5 Must-Have Chinese Herbal Products for Athletes (2023)

FAQs

What herbs do Chinese medicine use? ›

Herbs most commonly used in this manner include astragalus , dong quai , ginger , kudzu ( Pueraria lobata ), licorice , lycium , Panax ginseng , and schizandra .

Purportedly performance-enhancing herbs include those that benefit both endurance and strength athletes, such as ginseng (Panax species or Eleutherococcus senticosus), ephedra (Ephedra sinica) and arctic root (Rhodiola rosea).

Chinese herbal products have been studied for many medical problems, including stroke, heart disease, mental disorders, and respiratory diseases (such as bronchitis and the common cold), and a national survey showed that about one in five Americans use them.

Athletes are among those who use herbs for their own benefit. They believe that some herbs may help them to improve their performance, speed up recovery, maintain health and fitness during intense periods of training, increase muscle mass and reduce body fat.

Xiao Yao Wan is a well-known Chinese herbal supplement from Lan Zhou Foci that supports the health of your circulatory system and blood along with your liver and spleen.

Take the time to learn about the potential benefits, the health risks and the many unknowns regarding so-called performance-enhancing drugs such as anabolic steroids, androstenedione, human growth hormone, erythropoietin, diuretics, creatine and stimulants.

Ginseng is not included among the lists of banned stimulants for athletes⁶ because ingestion of P. ginseng did not result in positive test results for any banned substances after urine testing of elite athletes⁷. Accordingly, there is no risk of disqualification from drug-tested sporting events from using ginseng.

Ginseng (rénshēn, 人参)

This gnarled rhizome is perhaps one of the best known of the Chinese herbs.

Ginseng. Ginseng is a popular herbal supplement, well known for its energy-boosting properties. It has also been shown to stimulate brain function, making it a sought-after herb for improving sports and mental performance.

Do Chinese herbs really work? ›

Critics argue that there is no physiological evidence that qi or meridians exist, and scant evidence that TCM works. There have been just a handful of cases in which Chinese herbal treatments have proved effective in randomized controlled clinical trials.

Creatine helps produce ATP, your cells' most basic form of energy. This increases energy production during high intensity exercise and leads to improved performance and increased strength and muscle gain.

Because Rhodiola is more moderate and isn't on any lists of banned substances, it continues to intrigue modern researchers and athletes around the world.

Herbal products can pose unexpected risks because many supplements contain active ingredients that have strong effects in the body. For example, taking a combination of herbal supplements or using supplements together with prescription drugs could lead to harmful, even life-threatening results.

Chinese herbal medicines are mainly plant based, but some preparations include minerals or animal products. They can be packaged as powders, pastes, lotions or tablets, depending on the herb and its intended use. Different herbs have different properties and can balance particular parts of the body.

There are over 300 herbs in common use.

Critics argue that there is no physiological evidence that qi or meridians exist, and scant evidence that TCM works. There have been just a handful of cases in which Chinese herbal treatments have proved effective in randomized controlled clinical trials.