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Panax ginseng, also known as Korean ginseng, is an herb that has been used for various health purposes. It should not be confused with other forms of ginseng.
Panax ginseng is a plant that grows in Korea, China, and Siberia. It's considered an adaptogen, which are natural substances that are believed to stimulate the body's resistance to stressors. Panax ginseng contains many active chemicals. The most important are called ginsenosides or panaxosides.
Panax ginseng is taken by mouth for memory and thinking skills, Alzheimer disease, depression, and many other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support many of these uses.
Don't confuse Panax ginseng with other plants sometimes referred to as ginseng like American ginseng, Blue Cohosh, Canaigre, Codonopsis, Eleuthero, or Panax Notoginseng. These are different plants with different effects.
- Cognitive function. In middle-aged individuals, but not young adults, oral Panax ginseng seems to improve abstract thinking, attention, arithmetic skills, and reaction time. Any benefit to memory seems to be dependent on the inclusion of ginkgo.
Login for details - Erectile dysfunction (ED). Oral Panax ginseng seems to improve sexual function in people with ED.
Login for details - Influenza. Oral Panax ginseng seems to modestly reduce the risk of developing influenza. However, it might not reduce the severity or duration of symptoms.
Login for details - Multiple sclerosis-related fatigue. Oral Panax ginseng seems to reduce fatigue and improve quality of life in patients with multiple sclerosis.
Login for details - Sexual arousal. Oral Panax ginseng, alone or in combination with other ingredients, seems to improve sexual arousal in postmenopausal adults or females with sexual dysfunction.
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- Athletic performance. Most research shows that oral Panax ginseng does not improve athletic performance.
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- Aging. Login for details
- Attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Oral Panax ginseng has only been evaluated in combination with other ingredients; its effect when used alone is unclear.
Login for details - Age-related cognitive decline. It is unclear if oral Panax ginseng is beneficial in age-related cognitive decline.
Login for details - Allergic rhinitis (hay fever). It is unclear if oral Panax ginseng is beneficial in allergic rhinitis.
Login for details - Alzheimer disease. Some preliminary clinical studies suggest that oral Panax ginseng might improve cognitive performance in patients with this condition.
Login for details - Androgenic alopecia. Topical Panax ginseng has only been evaluated in combination with other ingredients; its effect when used alone is unclear.
Login for details - Anxiety. Login for details
- Aplastic anemia. Login for details
- Asthma. Login for details
- Breast cancer. It is unclear if oral Panax ginseng is beneficial in breast cancer.
Login for details - Bronchitis. It is unclear if oral Panax ginseng is beneficial in bronchitis.
Login for details - Cancer. It is unclear if oral Panax ginseng is beneficial in preventing cancer. However, it might increase quality of life in some cancer patients.
Login for details - Cancer-related fatigue. It is unclear if oral Panax ginseng is beneficial in cancer-related fatigue.
Login for details - Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). It is unclear if oral Panax ginseng is beneficial in patients with severe CFS.
Login for details - Cognitive impairment. Oral Panax ginseng has only been evaluated in combination with other ingredients; its effect when used alone is unclear.
Login for details - Common cold. It is unclear if oral Panax ginseng is beneficial in preventing the common cold.
Login for details - Congestive heart failure (CHF). It is unclear if oral Panax ginseng is beneficial in CHF.
Login for details - Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Oral Panax ginseng has primarily been evaluated in combination with other ingredients for improving symptoms of COPD; its effect when used alone is unclear. Taking Panax ginseng doesn't seem to prevent exacerbations.
Login for details - Depression. It is unclear if Panax ginseng is beneficial in depression.
Login for details - Diabetes. Research on the use of oral Panax ginseng for improving glycemic control in patients with diabetes is inconclusive and conflicting.
Login for details - Diabetic neuropathy. It is unclear if oral Panax ginseng is beneficial in diabetic neuropathy.
Login for details - Exercise-induced muscle damage. Login for details
- Fatigue. Most clinical research shows that oral Panax ginseng can reduce fatigue in adults with idiopathic chronic fatigue. However, not all research agrees.
Login for details - Fibromyalgia. It is unclear if oral Panax ginseng is beneficial for fibromyalgia.
Login for details - Gallbladder disease. It is unclear if oral Panax ginseng is beneficial for gallbladder disease.
Login for details - Gastritis. Login for details
- Glaucoma. It is unclear if oral Panax ginseng is beneficial for glaucoma.
Login for details - Halitosis. It is unclear if oral Panax ginseng is beneficial for halitosis.
Login for details - Hangover. It is unclear if oral Panax ginseng is beneficial for hangover.
Login for details - Hearing loss. It is unclear if oral Panax ginseng is beneficial for hearing loss.
Login for details - HIV/AIDS. It is unclear if oral Panax ginseng is beneficial for this condition.
