Herbs Hub
Asian ginseng, Panax ginseng. Botanical plate: Ginseng (PSF)
Plate: Ginseng (PSF). Pearson Scott Foresman. Public domain.

Asian ginseng

Panax ginseng · 人参

Herbs & Roots. Chinese Medicine.

Also called Ren shen, Korean ginseng, Korean red ginseng

Pinyin: Rén Shēn

Spanish: Ginseng asiático

Blood thinner and sugar interactions

A slow-growing root used in Chinese and Korean medicine to build energy and stamina.

Did you know? Wild ginseng roots can be over 100 years old, and historically they have sold for prices close to gold by weight.

What it may help, and how strong the proof is

  • Energy & tiredness. Some small trials in people with cancer-related fatigue show a small lift in energy. Pooled results are uncertain, since the confidence range reaches zero.
    Early proof
  • Sexual health. Small trials of red ginseng suggest better erections in some men. A 2022 Cochrane review of ginseng found low-certainty gains, and the score change was called trivial by the authors.
    Early proof
  • Blood sugar. A few small trials show modest drops in blood sugar after meals. Results are inconsistent.
    Early proof
  • Anemia & blood building. Traditional use for weakness and blood loss. No good human trials confirm this.
    Traditional proof

Parts of the body

Energy & metabolism, Hormones & reproduction, Blood, Pancreas & blood sugar

Traditional use

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, ren shen is a top tonic for weakness, poor appetite and low energy after illness. Korean healers use red ginseng (steamed and dried) in a similar way.

How it is classified

Herbal actions
Adaptogen, Tonic, Immune balancer, Nervine. Energy: warming.
Chinese medicine
人参 Tonify Qi. Nature: warm. Flavour: sweet, bitter. Enters the Spleen, Lung and Heart channels.

How people take it

Doses in studies range from about 400 to 3,000 mg a day, depending on the product. Tea or soup is the traditional form. Ask a doctor before taking it for long periods.

Tea, decoction, capsule, powder and tincture.

Where to get it

Cultivated in Korea, China and North America. Sold as dried root, slices, red ginseng, extract and capsules. Quality varies widely, and some products are mislabeled with other ginseng species.

Be careful

Common side effects are sleeplessness, headache, upset stomach, nosebleeds and high or low blood pressure changes. Rare cases of mania have been linked to use with MAOI antidepressants. Stop it before surgery, since it can affect blood sugar and clotting.

Avoid if: pregnancy; breastfeeding; bleeding disorders; before surgery; high blood pressure; diabetes medicines; hormone-sensitive cancer; insomnia.

Mixing with other things

  • Works well together

    Part of Si Jun Zi Tang (Four Gentlemen Decoction), a classic TCM tonic formula.

  • Works well together

    Both are in Si Jun Zi Tang (Four Gentlemen Decoction), a classic formula for low energy and weak digestion.

  • Works well together

    Also in Si Jun Zi Tang. Poria helps the formula feel gentler on digestion.

  • Works well together

    Ginseng and ophiopogon are the core of Sheng Mai San (Pulse Engendering Powder), used for dry mouth and weak energy with heat.

  • Works well together

    Ginseng, ophiopogon and schisandra make up Sheng Mai San, a classic formula for sweating and fatigue.

  • Works well together

    Longan and ginseng are both in Gui Pi Tang.

  • Works well together

    Both are called ginseng-like herbs in tradition, and both contain ginseng-type saponins, so they are often compared in studies.

  • Works well together

    Kai Xin San (Open the Heart Powder) combines polygala with ginseng and poria to calm the mind and support memory.

  • Works well together

    Also in Xiao Chai Hu Tang, where ginseng supports energy while bupleurum moves stuck energy.

  • Works well together

    Paired with ginseng in Wu Zhu Yu Tang (Evodia Decoction) for stomach cold and vomiting.

  • Works well together

    A classic pairing in Chinese tonic blends for energy and recovery.

  • Works well together

    Both are classic energy tonics in Chinese formulas.

  • Don't mix
    Antidepressants (Zoloft, Prozac, Lexapro and others)

    Case reports link ginseng with headache, agitation and mania when taken with MAOI antidepressants such as phenelzine.

  • Use caution
    Blood thinners (warfarin, Eliquis, Xarelto, Plavix, daily aspirin)

    Ginseng may change how warfarin works. Studies disagree on the direction. Get INR checks if the two are combined.

  • Use caution
    Diabetes medicine (metformin, insulin, glipizide, Ozempic)

    Ginseng can lower blood sugar. Combined with insulin or diabetes pills, blood sugar may drop too low.

Adds up with others that may lower blood sugar: , , , , , , , , , , , , , and 39 more.

Found in these formulas

Four Gentlemen (TCM)

The honest take

Ginseng has real but modest effects on energy and possibly on sexual function, based on small or low-quality trials. Some products are mislabeled or weak. Most of the strongest claims rest on tradition and lab studies.