Red or white ginseng?

Red ginseng is steamed before drying, which changes its ginsenoside profile, and it is the form used in the more positive erectile-function trials. White ginseng is simply air-dried. The difference is real but the trials comparing them directly are few.

Is Siberian ginseng the same thing?

No. Siberian ginseng is Eleutherococcus senticosus, an unrelated plant with a different active profile and a separate, thinner evidence base. Anything you read about Panax ginseng does not transfer to it.

Updated August 2026Evidence-Based

Panax Ginseng: Benefits for Men, Dosage and Side Effects

Also known as: Korean ginseng, Red ginseng, Asian ginseng, Ginsenosides

Panax ginseng is the ginseng with the trial record; it should not be confused with Siberian ginseng, which is an unrelated plant. Its most consistent finding is on fatigue, particularly mental fatigue. For erectile function the picture is split: a Cochrane review found the effect trivial against placebo, while a meta-analysis restricted to red ginseng found a significant effect in trials of low methodological quality.

How Panax Ginseng Works

Ginsenosides, of which more than a hundred have been identified, with Rb1 and Rg1 the most studied. Proposed actions include modulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, nitric oxide release in vascular and erectile tissue, and effects on mitochondrial function relevant to fatigue.

Benefits

Fatigue: meta-analyses find Panax ginseng superior to placebo on fatigue scales and heart-rate recovery, with mental fatigue the most consistently improved measure. 2 g/day reduced visual analogue fatigue scores against placebo.
Erectile function: contested. Cochrane rated the effect trivial on the IIEF-15; red-ginseng-specific meta-analysis found a risk ratio of 2.40, in low-quality trials.
Glycaemic measures: modest improvements in some trials.
Immune function: preliminary.

Research Summary

A Cochrane systematic review of ginseng for erectile dysfunction, Jang 2008 meta-analysis of red ginseng in the same indication, and a systematic review of Panax ginseng across randomised controlled trials. Fatigue is where the evidence is most consistent; erectile function is where it is most cited and least settled.

Recommended Dosage

Min effective dose

200 mg/day of standardised extract

Max safe dose

3,000 mg/day of root

200 mg to 3 g/day of root or standardised extract. Fatigue trials commonly used 2 g/day. Extracts standardised to 3-5% ginsenosides are the usual supplement format. Cycling four weeks on and two weeks off is a traditional practice rather than an evidence-based one.

Side Effects

Insomnia is the most common, which argues for morning dosing. Headache, GI upset, nervousness and blood pressure changes in either direction. Occasional reports of menstrual irregularity and breast tenderness.

Interactions

May reduce the effect of warfarin. Additive with glucose-lowering medication, with a hypoglycaemia risk. Interacts with MAO inhibitors, notably phenelzine. Stimulant effects add to caffeine. Should be stopped before surgery because of effects on bleeding and blood glucose.

Best Supplements Containing Panax Ginseng

Frequently Asked Questions

Medical Disclaimer

The content on this page is for informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your physician or qualified healthcare provider before starting any new supplement regimen. Individual results may vary.