Ginseng Under Study As Remedy JACK WILLIAMS SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH NEWS No matter what you hear about its energizing effects, there's no reason to believe that ginseng is any more a tonic than a toxin. Most claims are based more on superstition and subjective opin- ion than on objective, scientific evidence, according to Varro Tay- lor, a Purdue University profes- sor and author of "Herbs of Choice: The Therapeutic Use of Phytomedicinals." Used for thousands of years, especially in Asia, ginseng root remains somewhat of an enigma whose pharmacologically active elements have not been clearly defined. When packaged commercial- ly, ginseng products also tend to vary greatly in contents. One U.S. Food and Drug Ad- ministration analysis found that 25 percent of the products exam- ined contained no ginseng and 60 percent had only traces, reports the UC Berkeley Wellness Let- ter. Small wonder, then, that gin- seng is among a list of herbal remedies to be studied by the Of- fice of Alternative Medicine at the National Institutes of Health. While the caution flag is raised on ginseng, another herb — gingko extract from gingko trees — is showing remarkable promise with no reported side ef- fects. Studies conducted by the Ger- man Association of General Prac- titioners indicate that gingko can improve blood circulation in ar- teries, veins and capillaries and act as an antioxidant, preventing damage to cell membranes by "free radicals." Results were shown on 60 mil- ligrams per day, half the stan- dard dose of the widely used extract. Meanwhile, a nonprofit re- search group, the American Botanical Council, is working with the World Health Organi- zation to analyze the interna- tional herbal industry and determine which of nature's med- icines are safe, appropriate and cost-effective. Inasmuch as herbs are the fast growing item in drugstores today, with sales estimated to surpass $5 billion by the year 2000, the timing couldn't be better. For a copy of a brochure listing specific herbs and the various conditions and diseases that can be prevented or treated with them, send $1 to the American Botanical Council, Box 201660, Austin, TX 78720-1660. 17 Jack Williams is a writer for Copley News Service. Sticks 'n 'n osteoporos can break your bone A quick bone density test no can help you maintain your health, - pproximately 50% of women over the age of 50 have osteoporosis and are at risk of an osteoporosis-related fracture. A woman's risk of hip fracture alone is equal to the combined risk of developing breast, uterine, and ovarian cancer. Up to 20% of hip fracture victims die within one year of the injury. Maintain your health and independence by getting a bone density test at Botsford General Hospital. The test is safe, non-invasive, painless and is covered by most insurances if it is accompanied with a diagnosis from your physician. Me test provides essential information to help your doctor assess the health of your bones. If you show signs of osteoporosis, your doctor can recommend preventative measures or therapy. I fyou're a woman at or near menopause, don't wait for a fracture to find out that you have osteoporosis. For information on how to schedule an appointment for a bone density test, call (810) 477-6190 today. If you'd like a physician referral, call HealthMatch at (810) 442-7900. bottoid general hospital Reaching Out To The People Of Our Community 28050 Grand River Avenue Farmington Hills, MI 48336-5933