Garlic or Ginseng?

[jankren]

So Im considering taking some health supplements but I dont know which one is probably more beneficial between ginseng and garlic?

[different_13]

Only ever heard of ginseng from Oblivion, but in my opinion you can never go wrong with garlic. It's the ****, let's face it.

[roy34543]

Is grinseng that disgusting thing people always put in with a drink along with honey?
Its terrible, both garlic and grinseg (if its what i think it is) are extremely beneficial. I believe garlic has more purifying properties then most other vegetables.
Though i may be wrong . Maybe someone was trying to coax me into wanting to throw up .

[jankren]

Its terrible, both garlic and grinseg (if its what i think it is) are extremely beneficial. I believe garlic has more purifying properties then most other vegetables.

I heard you can also use it to purify yourself from evil spirits and ward off vampires. LOL

[different_13]

Yes, like I said, it's the ****.

[Simetrical]

I'm not aware that any reputable medical institution recommends either garlic or ginseng much more than any other vegetable. Generally speaking, it's flaky New Age types who talk about their "purifying properties", and similar. Eat whichever one is tastier. On the plus side, neither one is particularly harmful, unless you eat way too much.

[Ludicus]

So Im considering taking some health supplements but I dont know which one is probably more beneficial between ginseng and garlic?

Ginseng has not been evalueted by FDA for safety or effectiveness.
Garlic was evaluated by FDA for safety.

I'm not aware that any reputable medical institution recommends either garlic or ginseng much more than any other vegetable.

Exactly.

So Im considering taking some health supplements

Healthy young people don´t need any health supplements.

[The Fish]

Garlic is a natural anticoagulant, and can thus be useful in reducing the risk of heart attacks (similar to low-dose aspirin). Of course, this only makes sense if you have risk factors for developing a heart attack, which should not be the case for an otherwise healthy young person. Consider it when you're over 50.

[Ludicus]

Garlic is a natural anticoagulant, and can thus be useful in reducing the risk of heart attacks (similar to low-dose aspirin). Of course, this only makes sense if you have risk factors for developing a heart attack, which should not be the case for an otherwise healthy young person. Consider it when you're over 50.

Probably.
However, a recent update on the subject (medicine evidence based) from May 2007, published in the "Molecular Nutrition and Food Research" shows that there are not enough data available for clinical recommendations:

The objective of this review is to update and assess the clinical evidence based on rigorous trials of the effectiveness of garlic (A. sativum). Systematic searches were carried out in Medline, Embase, Amed, the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Natural Standard, and the Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database (search date December 2006). Our own files, the bibliographies of relevant papers and the contents pages of all issues of the review journal FACT were searched for further studies. No language restrictions were imposed. To be included, trials were required to state that they were randomized and double blind. Systematic reviews and meta-analyses of garlic were included if based on the results of randomized, double-blind trials. The literature searches identified six relevant systematic reviews and meta-analysis and double-blind randomized trials (RCT) that were published subsequently. These relate to cancer, common cold, hypercholesterolemia, hypertension, peripheral arterial disease and pre-eclampsia. The evidence based on rigorous clinical trials of garlic is not convincing. For hypercholesterolemia, the reported effects are small and may therefore not be of clinical relevance. For reducing blood pressure, few studies are available and the reported effects are too small to be clinically meaningful. For all other conditions not enough data are available for clinical recommendations.

[TheKwas]

Garlic will protect you from Vampires and girls that want to kiss you. Ginseung, however, will improve your overall kung fu abilities, allowing you to kick vampires and girls that want to kiss you in the face. Same result in the end, so it depends totally on your personal style of doing things.

[The Fish]

Thanks for the clarification Ludicus. I was imprecise in my answer; garlic does seems to have anticoagulant properties, but the clinical usefulness of these properties hasn't been convincingly shown yet. Low-dose aspirin is still the best way to go for most asymptomatic middle-aged men (especially with risk factors). Kudos for the find.

[Ludicus]

Thanks for the clarification Ludicus. I was imprecise in my answer; garlic does seems to have anticoagulant properties, but the clinical usefulness of these properties hasn't been convincingly shown yet. Low-dose aspirin is still the best way to go for most asymptomatic middle-aged men (especially with risk factors). Kudos for the find.

You are welcome!

Seneca wrote:

Ginseng has shown in some studies that it can effect fatigue and stress though how controlled those studies were and whether placebos were used I don't know.

Yes, it can effect fatigue.

In Medicine evidence based, grades (A, B, C, D, F) reflect the level of available scientific evidence in support of the efficacy of a given therapy for a specific indication:
grade A = strong scientific evidence ; grade B = good scientific evidence; grade C = unclear or conflicting scientific evidence; grade D = Fair negative scientific evidence; grade F = strong negative scientific evidence.
(Objective criteria are derived from validated instruments for evaluating study quality)

Regarding Ginseng, the uses based on scientific evidence are:

Grade B:
-Mental performance: (It is not clear if people with certain conditions may benefit more than others. Therefore, although the sum total of available scientific evidence does suggest some effectiveness of short-term use of ginseng in this area, better research is necessary before a strong recommendation can be made)
-Type2 diabetes: grade B (people with diabetes should seek the care of a qualified healthcare practitioner, and should not use ginseng instead of more proven therapies)

Grade C:
Cancer prevention
COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease)
Congestive hearth failure
Coronary artery disease
Exercise performance
Fatigue
Fistula anal
Immune system enhancement
Intracranial pressure
High blood pressure
Low white blood cell counts
Menopausal symptoms
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)
Multi-infarct dementia
Quality of life
Sense of well-being
Viral myocarditis
(Mayo Clinic evidence-based-monograph)

[Denny Crane!]

