Ginseng relieves cancer-related fatigue in patients, says study

Ginseng has been found to relieve cancer-related fatigue, according to a new study.

Researchers at the Mayo Clinic Cancer Center looked at over 300 patients who had completed cancer treatment or were undergoing cancer treatment and found that 2,000 milligrams of ginseng per day increased energy levels.

Sixty percent of the patients that were studied had breast cancer, reported Medical News Today.

The study saw patients receive either a placebo or the pure American ginseng root for over four weeks.

Ensuring the consumption of quality ginseng is key, say researchers.

Read more on GlobalPost: China: ripping off Wisconsin ginseng

"Off-the-shelf ginseng is sometimes processed using ethanol, which can give it estrogen-like properties that may be harmful to breast cancer patients," said researcher Debra Barton of the Mayo Clinic Cancer Center, according to Fox News.

The ginseng had no side-effects and showed significant improvements in patients' energy.

"After eight weeks, we saw a 20-point improvement in fatigue in cancer patients, measured on a 100-point, standardized fatigue scale," Dr Barton said, reported ANI.

Ginseng is known to both lower blood sugar and improve the immune system due to substances called ginsenosides.

The study was presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology.