found that arterial stiffness was similar in both groups.

References
1.Natural Standard: The Authority on Integrative Medicine. http://www.naturalstandard.com/
2.Rhee MY, Kim YS, Bae JH et al. Effect of Korean Red Ginseng on Arterial Stiffness in Subjects with Hypertension. J Altern

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