What Is Ginseng Good For? Trials, Species, UK Registration

Ginseng on a UK label can mean three plants: Panax ginseng, American Panax quinquefolius, or Siberian ginseng, which is Eleutherococcus senticosus and not a ginseng. The trials measured fatigue, blood pressure, blood sugar, a warfarin interaction and erectile function. No health claim is authorised; two UK medicines are registered for fatigue on traditional use only. This page sits in our guide to whether mushroom supplements work.

Which ginseng is which? Panax, American and Siberian

Panax ginseng is Korean, Chinese or Asian ginseng; Korean red ginseng is the same root steamed before drying. Panax quinquefolius is American ginseng, a second species of the same genus. "Siberian ginseng" is Eleutherococcus senticosus, a different genus. "Indian ginseng" is a nickname for ashwagandha, an unrelated shrub. The species matters: the warfarin, cold and cancer-fatigue findings split by plant, so every trial here names it.

Is ginseng good for energy or fatigue? What the trials found

A small effect in a few small trials, and nothing for physical performance. A 2016 meta-analysis of 12 trials in 630 people found a small fall in fatigue scores across four trials (standardised mean difference 0.34), no change in physical performance across eight, and called the evidence "insufficient".¹ The larger trials split by species: 2,000 mg a day of American ginseng beat placebo in 364 cancer survivors at eight weeks but not at the four-week primary endpoint;² Panax ginseng did no better than placebo in 127 people with advanced cancer;³ Siberian ginseng was no better than placebo in two trials.^{4, 5}

What does the UK traditional herbal registration for ginseng mean?

The MHRA list of traditional herbal registrations dated 27 October 2025 carries two ginseng entries, THR 44893/0038 and 44893/0039, a capsule (30 to 55 mg of dry Panax ginseng root extract) and a syrup, under the heading "Traditional herbal medicinal product used [ ], based on traditional use only" with the indication "for the temporary relief of fatigue, weakness and exhaustion".⁶ A registration records long use for a minor symptom, not proof of effect; the NHS says herbal medicines "are not tested in the same way as standard medicines".⁷ A ginseng food supplement is not a registered medicine and cannot borrow that wording, and no health claim for ginseng is authorised in Great Britain.

Does ginseng raise or lower blood pressure?

Neither, across the pooled trials. A 2016 meta-analysis of 17 trials in 1,381 adults found "no significant effect of ginseng on SBP, DBP and MAP" and concluded that it "should not be discouraged for concern of increased BP".⁸ A 2017 review found that in two longer trials of 183 people Korean red ginseng lowered systolic pressure by 2.92 mmHg and diastolic by 3.19 mmHg, and two American ginseng trials found no change.⁹ Anyone on a blood-pressure medicine tells their GP first; the NHS lists blood-pressure medicines among those that may not mix well with herbal medicines.⁷

Does ginseng lower blood sugar, and can you take it with diabetes medicines?

A little, on fasting glucose; not on HbA1c. A 2014 meta-analysis of 16 trials found fasting glucose 0.31 mmol/L lower on ginseng than control (95% CI -0.59 to -0.03), HbA1c unchanged, and two thirds of trials shorter than 12 weeks.¹⁰ Anyone on insulin, a sulfonylurea or metformin tells the diabetes team first; the NHS names "medicines for diabetes, such as metformin" among those that may not mix well with herbal medicines.⁷

Does ginseng interact with warfarin or antidepressants?

With warfarin, it depends on the plant. In 20 healthy adults, two weeks of American ginseng lowered warfarin's peak INR by 0.19 (95% CI -0.36 to -0.07).¹¹ Three trials of Panax ginseng found no change in INR: 12 healthy men,¹² 25 people after a stroke,¹³ and 25 people with a replacement heart valve taking 1 g of Korean red ginseng a day for six weeks.¹⁴ The NHS warfarin page says to "tell your doctor if you're taking any other medicines, herbal remedies, vitamins or supplements".¹⁵ Antidepressants: a 2002 safety review found adverse events "similar to that with placebo", most often headache, sleep and gastrointestinal disorders, and lists possible interactions "with warfarin, phenelzine and alcohol" (phenelzine is an antidepressant).¹⁶ Anyone on an antidepressant asks the pharmacist first; the medicine-by-medicine table covers the other species; what ginkgo biloba is good for covers ginkgo.

What did the trials in men and in menopausal women find?

Trivial, in Cochrane's word, for erections. The 2021 Cochrane review of nine trials in 587 men with mild to moderate erectile dysfunction found a 3.52-point rise on a 30-point erectile function score, below the 4 points the reviewers set as meaningful.¹⁷ Erection problems that keep happening are a GP matter. In women, a 2022 review of 15 placebo-controlled trials found ginseng slightly lowered hot flushes (SMD -0.34) across three trials, did not change sexual function across three others (SMD 0.31, p = 0.32), with hormones unchanged.¹⁸ The Korean red ginseng trial in 32 menopausal women is covered on libido supplements for women.

Who should not take ginseng?

