Thorne, a scientific wellness company, recently launched a brand new product called Ginseng Plus.
It contains pure Korean red ginseng sourced from Botalys, sustainable vertical farming company. The proprietary indoor farming methods used optimise the biodiversity and nutritional benefits of this ginseng while expediting the harvesting process.
Formulated into an exclusive blend containing Greek mountain tea and lion’s mane mushroom to maximise absorbability, this first-to-market ginseng aims to improve stress resilience, memory and focus.
Wishing to discover more about the product’s benefits and the unique farming methods used to produce it, Dr Kevin Robinson (KSR) caught up with Thorne’s VP of Medical Affairs, Dr Amanda Frick (AF), to find out more.
KSR: What’s unique about Thorne’s formula and how this Red Korean Ginseng is sourced?
AF: Thorne’s Ginseng Plus, a unique adaptogen blend formulated by a team of medical professionals and scientists, was very much designed with bioavailability in mind.
Although Korean red ginseng has remarkable benefits on its own, Thorne’s added Greek mountain tea and lion’s mane further enhances the body and brain’s stress resiliency.
Greek mountain tea promotes blood flow to the brain, supporting mental acuity during times of stress, whereas the active components in lion’s mane — beta-glucans, hericenones and erinacine terpenoids — are thought to nourish both the brain and the body.*
What’s especially unique about the Korean red ginseng being used in this formula is its sustainable biometric farming process. Historically, ginseng has been one of the most expensive and adulterated herbs because of the decades it takes to mature and the disruption that harvesting causes to wild ginseng sites.
Thorne sources ginseng from indoor vertical farming company, Botalys, who utilises sustainable growing, harvesting and preservation techniques.
Their proprietary method expedites the growing process while maintaining a diverse bioactive profile that’s rich in rare ginsenosides for maximum nutritional benefits.
KSR: What are the benefits of ginseng?
AF: With use in traditional Asian medicine for thousands of years, the roots of the Korean red ginseng plant are well respected in terms of supporting vitality and well-being.
Thorne’s Ginseng Plus blend, in particular, benefits individuals looking to hone cognition and focus while supporting how the body and mind manage stress.
Some of its greatest benefits include promoting feelings of calmness during times of stress, supporting the body’s ability to resist stress-related fatigue and enhancing blood flow to the brain during challenging tasks. It can also promote a positive mood and curb stress-induced memory loss.
KSR: How long does it take to see results?
AF: Unlike many other nutritional and medicinal herbs or supplements, the results of taking Ginseng Plus can be felt almost immediately … with additional longer-term benefits. The most immediate result is an elevated level of focus.
Then, after 5 days of use, the body begins to build a true resilience to stress. Within 2 weeks, that’s when an individual’s memory and recall can be enhanced during stressful periods.
It’s a great option for people who want daily cognitive support, could benefit from the added stress resilience or prefer a boost when an extra level of focus is required.
KSR: Who should be using this product?
AF: To put it simply, anyone who experiences stress can benefit from this product and could be using it. To break it down a bit further, people looking for improved mental clarity or struggle with memory loss and recall during stressful periods are great candidates and can highly benefit from ginseng.
An executive or CEO who is under constant stress, for example, can use ginseng to reduce stress-induced fatigue and improve their mood.
By contrast, perimenopausal or menopausal women who are looking for feelings of calmness and improved mental clarity can also look to ginseng to meet these cognitive goals.
It’s important to note that ginseng has numerous drug interactions, so individuals who are taking medications should consult with their health professional before using Ginseng Plus.
KSR: What research went into creating Thorne’s Ginseng Plus?
AF: Our Medical and R&D teams designed Ginseng Plus to expand our stress management portfolio with a product intended to serve as a stimulating adaptogen.
There are numerous experiences of stress and adrenal fatigue that may accompany long periods of anxiety; we felt that our portfolio needed an adaptogenic formula that was specifically made to support individuals struggling with fatigue and a lack of focus associated with prolonged stress.
We carefully selected our ginseng source from Botalys (the vendor Thorne uses for this ingredient) based on the clinical research associated with the elevated amounts of rare ginsenosides in the raw material and the associated benefits.
Greek mountain tea and lion’s mane research supports the synergistic elements of optimising blood flow to the brain and enhanced mental acuity.
*These statements have not been evaluated by the US Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.