Ginseng improves the condition of patients with congestive heart failure and raises levels of T3 and T4. - GreenMedInfo Summary

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of Ginseng injection on congestive heart failure (CHF) and its influence on thyroid hormones. METHODS: Fifty-four Patients of CHF were divided into two groups. On the basis of conventional treatment of western medicine, the Ginseng injection was given to the treated group additionally. Blood level of triiodothyronine (T3), thyroxine (T4), reverse triiodothyronine (rT3) and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) of all patients were determined before and after treatment by radioimmunoassay. RESULTS: There were significant difference between the treated group and the control group in cure rate and mean course of therapy. The levels of T3 and T4 of all patients were lower than those of the normal control before treatment, and rT3 were higher. Two weeks after treatment, T3 and T4 level in all patients increased significantly and rT3 level significantly decreased(P < 0.05, P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Ginseng injection has a good effect on patients with CHF. It also has regulatory effect on thyroid hormones.