Ginseng & Cancer 2

Another ginseng study published in the American Journal of Epidemiology, and was conducted by a team from the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center at Vanderbilt University Medical Center - a facility that focuses on an "interdisciplinary approach" to cancer care, treatment and prevention.

Researchers recruited more than 1,450 subjects. Information on the subjects' ginseng use before and after breast cancer diagnosis was gathered through the end of 2002.

About 30 percent of the subjects were regular ginseng users before their cancer diagnosis. The Vanderbilt team found that these subjects had a significantly reduced risk of death compared to subjects who never used ginseng. Also, ginseng use after diagnosis was associated with higher quality of life (QOL) scores, especially in the areas of psychological and social well-being. The authors noted: "QOL improved as cumulative ginseng use increased."

Each of the subjects also underwent some form of conventional cancer treatment, such as chemotherapy, radiation therapy and surgery.

One of the authors of the study - Ziao-Ou Shu, M.D., Ph.D. - noted there are two primary classes of ginseng: red and white. White ginseng root is naturally dried and is reputed to promote general good health over a long period. Red ginseng gets its color from a drying process that increases potency. This variety is used by some herbalists to aid in disease recovery.