American Ginseng
American ginseng is used for fatigue, cognition, and glycemic support. Evidence is mixed across conditions.
Overview
What is American Ginseng?
American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius) is a herb that grows mainly in North America, and is primarily produced in Canada.
Dosage
A typical dose of American ginseng is 400-800 mg per day. Larger doses of 2-3 grams per day have also been used for up to 3 months.
Effect graph
Effect heatmap
SupplementDEX Database
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Database Snapshot
Most american ginseng research is concentrated in a handful of conditions.
- Upper respiratory tract infection (URTI) accounts for 6 of 29 studies (21%).
- Cognitive performance accounts for 4 of 29 studies (14%).
- Diabetes accounts for 4 of 29 studies (14%).
- Sparse coverage remains for Athletic performance, Antiretroviral-induced insulin resistance, Attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
Safety
American ginseng is likely safe at a dose of up to 3 g/day for up to 12 weeks.
Special populations
Pregnancy & breastfeeding
AvoidAmerican ginseng should be avoided in people who are pregnant or lactating.[28] Ginsenoside Rb(1) found in American ginseng exhibits teratogenic effects on rat embryos.
Frequently Asked Questions
Takeaway
American ginseng may modestly reduce the risk and duration of upper respiratory tract infections in adults when a specific extract (e.g. CVT-E002) is used. Evidence is insufficient for antiretroviral-induced insulin resistance, athletic performance, ADHD, breast cancer, cancer-related fatigue, cognitive performance, type-2-diabetes, heart failure, high-blood-pressure, menopausal symptoms, and schizophrenia. Typical dosing is 400–800 mg daily; avoid in pregnancy and lactation.
References
Sources30 references
SupplementDEX uses only high-quality sources to determine supplement effectiveness.
1.SupplementDEX Database: Upper respiratory tract infection (URTI) — A randomized, controlled trial of Panax quinquefolius extract (CVT-E002) to reduce respiratory infection in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia2012
In 293 early-stage CLL patients, CVT-E002 American ginseng did not reduce acute respiratory illness days versus placebo, though moderate sore throat and grade ≥3 toxicities were less frequent with ginseng.
2.SupplementDEX Database: Upper respiratory tract infection (URTI) — Efficacy and Safety of CVT-E002, a Proprietary Extract of Panax quinquefolius in the Prevention of Respiratory Infections in Influenza-Vaccinated Community-Dwelling Adults: A Multicenter, Randomized, Double-Blind, and Placebo-Controlled Trial2011
In 783 influenza-vaccinated adults over 6 months, CVT-E002 400–800 mg/day did not reduce laboratory-confirmed URI incidence but lowered Jackson-confirmed URI severity and duration.
3.SupplementDEX Database: Upper respiratory tract infection (URTI) — Safety and tolerability of North American ginseng extract in the treatment of pediatric upper respiratory tract infection: a phase II randomized, controlled trial of 2 dosing schedules2008
This PubMed record's abstract describes a rat cerebral ischemia microcirculation study, not the listed pediatric American ginseng URTI trial; no reliable ginseng outcome data are available from the abstract.
4.SupplementDEX Database: Upper respiratory tract infection (URTI) — Efficacy of COLD-fX in the prevention of respiratory symptoms in community-dwelling adults: a randomized, double-blinded, placebo controlled trial2006
In 43 community-dwelling seniors over 4 months, COLD-fX 400 mg/day after flu vaccine reduced acute respiratory illness incidence 48% and symptom duration 55% versus placebo in the last 2 months.
5.SupplementDEX Database: Upper respiratory tract infection (URTI) — Efficacy of an extract of North American ginseng containing poly-furanosyl-pyranosyl-saccharides for preventing upper respiratory tract infections: a randomized controlled trial2005
In 323 healthy adults aged 18–65 over 4 months, North American ginseng extract reduced colds per person 0.68 vs 0.93, severe symptom scores, and total cold days 10.8 vs 16.5 versus placebo.
6.SupplementDEX Database: Upper respiratory tract infection (URTI) — A placebo-controlled trial of a proprietary extract of North American ginseng (CVT-E002) to prevent acute respiratory illness in institutionalized older adults2004
In two trials totaling 198 institutionalized older adults, CVT-E002 400 mg/day reduced laboratory-confirmed influenza/RSV illness odds ~7–10-fold versus placebo during flu season.
