Ginseng
Panax ginseng
A root long used in traditional Chinese medicine as a calming herb and an adaptogen. Research on its effects is mixed.
Ginseng may interact with some medicines. If you take any medicine, read Interactions with medicines below and talk to your doctor or pharmacist before using it.
What is Ginseng?
- Plant family
- Araliaceae, the ginseng family
- Parts used
- The root
- Where it grows
- The Far East, including Korea, northeastern China and far-eastern Siberia
- Genus
- Panax
- Species
- ginseng
Also called
Asian Ginseng, Chinese Ginseng, Korean Ginseng, Red Ginseng, White Ginseng
Traditionally used for
- Energy
- Thinking and focus
- Blood sugar
- Alongside lung cancer chemotherapy (studied)
Traditionally described as
- Adaptogen
- Calming
Health topics
Where Ginseng appears in symptom search, and why. Being listed doesn't mean it's a proven treatment.
- High Blood Pressure
A review of 17 trials found ginseng didn't raise or lower blood pressure.
- High Blood Sugar
Some studies in people with prediabetes or diabetes found lower fasting blood sugar, but the results conflict.
- High Cholesterol
A 2022 review found lower total cholesterol in people with prediabetes or diabetes, but the research is inconclusive.
- Liver Safety Warnings
Liver damage has been reported with Asian ginseng.
- Low Blood Pressure
In a small study without a comparison group, chewing Korean red ginseng reduced drops in blood pressure during kidney dialysis.
Traditions that use it
Traditional Chinese Medicine
Used in traditional Chinese medicine as a calming herb, and as an adaptogen.
Safety
Interactions with medicines
Asian ginseng might lower blood sugar and may interfere with blood clotting. It may interact with some medicines, so check with your health care provider before using it.[1]
Who should avoid it
Experts recommend against Asian ginseng for babies, children and people who are pregnant or breastfeeding. It may make autoimmune conditions worse.[1]
Side effects
Taking Asian ginseng by mouth for up to 6 months in recommended amounts appears safe for most people. The most common side effect is trouble sleeping. Severe rashes, liver damage and severe allergic reactions have also been reported.[1]
Pregnancy
Asian ginseng may be unsafe during pregnancy. One of its compounds caused birth defects in animal studies.[1]
What does the research say?
Traditional use
These are traditional uses, not proven treatments.
Asian ginseng has been used as a calming herb in traditional Chinese medicine and as an adaptogen. The root is the part most often used.[1]
Research in people
Research in people so far suggests:
- Thinking: it may improve abstract thinking, attention, arithmetic and reaction time in middle-aged adults, but not in young adults.
- Tiredness: a 2023 review found it may have a small benefit for general fatigue.
- Blood sugar: a 2022 review found improvements in fasting blood sugar, total cholesterol and some markers of inflammation in people with prediabetes or diabetes, but overall the research is inconclusive and conflicting.
- Erectile dysfunction: it seems to improve sexual function.
- Exercise: most research shows it doesn't improve athletic performance.
- Flu: early research suggests it may lower the risk of getting the flu, but not how bad it is or how long it lasts.
A 2016 review of 17 trials with 1,381 people found ginseng had no significant effect on blood pressure, up or down. The authors concluded people don't need to avoid ginseng out of concern that it raises blood pressure, and called for better trials.[2]
Technical detail: randomized controlled trials lasting 4 weeks or more; systolic, diastolic and mean arterial pressure; genus Panax.
A 2021 review combined 28 trials with 2,503 people with the most common type of lung cancer (non-small cell). Adding ginseng or its compounds to chemotherapy was linked to:
- More tumours shrinking or staying stable
- Fewer side effects, such as low blood counts, liver damage, nausea and vomiting, and diarrhoea
- Better quality of life
- More people alive at 1 and 2 years
Most of the trials were of low to moderate quality, so stronger trials are needed to confirm this.[3]
Technical detail: objective response rate RR 1.35 (95% CI 1.21 to 1.50); disease control rate RR 1.20 (1.14 to 1.28); leucopenia RR 0.59 (0.50 to 0.70); hepatotoxicity RR 0.67 (0.52 to 0.87); 1-year survival RR 1.35 (1.13 to 1.60); 2-year survival RR 3.21 (1.51 to 6.81); quality of life 1.31 (1.22 to 1.41). Included whole ginseng, ginsenosides and ginseng polysaccharides.
Blood pressure often drops too low during kidney dialysis. In a 2012 study, 38 people with this problem chewed 3.5 g of Korean red ginseng slices at each dialysis session for 4 weeks. Their blood pressure fell less during dialysis, and they had fewer sessions disrupted by symptoms of low blood pressure. The study compared people with themselves before treatment, without a dummy-treatment group.[4]
Technical detail: intradialytic hypotension; raised endothelin-1 and angiotensin II after dialysis (p < 0.01).
In short
May lower blood sugar and affect blood clotting; not for children or during pregnancy or breastfeeding.
Sources
- [1] Asian Ginseng: Usefulness and Safety — National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NIH)Government health agency
- [2] The effect of ginseng (genus Panax) on blood pressure: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled clinical trials — Journal of Human Hypertension · DOI: 10.1038/jhh.2016.18Review or clinical trial
- [3] Efficacy of ginseng and its ingredients as adjuvants to chemotherapy in non-small cell lung cancer — Food & Function · DOI: 10.1039/d0fo03341cReview or clinical trial
- [4] Korean red ginseng improves blood pressure stability in patients with intradialytic hypotension — Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine · DOI: 10.1155/2012/595271Peer-reviewed study
This information is educational and traditional in nature, and is not a substitute for professional medical advice.