Cupfuls of Good Health

Grab a cup of ginseng tea to help boost your immune system this winter.

In a study, people who consumed a certain kind of ginseng daily experienced fewer colds through the winter months. Try ginseng in tea form for a warm morning pick-me-up. Ginseng may not be advised if you have hypertension, asthma, or a bleeding disorder. Ask your healthcare provider about possible interactions if you take medications regularly.

In a recent study, cold-prone individuals who took two 200-milligram doses of a particular kind of ginseng every morning after breakfast with a glass of water caught fewer colds from November through February and experienced shorter and less severe colds than people who took a placebo. Researchers found that active compounds in ginseng boosted the participants' immune response. In a similar study, echinacea -- an herb credited with boosting immune function -- did not protect against colds. There are many different varieties of ginseng. In the study where ginseng boosted immune system function, the type of ginseng used was Panax quinquefolium. Another more common variety of ginseng, Asian Panax ginseng, was not tested in the study.

Efficacy of an extract of North American ginseng containing poly-furanosyl-pyranosyl-saccharides for preventing upper respiratory tract infections: a randomized controlled trial. Predy, G. N., Goel, V., Lovlin, R., Donner, A., Stitt, L., Basu, T. K., Canadian Medical Association Journal 2005 Oct 25;173(9):1043-1048.