Panax Ginseng
Also known as: Korean ginseng, Asian ginseng, Ginseng
The most studied adaptogenic herb in the world, with decades of clinical research behind its role in energy, cognitive performance, immune modulation, and stress resilience.
What It Is
Panax ginseng is the most studied adaptogenic herb in the world, with decades of clinical research behind its role in energy, cognitive performance, immune modulation, and stress resilience. Its active compounds, ginsenosides, act on the body's stress-response axis and on mitochondrial energy production simultaneously.
What the Evidence Shows
- Mental clarity: Clinical research supports improvements in cognitive performance and mental sharpness, particularly under conditions of fatigue.
- Physical energy: One of the better-evidenced natural options for reduced fatigue, with research spanning both healthy adults and those with chronic fatigue.
- Immune modulation: Ginsenosides support natural killer cell activity and broader immune function.
Dosing
Standard range: 200–400 mg of standardized extract (7% ginsenosides) daily. Often cycled 3 months on, 1 month off rather than taken continuously. Higher doses (up to 900 mg) have been used in cognition-focused studies.
Safety Profile
May interact with warfarin and other blood thinners. Can lower blood glucose, so those managing diabetes should monitor levels closely. Avoid combining with stimulants or MAOI medications. Not recommended during pregnancy.
Practical Notes
- Don't confuse Panax ginseng (Asian/Korean ginseng) with American ginseng or Siberian "ginseng" (eleuthero) ... they're different plants with different evidence bases.
- Panax ginseng is a cornerstone herb in Traditional Chinese Medicine (Gāo Lì Shēn, 高丽参), traditionally used to tonify source qi. See our Natural Herb Library link below for that traditional-use context.