Pregnancy, breastfeeding and under-18s: the NHS says herbal medicines "are not recommended for children" and should not be taken if "you're pregnant or breastfeeding" or "you have kidney or liver problems".⁷ Side effects in trials were headache, poor sleep and stomach upset at rates similar to placebo.¹⁶ Before any operation, tell the pre-operative assessment team about every supplement. A suspected reaction goes to Yellow Card.¹⁹

Frequently asked questions

Is ginseng the same as ashwagandha?

No. Ashwagandha is Withania somnifera, a shrub covered in the ashwagandha guide; "Indian ginseng" is a nickname, not a relationship. Neither is ranked here: ashwagandha vs lion's mane shows how a comparison is done.

Can you take ginseng and ginkgo together?

The pair has been tested, in one fixed combination. Four studies of capsules holding 60 mg of ginkgo extract with 100 mg of ginseng extract exist, all from one research group; the largest, a 14-week placebo-controlled trial in 256 healthy middle-aged volunteers, found a 7.5% improvement in a computerised memory index and measured nothing on safety beyond tolerability.²⁰ Both carry the warfarin caution above; see the ginkgo page.

Is ginseng registered as a medicine in the UK?

Two Panax ginseng products are, as traditional herbal medicines "for the temporary relief of fatigue, weakness and exhaustion" on traditional use only;⁶ a ginseng food supplement is sold under food law with no authorised health claim.

How much ginseng did the trials use?

From 400 mg twice daily of Panax ginseng for four weeks to 2,000 mg a day of American ginseng for eight weeks, and 120 mg a day of Siberian ginseng extract for eight weeks.^{2, 3, 5} Red ginseng also appears as a single-trial ingredient in hangover pills.

Does ginseng help with colds?

Not shown. A 2011 systematic review found five trials in 747 adults, all of American ginseng: the chance of at least one cold was not significantly lower (RR 0.70, 95% CI 0.48 to 1.02), two trials found colds about six days shorter, and the reviewers called the evidence insufficient.²¹ No Panax ginseng cold trial was found.

Sources

1. Bach HV, et al. Efficacy of ginseng supplements on fatigue and physical performance: a meta-analysis. Journal of Korean Medical Science, 2016. PubMed 27822924.
2. Barton DL, et al. Wisconsin ginseng (Panax quinquefolius) to improve cancer-related fatigue: a randomized, double-blind trial, N07C2. Journal of the National Cancer Institute, 2013. PubMed 23853057.
3. Yennurajalingam S, et al. A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial of Panax ginseng for cancer-related fatigue in patients with advanced cancer. Journal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, 2017. PubMed 28874596.
4. Hartz AJ, et al. Randomized controlled trial of Siberian ginseng for chronic fatigue. Psychological Medicine, 2004. PubMed 14971626.
5. Schaffler K, et al. No benefit adding Eleutherococcus senticosus to stress management training in stress-related fatigue/weakness, impaired work or concentration, a randomized controlled study. Pharmacopsychiatry, 2013. PubMed 23740477.
6. MHRA. Herbal medicines granted a traditional herbal registration (THR). List dated 27 October 2025. gov.uk.
7. NHS. Herbal medicines. Page last reviewed 1 May 2026. nhs.uk.
8. Komishon AM, et al. The effect of ginseng (genus Panax) on blood pressure: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled clinical trials. Journal of Human Hypertension, 2016. PubMed 27074879.
9. Lee HW, et al. Ginseng for treating hypertension: a systematic review and meta-analysis of double blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trials. Current Vascular Pharmacology, 2017. PubMed 28707603.
10. Shishtar E, et al. The effect of ginseng (the genus Panax) on glycemic control: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled clinical trials. PLoS One, 2014. PubMed 25265315.
11. Yuan CS, et al. American ginseng reduces warfarin's effect in healthy patients: a randomized, controlled trial. Annals of Internal Medicine, 2004. PubMed 15238367.
12. Jiang X, et al. Effect of St John's wort and ginseng on the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of warfarin in healthy subjects. British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology, 2004. PubMed 15089812.
13. Lee SH, et al. Interaction between warfarin and Panax ginseng in ischemic stroke patients. Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 2008. PubMed 18637764.
14. Lee YH, et al. Interaction between warfarin and Korean red ginseng in patients with cardiac valve replacement. International Journal of Cardiology, 2010. PubMed 19913311.
15. NHS. Warfarin. Page last reviewed 24 February 2026. nhs.uk.
16. Coon JT, Ernst E. Panax ginseng: a systematic review of adverse effects and drug interactions. Drug Safety, 2002. PubMed 12020172.
17. Lee HW, et al. Ginseng for erectile dysfunction. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2021. PubMed 33871063.
18. Lee HW, et al. Using ginseng for menopausal women's health care: a systematic review of randomized placebo-controlled trials. Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice, 2022. PubMed 35691259.
19. MHRA. Yellow Card. yellowcard.mhra.gov.uk.
20. Wesnes KA, et al. The memory enhancing effects of a Ginkgo biloba/Panax ginseng combination in healthy middle-aged volunteers. Psychopharmacology, 2000. PubMed 11140327.
21. Seida JK, et al. North American (Panax quinquefolius) and Asian ginseng (Panax ginseng) preparations for prevention of the common cold in healthy adults: a systematic review. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2011. PubMed 19592479.