Ginseng Study

[Haze]

Does anyone use ginseng as a study helper? I use it sometimes and it has a mild effect on me. Sort of the same feeling of an energy drink without the drink. It is also a fairly cheap bottle to pickup too.

[KR_Paradox]

It helps settle my stomach is about all. Would you happen to have any literature on this? Also how much are we taking about?

[Haze]

100mg to 200mg. Energy drinks vary in the amount but Ive seen up to 400mg in Monster. But that also has a lot of other stimulants.

[KR_Paradox]

Ya as far as I was aware the main stimulants are Vitamins B6 and B12, Guarana (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guarana), Taurine (http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/taurine/AN01856), caffeine.

Vitamin B6 - can help with immunity, cognitive performance, and hormone response. Also
"It also aids in the ocnversion of the amino acid trytopan to niacin and plays important roles in the sythesis of hemoglobin (oxygen in blood) and neurtransmitters in the brain"

Vitamin B12 - B12 is a vitamin that is derived from protein and help maintain nerve fibers. So it may or may not help improve focus. The theory may be that it increases neuron transmittion efficiency which may improve focus.

[KR_Paradox]

Ok, Haze I have a friend who is a nurse and she told me

Ginseng isn't regulated by the FDA, because its and herb. It increases physiologic effects. Ginseng increases blood pressure (BP) and increases the toxicity of the drugs with the same side affect. (So if you have something that increases your BP already Ginseng will amplify that). I'd say stay away from that if you're on any BP raising meds.

The only way I can think it helping with focus is that as BP increases blood flow to the brain also increases, therefore more oxygen better brain function, but I really doubt it.