7.SupplementDEX Database: Antiretroviral-induced insulin resistance — Pharmacokinetic and metabolic effects of American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius) in healthy volunteers receiving the HIV protease inhibitor indinavir2008
In 13 healthy volunteers, American ginseng 1 g three times daily for 14 days with indinavir did not alter indinavir pharmacokinetics or reverse indinavir-induced insulin resistance.
SupplementDEX Database · Athletic performance
2 references8.SupplementDEX Database: Athletic performance — American ginseng supplementation attenuates creatine kinase level induced by submaximal exercise in human beings2005
In 13 active men, 4 weeks of American ginseng reduced exercise-induced creatine kinase leakage during submaximal running but did not improve time to exhaustion or VO2max.
9.SupplementDEX Database: Athletic performance — No ergogenic effect of ginseng ingestion1996
In healthy men, 7 days of Panax ginseng extract 8–16 mg/kg before cycling did not improve VO2, lactate, or time to exhaustion versus placebo in a crossover trial.
10.SupplementDEX Database: Attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) — Effect of the herbal extract combination Panax quinquefolium and Ginkgo biloba on attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder: a pilot study2001
In an open-label study of 36 children with ADHD, a ginseng-ginkgo combination for 4 weeks improved parent-rated ADHD symptoms versus baseline.
SupplementDEX Database · Breast cancer
1 reference11.SupplementDEX Database: Breast cancer — Association of ginseng use with survival and quality of life among breast cancer patients2006
In 1,455 Shanghai breast cancer patients followed ~6 years, regular ginseng use before diagnosis was linked to 29–30% lower mortality and recurrence risk; post-diagnosis use correlated with better quality of life.
SupplementDEX Database · Cancer-related fatigue
3 references12.SupplementDEX Database: Cancer-related fatigue — A randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled, phase II study to evaluate the efficacy of ginseng in reducing fatigue in patients treated for head and neck cancer2020
In 32 head and neck cancer survivors with fatigue, 8 weeks of American ginseng 1000 mg/day did not beat placebo on Brief Fatigue Inventory scores; placebo trended better on activity interference.
13.SupplementDEX Database: Cancer-related fatigue — Wisconsin Ginseng (Panax quinquefolius) to improve cancer-related fatigue: a randomized, double-blind trial, N07C22013
A large randomized, double-blind trial (N07C2) involving cancer patients found that 2,000 mg/day of Wisconsin ginseng (Panax quinquefolius) significantly reduced cancer-related fatigue, particularly among patients actively receiving treatment. The study supported the potential role of American ginseng as a non-toxic, effective adjunct therapy for fatigue.
14.SupplementDEX Database: Cancer-related fatigue — Pilot study of Panax quinquefolius (American ginseng) to improve cancer-related fatigue: a randomized, double-blind, dose-finding evaluation: NCCTG trial N03CA2010
A randomized, double-blind pilot trial (NCCTG N03CA) investigated the efficacy of different doses of Panax quinquefolius (American ginseng) for cancer-related fatigue. Higher doses (1,000–2,000 mg/day) were associated with clinically meaningful fatigue improvement, supporting further phase III evaluation.
SupplementDEX Database · Cognitive performance
4 references15.SupplementDEX Database: Cognitive performance — Neurocognitive effects a combined polyphenolic-rich herbal extract in healthy middle-aged adults - a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study2024
In 52 healthy adults aged 35–65, 28 days of a supplement with Bacopa, American ginseng 100 mg, and coffee fruit improved delayed recall and positive affect versus placebo.
16.SupplementDEX Database: Cognitive performance — A randomized, placebo-controlled trial investigating the acute and chronic benefits of American Ginseng (Cereboost®) on mood and cognition in healthy young adults, including in vitro investigation of gut microbiota changes as a possible mechanism of action2022
In 61 young adults, Cereboost American ginseng 200 mg/day improved working memory and attention acutely and after 2 weeks, with gut microbiota shifts toward higher short-chain fatty acid producers in vitro.
17.SupplementDEX Database: Cognitive performance — Acute effects of combined Bacopa, American ginseng and whole coffee fruit on working memory and cerebral haemodynamic response of the prefrontal cortex: a double-blind, placebo-controlled study2021
In 40 healthy adults, a single dose of Bacopa, American ginseng, and coffee fruit improved N-back accuracy and prefrontal cortex activation versus placebo at 45 minutes.
18.SupplementDEX Database: Cognitive performance — Effects of American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius) on neurocognitive function: an acute, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study2010
In 32 healthy young adults, acute Cereboost American ginseng 100–400 mg improved working memory (Corsi blocks) and calmness at 100 mg without changing blood glucose.
