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Panax ginseng is commonly referred to as “Korean ginseng”. It appears to be effective for mood, immunity, and cognition, but is subpar for erectile function, testosterone, and exercise performance.
Panax Ginseng (Korean Ginseng) is most often used for
Last Updated:March 21, 2024
Panax ginseng, also known as Korean ginseng, is an herbaceous plant from the Araliaceae family used in traditional Chinese medicine for various preventative purposes and is primarily sourced from its roots. It is the species in the Panax genus that is most commonly used for medicinal supplements and is believed to enhance mood, cognition, and immune function.
Research on Panax ginseng indicates mixed results regarding its effects on mood and cognition; some studies have suggested short-lived improvements in mental health and inconclusive cognitive benefits. Additionally, Panax ginseng may have immunomodulatory properties and could reduce flu occurrences when taken with vaccination.
Can Panax ginseng be used to regulate appetite?
Are multivitamin supplements containing Panax ginseng effective?
Does Panax ginseng affect lipid profile and blood glucose?
Can Panax ginseng increase testosterone levels and help with erectile dysfunction?
Can Panax ginseng improve skin appearance?
Does Panax ginseng work for female sexual dysfunction?
Is Panax ginseng effective for menopausal symptoms?
The main drawbacks of Panax ginseng include potential gastrointestinal side effects and the risk of "ginseng abuse syndrome" with high doses or long-term use, which can lead to symptoms like hypertension and nervousness. Additionally, it may mildly inhibit certain enzymes that are involved in drug metabolism, although this interaction is generally considered to be of minor clinical significance.
Panax ginseng works primarily through its bioactive components, particularly ginsenosides, which interact with various molecular targets to provide pharmacological benefits. These ginsenosides can inhibit enzymes like 5-alpha reductase and may potentially increase testosterone levels by preventing its conversion to dihydrotestosterone.
Panax ginseng is typically consumed in daily doses ranging from 200 to 400 mg, with the 400 mg dosage showing the most notable cognitive benefits.[1] These doses refer to standardized ginseng extracts which contain around 4–10 % total ginsenosides (Panax ginseng’s primary bioactive compounds) and are taken once daily.
Higher doses (200–20,000 mg) have been used to target improvements in glucose and lipid profiles.[2]
For trials focusing on erectile health and libido enhancement, Korean red ginseng extract is commonly administered at a dosage of 3 grams daily, divided into three doses of 1 gram each.[3]
Full FAQ and database update
We integrated a bunch of new information into our page. In particular, we updated the benefits/drawbacks FAQs with new information about safety/toxicity, added new sub-FAQs, and improved the dosage information section.