Login for details - Hypertension. It is unclear if oral Panax ginseng is beneficial for hypertension.
Login for details - Impaired glucose tolerance (prediabetes). It is unclear if oral Panax ginseng is beneficial for impaired glucose tolerance.
Login for details - Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Login for details
- Insomnia. Login for details
- Liver disease. Login for details
- Male infertility. It is unclear if oral Panax ginseng is beneficial for male infertility.
Login for details - Menopausal symptoms. Research on oral Panax ginseng for menopausal symptoms has yielded conflicting results.
Login for details - Metabolic syndrome. It is unclear if oral Panax ginseng is beneficial for metabolic syndrome.
Login for details - Nausea and vomiting. Login for details
- Neuropathic pain. Login for details
- Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). It is unclear if oral Panax ginseng is beneficial for NAFLD.
Login for details - Osteoarthritis. It is unclear if oral Panax ginseng is beneficial for osteoarthritis of the hand.
Login for details - Premature ejaculation. Oral Panax ginseng has primarily been evaluated in combination with other ingredients; its effect when used alone is unclear.
Login for details - Quality of life. It is unclear if oral Panax ginseng is beneficial for quality of life.
Login for details - Rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Login for details
- Stress. It is unclear if oral Panax ginseng is beneficial for stress.
Login for details - Wrinkled skin. It is unclear if oral Panax ginseng is beneficial for wrinkled skin.
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When taken by mouth: Panax ginseng is likely safe when taken for up to 6 months. Panax ginseng is possibly unsafe when taken for more than 6 months. It might have some hormone-like effects that could be harmful when used long-term. The most common side effect is trouble sleeping. Uncommon side effects that have been reported include severe rash, liver damage, and severe allergic reactions.
When applied to the skin: There isn't enough reliable information to know if Panax ginseng is safe. It might cause side effects such as irritation and burning.
Special Precautions & Warnings:
Pregnancy: Panax ginseng is possibly unsafe when taken by mouth during pregnancy. One of the chemicals in Panax ginseng has been found to cause birth defects in animals. Do not use Panax ginseng if you are pregnant.Breast-feeding: There isn't enough reliable information to know if Panax ginseng is safe to use when breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use.
Children: Panax ginseng is likely unsafe in infants and children. Panax ginseng has been linked to fatal poisoning in newborns. It's not clear if it's safe in older children. Until more is known, do not use Panax ginseng in children.
"Auto-immune diseases" such as multiple sclerosis (MS), lupus (systemic lupus erythematosus, SLE), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), or other conditions: Panax ginseng seems to increase the activity of the immune system. It might make auto-immune diseases worse. Don't use Panax ginseng if you have any auto-immune condition.
Bleeding conditions: Panax ginseng seems to interfere with blood clotting. Don't use Panax ginseng if you have a bleeding condition.
Heart conditions: Panax ginseng can affect heart rhythm and blood pressure slightly on the first day it is used. Use Panax ginseng with caution if you have heart disease.
Hormone-sensitive conditions such as breast cancer, uterine cancer, ovarian cancer, endometriosis, or uterine fibroids: Panax ginseng contains chemicals (ginsenosides) that can act like estrogen. If you have any condition that might be made worse by exposure to estrogen, don't use Panax ginseng.
Trouble sleeping (insomnia): High doses of Panax ginseng have been linked with insomnia. If you have trouble sleeping, use Panax ginseng with caution.
Suppressed immune system: Panax ginseng might make the immune system more active. This could interfere with the effects of medications that suppress the immune system, such as those given after an organ transplant. If your immune system is suppressed, don't use Panax ginseng.
Schizophrenia: High doses of Panax ginseng have been linked with sleep problems and agitation in people with schizophrenia. Be careful when using Panax ginseng if you have schizophrenia.
Alcohol
Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.
The body breaks down alcohol to get rid of it. Taking Panax ginseng might increase how fast your body gets rid of alcohol.
Caffeine
Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.
Caffeine can speed up the nervous system. By speeding up the nervous system, caffeine can make you feel jittery and speed up your heartbeat. Panax ginseng might also speed up the nervous system. Taking Panax ginseng along with caffeine might cause serious problems including increased heart rate and high blood pressure. Avoid taking caffeine along with Panax ginseng.
Furosemide (Lasix)
Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.
Some scientists think that Panax ginseng might decrease how well furosemide (Lasix) works. But there isn't enough information to know if this is a big concern.
Insulin
Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.
Panax ginseng might decrease blood sugar. Insulin is also used to decrease blood sugar. Taking Panax ginseng along with insulin might cause your blood sugar to be too low. Monitor your blood sugar closely. The dose of your insulin might need to be changed.
Medications changed by the liver (Cytochrome P450 2D6 (CYP2D6) substrates)
Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.
Some medications are changed and broken down by the liver. Panax ginseng might decrease how quickly the liver breaks down some medications. Taking Panax ginseng along with some medications that are changed by the liver can increase the effects and side effects of your medication. Before taking Panax ginseng talk to your healthcare provider if you take any medications that are changed by the liver.
Some medications that are changed by the liver include amitriptyline (Elavil), clozapine (Clozaril), codeine, desipramine (Norpramin), donepezil (Aricept), fentanyl (Duragesic), flecainide (Tambocor), fluoxetine (Prozac), meperidine (Demerol), methadone (Dolophine), metoprolol (Lopressor, Toprol XL), olanzapine (Zyprexa), ondansetron (Zofran), tramadol (Ultram), trazodone (Desyrel), and others.
Medications for depression (MAOIs)
Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.
Panax ginseng might stimulate the body. Some medications used for depression can also stimulate the body. Taking Panax ginseng with these medications used for depression might cause too much stimulation. This might cause side effects such as anxiousness, headache, restlessness, and insomnia.
Some of these medications used for depression include phenelzine (Nardil), tranylcypromine (Parnate), and others.
Medications for diabetes (Antidiabetes drugs)
Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.
Panax ginseng might decrease blood sugar. Diabetes medications are also used to lower blood sugar. Taking Panax ginseng along with diabetes medications might cause your blood sugar to go too low. Monitor your blood sugar closely. The dose of your diabetes medication might need to be changed.
Some medications used for diabetes include glimepiride (Amaryl), glyburide (DiaBeta, Glynase PresTab, Micronase), insulin, pioglitazone (Actos), rosiglitazone (Avandia), chlorpropamide (Diabinese), glipizide (Glucotrol), tolbutamide (Orinase), and others.
Medications that decrease the immune system (Immunosuppressants)
Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.
Panax ginseng increases the immune system. By increasing the immune system, Panax ginseng might decrease the effectiveness of medications that decrease the immune system.
Some medications that decrease the immune system include azathioprine (Imuran), basiliximab (Simulect), cyclosporine (Neoral, Sandimmune), daclizumab (Zenapax), muromonab-CD3 (OKT3, Orthoclone OKT3), mycophenolate (CellCept), tacrolimus (FK506, Prograf), sirolimus (Rapamune), prednisone (Deltasone, Orasone), corticosteroids (glucocorticoids), and others.
Medications that slow blood clotting (Anticoagulant / Antiplatelet drugs)
Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.
Panax ginseng might slow blood clotting. Taking Panax ginseng along with medications that also slow clotting might increase the chances of bruising and bleeding.
Some medications that slow blood clotting include aspirin, clopidogrel (Plavix), diclofenac (Voltaren, Cataflam, others), ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, others), naproxen (Anaprox, Naprosyn, others), dalteparin (Fragmin), enoxaparin (Lovenox), heparin, warfarin (Coumadin), and others.
Stimulant drugs
Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.
Stimulant drugs speed up the nervous system. By speeding up the nervous system, stimulant medications can make you feel jittery and speed up your heartbeat. Panax ginseng might also speed up the nervous system. Taking Panax ginseng along with stimulant drugs might cause serious problems including increased heart rate and high blood pressure. Avoid taking stimulant drugs along with Panax ginseng.
Some stimulant drugs include diethylpropion (Tenuate), epinephrine, phentermine (Ionamin), pseudoephedrine (Sudafed), and many others.
Warfarin (Coumadin)
Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.
Warfarin (Coumadin) is used to slow blood clotting. There is some concern that Panax ginseng might decrease the effectiveness of warfarin (Coumadin). But it's not clear if this interaction is a big problem. Be sure to have your blood checked regularly. The dose of your warfarin (Coumadin) might need to be changed.
Herbs and supplements that might cause an irregular heartbeat (QT interval-prolonging drugs): Panax ginseng might affect electrical currents in the heart. This can increase the risk of having an irregular heartbeat. Taking Panax ginseng with other supplements with similar effects might increase the risk for a serious heart issue. Examples of supplements with this effect include bitter orange, ephedra, grapefruit, and iboga.
Herbs and supplements that might lower blood sugar: Panax ginseng might lower blood sugar. Taking it with other supplements with similar effects might lower blood sugar too much. Examples of supplements with this effect include aloe, bitter melon, cassia cinnamon, chromium, and prickly pear cactus.
Herbs and supplements that might slow blood clotting: Panax ginseng might slow blood clotting and increase the risk of bleeding. Taking it with other supplements with similar effects might increase the risk of bleeding in some people. Examples of supplements with this effect include garlic, ginger, ginkgo, and nattokinase.
There are no known interactions with foods.
Panax ginseng has most often been used by adults in doses of 200 mg to 3 grams by mouth daily for up to 12 weeks. Speak with a healthcare provider to find out what dose might be best for a specific condition.
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