Ginseng
Ginseng is a revered herb from Chinese medicine that has been used as an adaptogen for thousands of years. The herb, like other adaptogens, is thought to improve energy levels and support overall function. There are two similar varieties of ginseng, Asian or Korean ginseng (Panax ginseng) and American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius). And while the herb has a long history of use, research is only starting to explore its medicinal effects. Based on the latest studies, ginseng may hold promise for improving a number of different health conditions.
Fatigue
Some of the strongest evidence for ginseng revolves around its use for treating fatigue. During cancer treatment, cancer patients often struggle with fatigue as a side effect from chemotherapy and radiation. Numerous clinical trials have explored the use of ginseng for cancer-treatment-related fatigue. Oral and injectable versions of ginseng have been explored and both showed improvements in energy levels (Li 2022). However, oral ginseng has modest benefits in the majority of studies, whereas injectable ginseng had a significantly stronger effect.
Other types of disease-related fatigue also appear to benefit from ginseng. For multiple sclerosis (MS), Asian ginseng was shown to help energy levels and quality of life (Etemadifar 2013). However, a similar but shorter six-week study that used a slightly lower dose of American ginseng did not find benefits (Kim 2011). Generally, Asian ginseng is considered to be more energizing than the American variety.
For chronic fatigue patients, one study found no overall benefit, yet statistical analysis identified a subset of patients that improved more than placebo (Sung 2020). Individuals with chronic fatigue that wasn’t severe and who were over age 50 did significantly better with ginseng. Fibromyalgia, a type of chronic fatigue combined with whole body pain, has also shown improvements with ginseng. In a clinical trial comparing a standard medication, ginseng and placebo, ginseng significantly reduced pain, fatigue and sleep (Braz 2013). Unfortunately, the trial was small and the results with ginseng were statistically similar to placebo and standard medication. A larger trial could help to confirm the true extent of ginseng’s benefits for fibromyalgia.
Menopause
Another area where ginseng has been more well studied is in relation to menopause. A review of the research found that ginseng appeared to be effective for reducing hot flashes and menopausal symptoms while improving quality of life (Lee 2022). Other studies on menopausal women have also found modest benefits for sexual function with ginseng (Oh 2010, Ghorbani 2019).
Sexual Function in Men
Problems with sexual function often occur in men, especially with age. As such, ginseng has been studied as a treatment for erectile dysfunction. The first trial found that ginseng was approximately 60% effective, although it did not provide complete resolution for any participant (Choi 1995). A second trial in 2002 also found similar efficacy (Hong 2002). A recent review noted that ginseng does have modest effects on erectile dysfunction without an increased risk of side effects, although the authors of the review were somewhat dismissive of the findings (Lee 2022). In cases where erectile dysfunction is not severe, ginseng may work to improve symptoms or may combine well with other natural therapies.
Mental Health
Depression
While the data is somewhat thin, and is mostly from animal research, ginseng may help with a number of different mental health concerns. In a study of women treated for depression that had concerning levels of residual symptoms, the addition of ginseng helped to lower depression scores an additional 37% (Jeong 2015).
Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
While medications are often effective for decreasing ADHD symptoms, due to side effects and other concerns, more than half of adolescents stop their medications within the first year of treatment (Brikell 2024). Studies on ginseng as an alternative to ADHD medication suggests that it may have a place in ADHD treatment. An early trial of just three male adolescents found that ginseng improved hyperactivity, inattention and immaturity (Niederhofer 2009).
A larger placebo-controlled trial also found benefits (Ko 2014). Inattention and hyperactivity were both significantly reduced 37% and 43% respectively. The most recent placebo-controlled trial included 120 children. Ginseng was combined with omega-3 fatty acids and given for 12 weeks. At the end of the clinical trial, the combination of ginseng and omega-3 fatty acids reduced ADHD symptom scores by almost half (Brikell 2024).
Schizophrenia
A preliminary study in schizophrenia found that ginseng, when combined with standard medication, improved memory (Chen 2012). In addition, ginseng also reduced medication side effects, a common concern with antipsychotic medications.
Conclusion
Ginseng is an herb with a long history of use from Chinese medicine. While some of the research is preliminary, and we need additional clinical trials for verification, ginseng appears to have benefits for fatigue, menopause, sexual function and a number of mental health conditions. The findings appear to confirm the historical use of ginseng as an adaptogen.
