Q. I am currently under a lot of stress. Is there an herb that I can take to help me deal with this stressful time in my life?

A. There are numerous herbs that you can try to help improve your ability to deal with stress. Chief among these are the ginsengs, Chinese ginseng (Panax ginseng) and Siberian ginseng (Eleutherococcus senticosus). For thousands of years, people have taken ginseng to restore vitality, increase feelings of energy, boost mental and physical performance, enhance resistance to stress, and reduce anxiety. Consider using Chinese ginseng if you have been under a great deal of stress, if you are recovering from an illness, or have been taking corticosteroid drugs (such as prednisone) for a long time. However, if your stress is mild or moderate, Siberian ginseng may be a better choice.

For Chinese ginseng, look for products that have been standardized for ginsenoside content. The amount recommended for products that contain 5% ginsenosides is 100 mg one to three times daily. For Siberian ginseng, use fluid extracts in amounts of 1 to 2 teaspoons one to three times daily or the dry powdered extract in the amount of 100 mg one to three times daily.

In my practice, I’ve noticed that patients have varying degrees of response to ginseng. I recommend that you start by taking lower amounts and gradually increase the daily intake. If you overdo it, you may notice such side effects as anxiety, irritability, nervousness, insomnia, hypertension, breast pain, and menstrual changes. Should these problems develop, reduce your intake or discontinue using ginseng entirely.