Panax ginseng (Radix ginseng, Korean Ginseng, Asian Ginseng) is a native plant of China and North Korea. It is also known as Ren Shen in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM).
The root has been used for thousands of years to tonify the Qi (vital energy). In the past its use was reserved for Emperors.
Panax ginseng has a broad range of uses from fortifying the body to protecting it from infection. The main active ingredient is ginsenosides, which is a term used to designate the steroidal saponins found in this plant.
This supplement is mainly used in western medicine as an adaptogen to help combat fatigue and stress and as an aphrodisiac to help erectile dysfunction (ED).



- Boosts energy & mental focus
- Supports immune system & restores balance
- Improves mood, sleep quality & endurance
Benefits of Panax Ginseng
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This supplement is rich in B-Vitamins (B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B8, B9 and B12), Vitamin C and E. Panax ginseng is used for improving athletic endurance, concentration and memory and work efficiency as well as physical stamina.
This supplement is also used for anxiety, chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), and depression and for boosting the immune system. It is used to fight bacterium infections such as Pseudomonas that are common complications in Cystic Fibrosis.
Other treatment uses include anemia, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), diabetes, fever, gastritis (inflammation of the stomach lining) and hangover. This supplement is also used for bleeding disorders, joint pain, menopause (for hot flashes) and nerve pain.
It is also reputed to help slow the aging process. Studies on Alzheimer’s disease showed taking Panax ginseng root daily for 12 weeks can improve mental performance in people with this disease.
Panax Ginseng Uses in TCM
This supplement is used in TCM as a restorative adaptogen for:
Exhaustion Syndrome Due to Qi Deficiency: Panax Ginseng is used or is combined with aconite root to invigorate Qi to treat collapse due to Qi deficiency. This presents as paleness, cold sweating throughout the body and extremely faint pulse tending to cease.
Spleen-Qi and Lung-Qi Deficiency Syndrome: Panax Ginseng is used for tonifying Spleen-qi for symptoms of fatigue and mental fatigue, poor appetite and loose stool. This supplement is also used in tonifying lung-qi and combined with herbs for relieving cough and dyspnea (shortness of breath) or no desire for talking.
Both Qi and Yin Deficiency Syndrome: This supplement has the action of invigorating Qi and promoting the generation of body fluid. Commonly, the differentiation of diabetes shows as a yin deficiency, the incidental aspect of the disease is dry heat, and accompanied with Qi and yin deficiency.
Ren Shen is said to treat diabetes singly as it is tonifying Qi and relieve thirst by nourishing yin. To enhance this effect it is combined with thirst-relieving and yin-nourishing and body-fluid generating herbs, such as Sheng Di Huang and Tian Hua Fen.
Blood Deficiency Syndrome: This supplement is said to help produce blood through tonifying Qi and the generation of blood directly.
Palpitation, Insomnia & Amnesia: This herb is used for tonifying heart Qi and induces tranquilization mind and improves the intelligence. For palpitation, knotted or intermittent pulse caused by heart-qi deficiency, it is often combined with heart-nourishing and tranquilization-inducing herbs.
Kidney-Qi Deficiency: Panax Ginseng root extract is used for impotence, seminal emission and other diseases due to kidney-qi deficiency.
Panax Ginseng Contraindications
Large doses of this supplement should be avoided as they may cause diarrhea, heart palpitations (especially if taken with other stimulants), insomnia and high blood pressure. Panax Ginseng supplements should be avoided if taking anticoagulants or have any bleeding condition. This supplement should be avoided also by individuals who have any auto-immune condition or have had an organ transplant.
This supplement can affect heart rhythm and blood pressure on the first day of use, so use it with caution if you have a heart condition. It may lower blood sugar in diabetics, so monitor blood sugar level closely. It should be avoided for hormone-sensitive conditions such as breast, ovarian or uterine cancer or by individuals who have endometriosis or uterine fibroids.
Panax Ginseng may cause agitation if taken by people with schizophrenia. This supplement interacts with alcohol and caffeine, so avoid taking this supplement with these substances. There is some concern it may also interact with furosemide (Lasix). Medications that change in the liver with enzyme Cytochrome P450 2D6 should also be avoided.
Anti-depressant medication may also cause interactions and should not be taken with this supplement. Stimulant drugs such as diethylpropion (Tenuate), epinephrine, phentermine (Ionamin) and pseudoephedrine (Sudafed) should also be avoided.
It should not be used with the herbs danshen, devil’s claw, eleuthero, garlic, ginger, horse chestnut, papain, red clover, and saw palmetto. This supplement can increase potential side effects from theophylline, albuterol, clonidine and sildenafil citrate (Viagra). Panax Ginseng is incompatible with Li Lu (Rhizoma et Radix Veratri Nigri).
- Natural Medicines. Ginseng, Panax: Professional Monograph. Reviewed 2/14/2015.
- Smith I, Williamson EM, Putnam S, Farrimond J, Whalley BJ. Effects and mechanisms of ginseng and ginsenosides on cognition. Nutr Rev. 2014 May;72(5):319-33.
- Scholey AB, Kennedy DO. Acute, dose-dependent cognitive effects of Ginkgo biloba, Panax ginseng and their combination in healthy young volunteers: differential interactions with cognitive demand. Hum Psychopharmacol. 2002 Jan;17(1):35-44.
- Jang DJ, Lee MS, Shin BC, Lee YC, Ernst E. Red ginseng for treating erectile dysfunction: a systematic review. Br J Clin Pharmacol. 2008 Oct;66(4):444-50.
Article last updated on: April 14th, 2018 by Nootriment