Generic Name: ginseng (GIN seng)
Brand Names:
What is ginseng?
The use of ginseng in cultural and traditional settings may differ from concepts accepted by current Western medicine. When considering the use of herbal supplements, consultation with a primary health care professional is advisable. Additionally, consultation with a practitioner trained in the uses of herbal/health supplements may be beneficial, and coordination of treatment among all health care providers involved may be advantageous.
A number of ginseng species used in herbal products grow around the world. Some of these plants include American ginseng, Korean ginseng, Sanchi ginseng, Chikusetsu ginseng, Himalayan ginseng, zhuzishen, and dwarf ginseng. Ginseng is also known as Siberian ginseng, devil's shrub, eleuthero, touch-me-not, and wild pepper.
Ginseng has been used to improve the body's resistance to stress and to increase vitality.
Ginseng has not been evaluated by the FDA for safety, effectiveness, or purity. All potential risks and/or advantages of ginseng wort may not be known. Additionally, there are no regulated manufacturing standards in place for these compounds. There have been instances where herbal/health supplements have been sold which were contaminated with toxic metals or other drugs. Herbal/health supplements should be purchased from a reliable source to minimize the risk of contamination.
Ginseng may also have uses other than those listed in this product guide.
What is the most important information I should know about ginseng?
Do not take ginseng without first talking to your doctor if you have a bleeding or blood clotting disorder, diabetes, high blood pressure or heart disease, or if you are taking any medicines to prevent or treat these conditions.
Ginseng has not been evaluated by the FDA for safety, effectiveness, or purity. All potential risks and/or advantages of ginseng may not be known. Additionally, there are no regulated manufacturing standards in place for these compounds. There have been instances where herbal/health supplements have been sold which were contaminated with toxic metals or other drugs. Herbal/health supplements should be purchased from a reliable source to minimize the risk of contamination.
What should I discuss with my health care provider before taking ginseng?
Do not take ginseng without first talking to your doctor if you have a bleeding or blood clotting disorder, diabetes, high blood pressure or heart disease, or if you are taking any medicines to prevent or treat these conditions.
Talk to your doctor before taking ginseng if you have any other medical conditions, allergies (especially to plants), or if you take other medicines or herbal/health supplements. Ginseng may not be recommended in some situations.
Do not take ginseng without first talking to your doctor if you are pregnant or could become pregnant. It is not known whether ginseng will harm an unborn baby. Do not take ginseng without first talking to your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby. It is also not known whether ginseng will harm a nursing infant. There is no information available regarding the use of ginseng by children. Do not give any herbal/health supplement to a child without first talking to the child's doctor.
How should I take ginseng?
The use of ginseng in cultural and traditional settings may differ from concepts accepted by current Western medicine. When considering the use of herbal supplements, consultation with a primary health care professional is advisable. Additionally, consultation with a practitioner trained in the uses of herbal/health supplements may be beneficial, and coordination of treatment among all health care providers involved may be advantageous.
If you choose to take ginseng, use it as directed on the package or as directed by your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.
Standardized extracts, tinctures, and solid formulations of herbal/health supplements may provide a more reliable dose of the product.
Ginseng is available in various formulations
Do not use different formulations (e.g., tablets, topical formulations, teas, tinctures, and others) of ginseng at the same time, unless specifically directed to do so by a health care professional. Using different formulations together increases the risk of an overdose of ginseng.
Store Ginseng as directed on the package. In general, ginseng should be protected from light and moisture.
What happens if I miss a dose?
Skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next scheduled dose. Do not use extra ginseng to make up the missed dose.
What happens if I overdose?
Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.
A massive ginseng overdose has been reported to cause the "Ginseng Abuse Syndrome" which is characterized by sleeplessness, muscle tension, and swelling or fluid retention.
What should I avoid while taking ginseng?
Follow your healthcare provider's instructions about any restrictions on food, beverages, or activity.
Ginseng side effects
Although uncommon, allergic reactions to ginseng have been reported. Stop taking ginseng and seek emergency medical attention if you experience symptoms of a serious allergic reaction including difficulty breathing; closing of your throat; swelling of your lips, tongue, or face; or hives.
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
What other drugs will affect ginseng?
Do not take ginseng without first talking to your doctor if you are taking any of the following medicines:
any heart or blood pressure medicines;
a medicine to control blood sugar levels such as insulin, glipizide (Glucotrol), glyburide (Glynase, Diabeta, Micronase), chlorpropamide (Diabinese), tolbutamide (Orinase), tolazamide (Tolinase), troglitazone (Rezulin), rosiglitazone (Avandia), repaglinide (Prandin), metformin (Glucophage), and others;
warfarin (Coumadin);
aspirin;
a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) including ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, Nuprin, others), naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn, Naprelan, Anaprox, others), ketoprofen (Orudis KT, Orudis), indomethacin (Indocin), etodolac (Lodine), nabumetone (Relafen), oxaprozin (Daypro), piroxicam (Feldene), sulindac (Clinoril), tolmetin (Tolectin), and others;
ardeparin (Normiflo);
dalteparin (Fragmin);
danaparoid (Orgaran);
enoxaparin (Lovenox); or
heparin.
You may not be able to take ginseng, or you may require a dosage adjustment or special monitoring while taking ginseng if you are taking any of the medicines listed above.
Drugs other than those listed here may also interact with ginseng or affect your condition. Talk to your doctor, pharmacist, or health care provider before taking any prescription or over-the-counter medicines or other herbal/health supplements.
More ginseng resources
- Ginseng Side Effects (in more detail)
- Ginseng Use in Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
- Ginseng Drug Interactions
- Ginseng Support Group
- 0 Reviews for Ginseng - Add your own review/rating
- Ginseng Natural MedFacts for Professionals (Wolters Kluwer)
- Ginseng Natural MedFacts for Consumers (Wolters Kluwer)
- Ginseng MedFacts Consumer Leaflet (Wolters Kluwer)
Compare ginseng with other medications
- Herbal Supplementation
Where can I get more information?
- Consult with a licensed healthcare professional before using any herbal/health supplement. Whether you are treated by a medical doctor or a practitioner trained in the use of natural medicines/supplements, make sure all your healthcare providers know about all of your medical conditions and treatments.
See also: ginseng side effects (in more detail)
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