Panax Ginseng Uses

We take a look at the common supplement ingredient Panax Ginseng. 

What Is Panax Ginseng?

There are several benefits of panax ginseng that are likely to appeal to users. For example, it has been shown to increase energy levels and endurance, help improve mood swings and anxiety, reduce stress levels, and improve cognitive function. In addition, it has anti-inflammatory properties and can help reduce the risk of heart disease and other chronic illnesses.   

The active compounds inside Panax Ginseng are known as Ginsenosides, though there is currently mixed information on which compounds are ideally active for each potential application Rb1 in particular being studied for it's potential use in everything from arthritis through to cognitive decline related illnesses.  

Panax Ginseng FAQ

What Do You Need To Know About Panax Ginseng?

Does Ginseng Have Side Effects?

Ginseng is generally one of the best tolerated supplements available, in case of overconsumption Ginseng can cause constipation.


Some less common Ginseng side effects include fatigue, dizziness, dry mouth, and headaches.

Ginseng Interactions

Panax ginseng should not be taken by people on blood thinners as it might slow blood clotting. 

It may also lower blood sugar so should also be avoided by people on diabetes medication.

This is not an exhaustive list of ginseng interatctions

Panax Ginseng For Testosterone

Based on the available evidence, panax ginseng appears to be a safe and effective way to boost your testosterone levels. It should be noted that only Panax Ginseng seems to have these effects, not American Ginseng. In females 75mg of Ginseng extract (equivalent to 600mg of Ginseng root powder) was shown to raise low testosterone levels [2] although higher amounts seem to be needed for the ginsenosides to be effective [3]. More studies would be required for evidence to be conclusive although most of the studies seem to corroborate its efficacy. 

It should also be noted that American Ginseng has been shown to be ineffective for raising testosterone levels. This is likely due to a varience in ginsenoside makeup.  

Typically speaking Panax Ginseng makes it into most of the products on our best testosterone boosters list.

Panax Ginseng For Stress

In general, ginsenosides appear to be very promising supplements that could benefit many people who struggle with stress or anxiety. Ginseng has been particularly effective in animal models for stress hormone reduction [4] there are also several human studies that show promising results [5] although more would be required for a conclusive result. It should also be noted that due to the other known uses of panax ginseng, it does have some tangential backing for brain health due to its effects on the hippocampus [6] and known anti-inflammatory, and blood flow effects.

Panax Ginseng For Joint Health

Ginsenosides are chemical substances that have been shown to have anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties. They also help to improve blood flow and reduce inflammation in the joints. It’s been shown to have positive results in reducing pain and improving mobility in cases of osteoarthritis using ginsenoside Rb1[7] which is prevalent in Panax Ginseng making up an average of 1/6th  Panax Ginseng extracts. However, it only seems to have impact on milder cases of joint pain, exhibiting no results for severe cases of rheumatoid arthritis [8]. Further research is also required for results to be conclusive, but it is unsurprising with a lot of herbal options falling into a similar category of panax ginseng supplements in being effective at assisting pain relief in milder cases, but not being strong enough to treat high moderate to severe cases. 

References

1 - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6989239/
2 - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7352699/
3 - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8166567/
4 - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20647027
5 - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15198871
6 - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15198871
7 - https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jfbc.14340
8 - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5925614