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Ginseng

Supplement herb / adaptogen energyimmune
Aka: Panax ginseng, Korean red ginseng, American ginseng, Cheong Kwan Jang
Brands seen in Singapore: California Gold Nutrition, Swanson Vitamins, NOW Foods, Imperial Elixir
Not medical advice. Check with your doctor or pharmacist before you start, stop or change the timing of anything you take.
How to use
What it’s for
General fatigue — small effect in one 2023 review
When to take
Daily
Studied for
Most trials ran under 3 months, under 200 people
Pros & cons
Pros
  • 2023 review of 19 studies: small effect on fatigue
  • NCCIH: short-term use up to 6 months appears safe
  • 3-week red ginseng RCT: fatigue score fell vs placebo
Cons
  • NCCIH: mostly no gain in athletic performance
  • Insomnia is the commonest side effect (NCCIH)
  • May lower blood sugar and interfere with clotting
Sources
  1. NCCIH — Asian Ginseng (What Have We Learned: fatigue) · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “A 2023 review of 19 studies (2,413 participants) suggested two notable results: Asian ginseng alone may have a small beneficial effect on general fatigue (not related to specific diseases)”
  2. NCCIH — Asian Ginseng (How Much Do We Know) · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “Most of the clinical trials have been small, with fewer than 200 participants, and shorter than 3 months. Larger multicenter studies that last longer than 3 months are needed to improve the clinical evidence”
  3. NCCIH — Asian Ginseng (What Have We Learned: flu risk) · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “A very small amount of preliminary research suggests that Asian ginseng extract may help reduce the risk of developing the flu but not the severity or duration of symptoms.”
  4. NCCIH — Asian Ginseng (What Have We Learned: athletic performance) · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “The majority of research shows that Asian ginseng does not improve athletic performance.”
  5. NCCIH — Asian Ginseng (Safety: duration and who should avoid it) · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “Short-term oral use (by mouth, up to 6 months) of Asian ginseng in recommended amounts appears to be safe for most people … some experts recommend against its use for infants, children, and women who are pregnant or breastfeeding.”
  6. NCCIH — Asian Ginseng (Safety: side effects) · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “Insomnia (trouble sleeping) is the herb’s most common side effect. Uncommon side effects that have been reported include severe rash, liver damage, and severe allergic reactions.”
  7. NCCIH — Asian Ginseng (Safety: autoimmune disease, clotting, blood sugar) · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “Asian ginseng may worsen autoimmune disorders and interfere with blood clotting … Some evidence suggests that Asian ginseng might lower blood sugar levels. If you have diabetes, consult your health care provider before using Asian ginseng.”
  8. NCCIH — Asian Ginseng (Safety: drug interactions) · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “Asian ginseng might interact with certain medications. If you take any type of medicine, talk with your health care provider before using Asian ginseng or other herbal products”
  9. Anti-fatigue effects of Korean Red Ginseng extract in healthy Japanese adults: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study (Lee et al., J Ginseng Res 2025) · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “Forty-six participants were randomly divided into two groups (KRG and placebo). KRG (960 mg) or placebo capsules were administered for 3 weeks … a significant decrease in the fatigue VAS score compared to the placebo group (p = 0.035)”
  10. Lee et al., J Ginseng Res 2025 — methods (tablet composition) · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “The efficacy of daily doses of 500 mg of KRG extracts was evaluated … The main constituents of the KRG extracts (500 mg/tablet) tablet were red ginseng powder (480 mg)”
  11. HSA — Guidelines on Prohibited and Restricted Ingredients in Health Supplements and Traditional Medicines, GL-CHPB-1-012 Rev 001 (Oct 2025) · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “The objective of this guideline is to highlight the substances of concern when used in HS and TM and is not meant to be an exhaustive list [ginseng / Panax not listed in Annex A or B]”
  12. iHerb Singapore — Ginseng category (default order, 1 - 48 of 108 results) · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “California Gold Nutrition, EuroHerbs®, Panax Ginseng Extract … 250 mg … Swanson Vitamins, Full Spectrum® Korean Red Ginseng Root, 400 mg … NOW Foods, Panax Ginseng, 500 mg … Imperial Elixir, Ginseng and Royal Jelly”
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Updated 2026-08-29. Every line above traces to a numbered source. Kozen-X is not a medical device and does not give medical advice. It lists what published sources have written down — nothing more. A pair not listed is unrecorded, not cleared. Before you start, stop or re-time anything, talk to your doctor or pharmacist.