No adverse effects have been reported from the use of
rehydration solutions in treating patients with giardiasis.
Research and general acceptance
Anti-infective medications for the treatment for
giardiasis have been tested and used for several deca-
des as of 2007. The WHO formula for oral rehydration
has been used in developing nations since the 1960s in
treating people dehydrated by diarrhea resulting from
cholera, giardiasis, and other intestinal disorders.
Resources
BOOKS
‘‘Giardiasis.’’ Chapter 185, Section 14 in theMerck Manual
of Diagnosis and Treatment, 18th ed. Edited by Mark H.
Beers and Robert Berkow. Whitehouse Station, NJ:
Merck, 2007.
PERIODICALS
Gavagan, Thomas, MD, and Lisa Brodyaga, JD. ‘‘Medical
Care for Immigrants and Refugees.’’American Family
Physician57 (March 1, 1998): 1061–1068.
Kucik, Corry Jeb, MD, Gary L. Martin, MD, and Brett V.
Sortor, MD. ‘‘Common Intestinal Parasites.’’American
Family Physician69 (March 1, 2004): 1161–1168.
Pennardt, Andre, MD. ‘‘Giardiasis.’’eMedicine, February
22, 2006. Available online at http://www.emedicine
.com/emerg/topic215.htm (accessed March 27, 2007).
Rana, S. V., D. K. Bhasin, and V. K. Vinayak. ‘‘Lactose
Hydrogen Breath Test inGiardia lamblia-positive
Patients.’’Digestive Diseases and Sciences50 (February
2005): 259–261.
OTHER
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).Para-
sites and Health: Giardiasis. Atlanta, GA: CDC, 2005.
Available online at http://www.dpd.cdc.gov/dpdx/
HTML/Giardiasis.htm (accessed March 27, 2007).
Dietz, Thomas E., MD. ‘‘Dietary Hygiene in the Prevention
of Travellers’ Diarrhea.’’High Altitude Medicine
Guide, May 2000. Available online at http://
http://www.high-altitude-medicine.com/diarrhea.html
(accessed March 27, 2007).
North American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology,
Hepatology and Nutrition (NASPGHAN).Acute
Diarrhea in Children. Flourtown, PA: NASPGHAN,
- Available online at http://www.naspghan.org
(accessed March 27, 2007).
Surawicz, Christina M., MD, and Blanca Ochoa, MD.
Diarrheal Diseases. Bethesda, MD: American College
of Gastroenterology (ACG), 2007.
ORGANIZATIONS
American College of Gastroenterology (ACG). 6400
Goldsboro Road, Suite 450, Bethesda, MD 20817.
Telephone: (301) 263-9000. Website: http://
http://www.acg.gi.org.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). 1600
Clifton Road, Atlanta, GA 30333. Telephone: (404)
639-3311. Website: http://www.cdc.gov/.
North American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology,
Hepatology and Nutrition (NASPGHAN). P. O. Box 6,
Flourtown, PA 19031. Telephone: (215) 233-0808.
Website: http://www.naspghan.org.
U. S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). 5600 Fishers
Lane, Rockville, MD 20857-0001. Telephone: (888)
INFO-FDA. Website: http://www.fda.gov/.Rebecca J. Frey, PhDGinseng
Definition
Ginseng refers to two closely related herbs of the
genusPanax. Asian ginseng (P. ginseng) and Ameri-
can ginseng (P. quinquefolius) have traditionally been
used for healing. Asian ginseng is also known as
Korean red ginseng, Chinese ginseng, Japanese gin-
seng, ginseng radix, ninjin, sang, and ren shen. Amer-
ican ginseng is also known as Canadian ginseng,
North American ginseng, Ontario ginseng, Wisconsin
ginseng, red berry, sang, and ren shen. Siberian gin-
seng (Eleutherococcus senticosus) is a plant with differ-
ent properties that belongs to a completely different
genus. Ginseng in this entry refers only to Asian and
American ginseng of the genusPanax.Purpose
Ginseng has been used for about 2,000 years in
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) to boost energy,
hasten recovery from illness or injury, reduce stress,
improve mental and physical performance (including
sexual performance) and to treat a several dozen different
infections, gastrointestinal disorders, circulatory prob-
lems, and conditions as diverse as burns, cancers, diabe-
tes, migraine headaches, and weight loss. The genus name
Panaxmeans ‘‘heal all,’’ and ginseng is considered by
herbalists to be an almost universal remedy. Most of
these traditional uses of ginseng have not yet been sub-
stantiated by conventional medicine, however encourag-
ing results from some well-designed, controlled human
studies strongly suggest that ginseng may improve mental
performance and have other health benefits.Description
Ginseng is a perennial herb that grows in cool,
damp, shady forests. Asian ginseng is native toGinseng