SupplementDEX Database · Diabetes
4 references19.SupplementDEX Database: Diabetes — Effect of coadministration of enriched Korean Red Ginseng (Panax ginseng) and American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius L) on cardiometabolic outcomes in type-2 diabetes: A randomized controlled trial2021
In 80 type 2 diabetes patients with hypertension, 12 weeks of combined Rg3-enriched Korean red ginseng plus American ginseng 2.25 g/day lowered 24-hour systolic BP 4 mmHg and HbA1c 0.35% versus control.
20.SupplementDEX Database: Diabetes — Variable effects of American ginseng: a batch of American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius L.) with a depressed ginsenoside profile does not affect postprandial glycemia2003
In 12 healthy adults, a low-ginsenoside American ginseng batch (6 g before OGTT) did not reduce postprandial glucose or insulin, unlike prior batches with higher ginsenoside ratios.
21.SupplementDEX Database: Diabetes — American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius L) reduces postprandial glycemia in nondiabetic subjects and subjects with type 2 diabetes mellitus2000
In 10 nondiabetic and 9 type 2 diabetic subjects, 3 g American ginseng before a glucose challenge reduced postprandial glycemia 18–22%; in nondiabetics benefit required taking ginseng 40 minutes before glucose.
22.SupplementDEX Database: Diabetes — Similar postprandial glycemic reductions with escalation of dose and administration time of American ginseng in type 2 diabetes2000
In 10 type 2 diabetics, 3, 6, or 9 g American ginseng given 0–120 minutes before a glucose challenge similarly reduced postprandial area under the curve by 15–20%; no dose or timing advantage beyond 3 g.
SupplementDEX Database · Heart failure
1 reference23.SupplementDEX Database: Heart failure — The efficacy and safety of panax quinquefolius saponin for heart failure: a systematic review and meta-analysis2025
A meta-analysis of 9 HF RCTs (952 patients) found adjuvant Panax quinquefolius saponins raised LVEF 6.2%, improved 6-minute walk distance, and lowered BNP versus standard care.
24.SupplementDEX Database: Hypertension (High blood pressure) — Vascular effects of combined enriched Korean Red ginseng (Panax Ginseng) and American ginseng (Panax Quinquefolius) administration in individuals with hypertension and type 2 diabetes: A randomized controlled trial2020
In 80 type 2 diabetes patients with hypertension over 12 weeks, combined Rg3-KRG plus American ginseng 2.25 g/day reduced central systolic BP and pulse waveform area versus placebo on standard therapy.
25.SupplementDEX Database: Hypertension (High blood pressure) — Effect of American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius L.) on arterial stiffness in subjects with type-2 diabetes and concomitant hypertension2013
In 64 hypertensive type 2 diabetes patients, American ginseng extract 3 g/day for 12 weeks lowered radial augmentation index 5.3% and systolic BP 11.7% versus placebo.
26.SupplementDEX Database: Hypertension (High blood pressure) — Long-term intake of North American ginseng has no effect on 24-hour blood pressure and renal function2006
In 37 hypertensive adults over 12 weeks, North American ginseng 3 g/day had no effect on 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure or serum cystatin C versus placebo in a crossover trial.
27.SupplementDEX Database: Hypertension (High blood pressure) — North American ginseng exerts a neutral effect on blood pressure in individuals with hypertension2005
In 16 hypertensive adults, single morning doses of six North American ginseng batches up to 3 g did not change overall 160-minute mean blood pressure versus placebo.
SupplementDEX Database · Menopausal symptoms
1 reference28.SupplementDEX Database: Menopausal symptoms — Phyto-Female Complex for the relief of hot flushes, night sweats and quality of sleep: randomized, controlled, double-blind pilot study2007
In 50 pre- and postmenopausal women, Phyto-Female Complex including American ginseng for 3 months reduced hot flushes 73% and night sweats 69%, with 47% achieving complete hot flush cessation versus 19% on placebo.
Safety (pregnancy/lactation)
1 reference28.Ginsenoside Rb(1) found in American ginseng exhibits teratogenic effects on rat embryosExternal source
SupplementDEX Database · Schizophrenia
1 reference29.SupplementDEX Database: Schizophrenia — HT1001, a proprietary North American ginseng extract, improves working memory in schizophrenia: a double-blind, placebo-controlled study2012
In 64 stable schizophrenia patients over 4 weeks, HT1001 American ginseng improved visual working memory and reduced extrapyramidal symptoms versus placebo.