Effect of Korean red ginseng on psychological functions in patients with severe climacteric syndromes

Objective: To evaluate the degree of psychological dysfunction and levels o f stress hormones in postmenopausal women with climacteric syndromes and ef fect of Korean red ginseng (RG) on them. Methods: ACTH, cortisol and DHEA-S in peripheral blood from 12 postmenopausal women with climacteric syndrome s or 8 postmenopausal women without any climacteric syndrome were measured before and 30 days after treatment with daily oral administration of 6 g RG . Flood samples were collected in the early morning on the bed-rest. In pos tmenopausal women with climacteric syndromes such as fatigue, insomnia and depression, psychological tests using the Cornell Medical Index (CMI) and t he State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) were performed before and 30 days a fter treatment with RG. Results: CMI score as well as anxiety (A)-state in STAT score in postmenopausal women with climacteric syndromes was significa ntly higher than that without climacteric syndrome, while DHEA-S levels in postmenopausal women with climacteric syndromes were about a half of those without climacteric syndrome. Consequently, cortisol/DHEA-S (C/D) ratio was significantly higher in postmenopausal women with climacteric syndromes th an in those without climacteric syndrome. When postmenopausal women with cl imacteric syndromes were treated with daily oral administration of 6 g RG f or 30 days, CMI and STAI A-state scores decreased within normal range. Alth ough the decreased DHEA-S levels were not restored to the levels in postmen opausal women without climacteric syndrome, the C/D ratio decreased signifi cantly after treatment with RG. Conclusions: Improvement of CMT and STAT sc ores in postmenopausal women suffering climacteric syndromes, particularly fatigue, insomnia and depression, by RG seemed to be brought about in part by effects of RG on stress-related hormones as shown by a decrease in C/D r atio. (C) 1999 International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics.