Panax ginseng (Asian or Korean ginseng) is a root used in traditional Chinese medicine as a tonic and "adaptogen." As a supplement it is promoted for stress, fatigue, thinking, sexual function, blood sugar and athletic performance; red and white ginseng are the same plant prepared two ways.
Also known as: Asian ginseng, Korean ginseng, Korean red ginseng, Chinese ginseng, ginsenosides.
There is no intake value or upper limit, and NCCIH gives no standard amount. Products vary; the compounds thought to matter most are called ginsenosides.
It is sold in the US as a dietary supplement. Under the 1994 dietary supplement law (DSHEA), FDA does not approve dietary supplements before they are marketed, and the maker, not FDA, is responsible for safety and labeling. NCCIH says most ginseng trials have been small (under 200 people) and shorter than 3 months.
What studies show, per NCCIH: a small amount of research suggests it may help thinking in middle-aged adults but not young adults; a 2023 review found a small benefit for general fatigue (the review itself found no overall effect across all fatigue types, with small effects in subgroups); a 2022 review found improvements in blood sugar and cholesterol in people with prediabetes or diabetes, though evidence on blood sugar control is conflicting; and some research suggests it improves sexual function in erectile dysfunction. Most research shows it does not improve athletic performance, which the NIH Office of Dietary Supplements also concludes.
Safety: NCCIH says short-term use (up to 6 months) appears safe for most people. Trouble sleeping is the most common side effect; rare ones include severe rash, liver damage and severe allergic reactions. It may worsen autoimmune disorders, interfere with blood clotting and lower blood sugar (NCCIH advises people with diabetes to talk to their provider first), and it might interact with medicines. It may be unsafe in pregnancy, as one of its chemicals caused birth defects in animals. ODS adds headache and stomach upset.
We could not find a single published half-life or time to peak for Panax ginseng that applies to a supplement dose, so we do not list one. Herbal products are mixtures of many plant compounds, so no single figure would describe them.
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