Comment · Tue, July 26, 2016 · Ceretropic & Nootropics Depot
Panax Ginseng is Surprisingly Potent
Original post in this thread
Brain_Wreck · 39 points
I have tried my fair share of nootropics and stims, everything from -racetams, -afinils, RC, adaptogens, workout stacks..., etc. I just want to give Panax Ginseng (also referred to red and Korean ginseng) a nod because I was taken back at how effective it was to keeping my mind sharp and awake. I always assumed adaptogens would never be as potent as something like -afinil class of nootropics and boy was I wrong. I am currently trying out the sample pack from nootropic despot and you can definitely feel it, especially the GS-15 variant.
If for some reason you cannot get a hold or is risk adverse -afinil, -racetems or functional stims, I would highly urge you give ginseng extract a swirl. It will not disappoint. It is a well known adaptogen that has been heavily studied, used for hundreds of years and has an extensive array of health benefits.
Anecdotally speaking, and in terms of how stimulating it is, Panax ginseng lie somewhere between caffeine and -afinils. It gives a clear mindedness that is mildly refreshing. I can only speak for myself, but it does seem to build tolerance, the positive effects, however, remains.
Examine gives a nice overview of number of benefits an…
What they were answering
datagram · 2 points
Thanks for the response; maybe /u/MisterYouAreSoDumb will provide a lot number and other data here or in his coming post. I wonder if the adulteration was deliberate or if there was a supplier issue although it seems NuSci may do their own extractions.
I know you have a backlog of categories, and tests depend on funding, but does LabDoor plan to periodically re-test product categories, and if so, how often?
While I have your attention, how can I request a spirulina ranking? Also, can you give more info on the /ingredient section of your website? I found this link https://labdoor.com/ingredient/spirulina/ but I receive a 404 when trying to browse https://labdoor.com/ingredient/. I also can't find anywhere on the site that links to ingredients.
u/MisterYouAreSoDumb · Ceretropic & Nootropics Depot
First off, the price NuSci changes retail is below our bulk cost from our suppliers. There is no way their product was ever Panax Ginseng. Also, the color of the powder on the picture on LabDoor's site looks exactly the same as the batch we got, which feels exactly like corn starch. This is not a batch issue. I am more than willing for LabDoor to send me the batch they used, and I will pay to have the tests run again on that batch. I will commit virtual seppuku if it actually has the numbers stated. There is no way it does.
Also, how in the flying hell is LabDoor rating Panax Ginseng, but not testing whether or not it is actually Panax Ginseng?!?! That's the entire purpose of their site!!!!
This is a much bigger problem than just Panax Gisneng, though. My team has contacted LabDoor a few times for their results and methods, and they say they do not have them. When we asked about their magnesium glycinate analyses, asking if they would be willing to give us their analytical methods. They came back with: "We contracted Covance for our magnesium analyses, as all our ICP work is outsourced right now. We do not have the methods." Here is the issue, ICP-MS (and ICP-OES) is only used for heavy metals analysis. It does not test identity or purity of non-metals, like the glycine in glycinate. They need to run titration testing for magnesium glycinate purity. Them not even knowing that is a huge red flag.
Here is an article on the misuse of ICP for purity analysis: https://www.jostchemical.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Misuse-of-ICP-and-OES-for-Routine-Assay-Analysis.pdf
ICP-MS and ICP-OES are for trace element analysis, not purity. A company trying to be an authority on testing, and be the company people turn to for trust in rankings, need to know this. They need to be EXPERTS in analytical chemistry, or their project is nothing more than a fancy affiliate marketing strategy. Analytical methods matter.
There are a bunch of other issues we are not going to get into right now. However, I am building up our data, and getting my ducks in a row to address them all. I'll stick to the Panax Ginseng for now.
For the NuSci testing, they do not show raw data outputs, and do not give the methods used. They only post their interpretation of whatever data they are looking at. They say that the NuSci stuff has 12.7% ginsenosides, but how they they arrive at that number? Where is the data? They are just numbers on a screen without evidence. Also, why are they testing one and a half year old product? Should they not be testing the latest batches? There are GLARING issues with the NuSci product; even before testing it. It's too white, and feels like starch. The price is impossible to do, and the taste is completely off. Just run an iodine test on it. It's almost totally starch! After our HPLC and HP-TLC testing, we know it is NOT Panax Ginseng, only has 2.2% ginsenosides, the individual ginsenosides are not what would be seen in Panax Ginseng, and is full of starch. This is their #1 value ranking, and it is completely fake. It's insanity!