Supplements all depend on your age and needs. If your bodybuilding or training regularly then it can be a good thing, otherwise focusing on improving diet will be a better move.

Ginseng has shown in some studies that it can effect fatigue and stress though how controlled those studies were and whether placebos were used I don't know. Garlic, I read contains certain properties when not cooked that act similarly to a broad spectrum antibiotic, but I've no doubt that claim may not be true. I wouldn't have rated the source.

[Simetrical]

Garlic, I read contains certain properties when not cooked that act similarly to a broad spectrum antibiotic, but I've no doubt that claim may not be true. I wouldn't have rated the source.

You don't want to take broad-spectrum antibiotics, unless you actually have a bacterial infection, do you? They tend to upset your stomach, not to mention increasing bacterial resistance.

[Denny Crane!]

Thanks for the reply.

If you know a little bit about Medicine it might be possible that I could pick your brains a little on Osteoporosis drugs, without derailing the thread to much, do you know a reliable source of information on the pros and cons of biphosphonate treatment?

[Ludicus]

Biphosphonates:

-Bisphosphonates represent the agents of choice for most patients with osteoporosis; they are the best studied of all agents for the prevention of bone loss and reduction in fractures.

-Bisphosphonates have been shown to be safe and efficacious with 7 years' risedronate sodium and 10 years' alendronate sodium data published.

-They increase BMD (bone mineral density) primarily at the lumbar spine, but also at the proximal femur.

-Bisphosphonate treatment can significantly reduce vertebral and nonvertebral fractures, including hip fractures, even in the very elderly.

-Bisphosphonates reduce the risk of fracture quickly.

-The risk of clinical vertebral fractures is reduced after 1 year of treatment with alendronate and just 6 months' treatment with risedronate.

-Bisphosphonates reduce bone turnover and increase BMD (low bone mineral density) to a greater degree than raloxifene and calcitonin, which may partly account for their nonvertebral and hip fracture reduction effect.

-Bisphosphonate therapy with risedronate or alendronate should be considered in patients with low BMD (low bone mineral density) at the hip and in older patients with osteoporosis and osteopenia, particularly those with an existing fracture.

-Alendronate and risedronate are approved by the FDA for prevention of bone loss in recently menopausal women, for treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis, and for prevention (risedronate) and treatment (alendronate and risedronate) of glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis.
Alendronate is also approved for treatment of osteoporosis in men.

-Alendronate reduces bone loss, increases bone density and reduces the risk of spine, hip and other fractures by about 50 percent over two to four years.

-Risedronate is approved for the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women, and in 2006 was approved for the treatment of osteoporosis in men.

-Risedronate slows bone loss, increases bone density and reduces the risk of spine and non-spine fractures by 35 to 45 percent over three years.

-The antifracture effect of risedronate has been shown to continue through 5 years of treatment.

-Bisphosphonates are not recommended for people with severe kidney disease or low blood calcium; and are not recommended to patients with uveitis (intraocular inflammation)

-It is uncertain how long any of the osteoporosis medications remain effective after they are stopped. However, past experience with bisphosphonates suggests that upon discontinuation of any of these drugs, the benefits may continue for several years or longer. This is because the drugs remain in the bone for a long time. Eventually, however, the beneficial effect begins to lessen.

-Length of treatment should be individualized and based on the person’s medical and fracture history, as well as the initial and most recent bone mineral density test results.

- A good source of information is National Osteoporosis Foundation. (The new Clinician’s Guide recommends that adults over age 50 get 1,200 mg of calcium and 800-1,000 IU of vitamin D3 daily. Vitamin D3 is the form of vitamin D that best supports bone health. It is also called cholecalciferol)

-The universal recommendations in its 5 Steps to Bone Health:

1. Get the daily recommended amounts of calcium and vitamin D.
2. Engage in regular weight-bearing and muscle-strengthening exercise.
3. Avoid smoking and excessive alcohol.
4. Talk to your healthcare provider about bone health.
5. Have a bone density test and take medication when appropriate.

I hope this helps!

[Garbarsardar]

Garlic. Try to make shish kiofte with ginseng.

[Denny Crane!]

I was reffering to allicin which can be obtained from Garlic which offer broad-spectrum activity against many types of bacteria, viruses, worms, and fungi. It has not shown to increase bacterial resistance like the misuse of antibiotics since it has been used since before the widespread use of antibiotics. I've seen references to it being used to treat amoebic dyssentry as well as a history of its use dating back 5000 years in India to ward of infection.

[Thanatos]

Garlic is wonderful. It is literally edible bleach. It kills everything that is bad in your body, and there is never anything wrong with being healthy.

That said, ginseng is wonderful as well, but as I have very little experience with the drug, I cannot speak further.

[Ummagumma]

To stand on a totally obvious soap box, just try to eat healthily. You should only need to take supplements for anything if you know your body has issues with retaining it.
Learning to cook with nice fresh produce is fun and very satisfying - and you can leave all the cleaning to your other half! (Or parents/flatmate or whoever).

Start with easy stuff like pasta sauce - pm for a really quick and tasty recipe. It has got garlic in it too....