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Panax ginseng is considered to be safe when used for short durations of time at appropriate dosages. As a natural medicine, it has been used for over 2,000 years in the Asian continent and is widely viewed to improve the health of the user.
Its use is contraindicated in some individuals with certain medical conditions and it may interact with some commonly used drugs.
However, in the majority of cases there are no serious side effects for short-term oral use. The most commonly reported Panax ginseng side effect is insomnia, which is why it is best to avoid taking this stimulating herb late in the day.
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Panax Ginseng root (Asian Ginseng, True Ginseng) is noted for its ability to boost energy, stave off fatigue, stimulate the immune system and help the body resist the effects of stress.
This natural adaptogen has been shown in research studies to exhibit positive effects on depression, anxiety, cognitive disorders such as memory loss, bipolar disorder, and erectile dysfunction.
It has been used by natural medicine practitioners to reduce health risks that can contribute to cancer, diabetes and speeding up the aging process.
Is Panax Ginseng Safe?
Panax Ginseng extract remains one of the most popular herbal supplements ever used. Its long history of use should be considered as a testament to the tolerability profile of this supplement. However, it can cause side effects such as insomnia and interactions with other herbal remedies and medications.
According to the Natural Medicines Database, Panax Ginseng is possibly safe, “when used orally and appropriately, short-term.” The recommended safe dosage is 100 – 500 mg daily, for up to eight weeks.
In some instances, larger dosages of 900 mg three times a day have been used for treating Erectile Dysfunction. In research trials for COPD and diabetes, dosages of between 3 – 8 g have been used daily. However, these larger dosages should not be used unless under the instruction of a qualified physician.
For use longer than 8 weeks, Panax Ginseng is rated as “possibly unsafe”. This is due to concerns about the potential hormone-like effects of the plant extract, which could cause negative effects if used for prolonged periods of time. The Natural Medicines Database recommends that patients should limit continuous use to less than 6 months.
Panax Ginseng Side Effects
Some people have experienced breast pain, diarrhea, dizziness, headache and high or low blood pressure after taken supplements with Panax ginseng extract.
Other symptoms include increased heart rate, itching, loss of appetite, mood changes, menstrual problems, rash, and vaginal bleeding. Rare side effects of Panax Ginseng include allergic reactions, liver damage and a severe rash called Stevens-Johnson syndrome.
The use of Panax Ginseng can cause agitation in people who have schizophrenia and may cause manic episodes in those with bi-polar disorder. It should not be used if being treated for auto-immune conditions or be used by organ transplant patients.
It should be avoided for hormone-sensitive conditions such as breast cancer, uterine cancer, ovarian cancer, endometriosis, or uterine fibroids.
It has caused heart rhythms and increased blood pressure, especially on the first day of taking it. Ginseng should be used with caution for people with heart conditions. This supplement may also interfere with blood clotting, so it should not be used if being treated for bleeding conditions.
Panax ginseng may lower blood sugar so people with Diabetes need to monitor blood sugar closely if using this supplement.
It is not advised to use Panax ginseng if pregnant. Not enough is known about the safety of this supplement during breast-feeding. It should also be avoided for use in infants as it has been linked to poisoning that can be fatal. The safety of Panax ginseng in older children is not known.
Panax Ginseng Interaction Warnings
Panax ginseng interacts with alcohol by increasing how fast the body processes the alcohol. This supplement is sometimes used as a hangover remedy and has been shown to increase the clearance of alcohol in the body.
In one research study, administering 3 grams/65 kg body weight of Panax Ginseng resulted in participants recording a 35% lower blood alcohol level when drinking alcohol compared to those not given this supplement.
This supplement should be avoided with the diuretic water pill Furosemide (Lasix). To prevent Panax ginseng side effects, it should be used with caution if taking Insulin. This supplement might cause blood sugar levels to fall too low. The dose of insulin might need to be changed.
Some medications used for diabetes include glimepiride (Amaryl), glyburide (DiaBeta, Glynase PresTab, Micronase), insulin, pioglitazone (Actos), rosiglitazone (Avandia), chlorpropamide (Diabinese), glipizide (Glucotrol), and tolbutamide (Orinase).
Medications that are processed by the liver by the enzyme Cytochrome P450 2D6 (CYP2D6) interact with Panax Ginseng. Taking this supplement with medications that are changed by the liver can increase the effects and side effects of the medication.
These medications include amitriptyline (Elavil), clozapine (Clozaril), codeine, desipramine (Norpramin), donepezil (Aricept), fentanyl (Duragesic), and flecainide (Tambocor). Other medications include fluoxetine (Prozac), meperidine (Demerol), methadone (Dolophine), metoprolol (Lopressor, Toprol XL), olanzapine (Zyprexa), ondansetron (Zofran), tramadol (Ultram) and trazodone (Desyrel).
Medications for depression (MAOIs) interact with Panax Ginseng. This combination might cause excess stimulation of the Central Nervous system. This can cause side effects of anxiousness, headache, restlessness, and insomnia. These medications include phenelzine (Nardil) and tranylcypromine (Parnate).
Immunosuppressants have been shown to interact with Panax ginseng. This supplement increases the activity of the immune system and might decrease the potency of immunosuppressant medications.
Some medications that fall into this category include azathioprine (Imuran), basiliximab (Simulect), cyclosporine (Neoral, Sandimmune), daclizumab (Zenapax), muromonab-CD3 (OKT3, Orthoclone OKT3), mycophenolate (CellCept), tacrolimus (FK506, Prograf), sirolimus (Rapamune), prednisone (Deltasone, Orasone) and corticosteroids (glucocorticoids).
Panax ginseng should not be used with anticoagulant and antiplatelet drugs. This supplement might slow blood clotting and might increase the chances of side effects like bruising and bleeding.
Some medications that slow blood clotting include aspirin, clopidogrel (Plavix), diclofenac (Voltaren, Cataflam, others) and ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin). Other medications include naproxen (Anaprox, Naprosyn), dalteparin (Fragmin), enoxaparin (Lovenox), heparin and warfarin (Coumadin).
This supplement should not be taken with stimulant drugs. Some stimulant drugs include diethylpropion (Tenuate), epinephrine, phentermine (Ionamin) and pseudoephedrine (Sudafed). Panax ginseng supplements can exacerbate adverse effects of theophylline, albuterol, clonidine and sildenafil citrate (Viagra).
Panax Ginseng Supplement Interactions
Certain herbs and natural supplements may interact with the effects of Korean Ginseng and cause side effects. It is recommended that this supplement should not be combined with the following herbs: devil’s claw, eleuthero, garlic, ginger, horse chestnut, papain, red clover, or saw palmetto.
Not all of these combinations may cause negative side effects if used at appropriate dosages, but there may be adverse effects reported in some cases. For this reason, caution is recommended. The Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) herb Li Lu (Rhizoma et Radix Veratri Nigri) should also be avoided.
Panax ginseng side effects may be exacerbated when used with stimulants. It has been hypothesized that it could interact with caffeine and other herbs that stimulate the Central Nervous System. If combined with caffeine, insomnia could occur, especially if this combination is taken late in the day. When caffeine is combined with this supplement it may speed up the heartbeat and cause high blood pressure.
Article last updated on: April 15th, 2018 by Nootriment