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.

Sources checked on 29 October 2026.

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.

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 cannot borrow that wording.

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 young adults given short courses of warfarin, two weeks of American ginseng lowered the 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 libido trials are 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 to a registered herbal medicine goes to the MHRA Yellow Card scheme; one to a food supplement goes to your local authority's trading standards or environmental health team, which works with the Food Standards Agency.¹⁹

What we don't know

No trial has compared the three plants sold as ginseng head to head, and none in healthy adults has run beyond a few months, so long-term effects are unmeasured.¹ The fatigue result rests on four small trials, and the one large positive trial, in cancer survivors, has not been repeated.^{1, 2} The warfarin finding comes from 20 healthy volunteers rather than patients on treatment doses, and no trial has tested ginseng with the newer anticoagulants.¹¹

Frequently asked questions

Is ginseng the same as ashwagandha?

No. Ashwagandha is Withania somnifera, a shrub covered in the ashwagandha guide.

Can you take ginseng and ginkgo together?

Capsules holding 60 mg of ginkgo extract with 100 mg of ginseng extract have been studied by one research group; in the largest trial, 256 healthy middle-aged volunteers completed 14 weeks and a computerised memory index rose 7.5% against placebo; the abstract reports no safety outcome.²⁰ Both carry the warfarin caution above; see the ginkgo page.

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 6.2 days shorter, and the reviewers called the evidence insufficient.²¹

Sources

1. Bach HV, et al. Efficacy of ginseng supplements on fatigue and physical performance. Meta-analysis, 12 randomised trials, 630 people; no conflicts declared. Journal of Korean Medical Science, 2016. PubMed 27822924.
2. Barton DL, et al. American ginseng for cancer-related fatigue (N07C2). Randomised trial, 364 cancer survivors, 8 weeks; US National Institutes of Health funded. Journal of the National Cancer Institute, 2013. PubMed 23853057.
3. Yennurajalingam S, et al. Panax ginseng for cancer-related fatigue in advanced cancer. Randomised trial, 127 patients, 28 days; funding not stated. Journal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, 2017. PubMed 28874596.
4. Hartz AJ, et al. Siberian ginseng for chronic fatigue. Randomised trial, 96 adults, 2 months; US government funded. Psychological Medicine, 2004. PubMed 14971626.
5. Schaffler K, et al. Eleutherococcus senticosus added to stress management training. Randomised trial, 144 adults, 8 weeks; funding not stated. Pharmacopsychiatry, 2013. PubMed 23740477.
6. MHRA. Herbal medicines granted a traditional herbal registration (THR). List dated 27 October 2025, page updated 28 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. Meta-analysis, 17 randomised trials, 1,381 adults; funding not stated. Journal of Human Hypertension, 2016. PubMed 27074879.
9. Lee HW, et al. Ginseng for treating hypertension. Meta-analysis, 9 randomised trials; funding not stated. Current Vascular Pharmacology, 2017. PubMed 28707603.
10. Shishtar E, et al. The effect of ginseng (the genus Panax) on glycemic control. Meta-analysis, 16 randomised trials, 770 people; several authors declare industry links. PLoS One, 2014. PubMed 25265315.
11. Yuan CS, et al. American ginseng reduces warfarin's effect in healthy patients. Randomised trial, 20 healthy adults, 4 weeks; US government funded. Annals of Internal Medicine, 2004. PubMed 15238367.
12. Jiang X, et al. St John's wort and ginseng with warfarin in healthy subjects. Randomised crossover study, 12 healthy men; funding not stated. British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology, 2004. PubMed 15089812.
13. Lee SH, et al. Warfarin and Panax ginseng in ischaemic stroke patients. Randomised open-label trial, 25 patients, 2 weeks; funding not stated. Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 2008. PubMed 18637764.
14. Lee YH, et al. Warfarin and Korean red ginseng in patients with cardiac valve replacement. Randomised double-blind crossover study, 25 patients, 6 weeks; funding not stated. 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. Systematic review. Drug Safety, 2002. PubMed 12020172.
17. Lee HW, et al. Ginseng for erectile dysfunction. Cochrane review, 9 trials, 587 men; non-commercial. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2021. PubMed 33871063.
18. Lee HW, et al. Ginseng for menopausal women's health care. Systematic review, 15 placebo-controlled trials; funding not stated. Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice, 2022. PubMed 35691259.
19. MHRA. Yellow Card. yellowcard.mhra.gov.uk. Food Standards Agency. How to report a food safety or hygiene issue for members of the public. gov.uk.
20. Wesnes KA, et al. A Ginkgo biloba/Panax ginseng combination in healthy middle-aged volunteers. Randomised trial, 256 completers, 14 weeks; funding not stated, first author at a contract research company. Psychopharmacology, 2000. PubMed 11140327.
21. Seida JK, et al. North American and Asian ginseng for prevention of the common cold. Systematic review, 5 trials, 747 adults; funding not stated. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2011. PubMed 19592479.

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