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American, Asian (Panax) and Siberian Ginseng Compared

American ginseng, Asian (Panax) ginseng and Siberian ginseng are three different plants with different traditional uses, different research and different safety notes; here is how they compare.

Content last updated . This page has not been medically reviewed.

Three plants, one confusing word

"Ginseng" on a label can mean three different things. Asian ginseng (Panax ginseng, also called Korean or Chinese ginseng) and American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius) are both in the Panax group. Siberian ginseng (Eleutherococcus senticosus, also called eleuthero) is a different plant that is not a true ginseng. Memorial Sloan Kettering says Siberian ginseng should not be confused with Asian ginseng, American ginseng or Panax notoginseng, and calls them not the same herbs. [1] A laboratory study of commercial products noted that P. ginseng and P. quinquefolius are known to have different properties and medicinal values, and built a DNA test that can detect American ginseng mixed into Asian ginseng. [2]

For the traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) side of each herb, see Ginseng (Ren Shen) in Chinese Medicine. Traditional properties are described there as a framework, not as measured biology.

Side by side

Asian (Panax) ginsengAmerican ginsengSiberian ginseng
PlantPanax ginseng; native to Korea, northeastern China and far-eastern Siberia [3]Panax quinquefolius; Chinese name Xi yang shen [4]Eleutherococcus senticosus; not a species of ginseng [1]
Traditional use named by sourcesCalming agent in TCM; used as an adaptogen [3]Frequently used in Chinese medicine to nourish "Yin" [4]Used traditionally as an adaptogen, performance enhancer and immune stimulant [1]
Human researchSmall, short trials; mixed results [3]A few larger trials, mostly for cancer-related fatigue and colds [5][6]Very limited; mostly preclinical [1]
Specific safety notesInsomnia most common; may affect blood sugar and clotting [3]Possible bleeding risk with warfarin [4]Digoxin: case report of raised levels, plus false readings on some digoxin tests [1]

What the research found

Asian ginseng. The US National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) says most trials were small, under 200 people and shorter than 3 months. A 2023 review of 19 studies (2,413 participants) suggested a small benefit on general fatigue, but not all research agrees; the majority of research shows no improvement in athletic performance. Label: promising but limited for fatigue, mixed for blood sugar, no good evidence of benefit for athletic performance. [3]

American ginseng. In a trial of 364 fatigued cancer survivors from 40 institutions, American ginseng beat placebo for fatigue at 8 weeks, with no clear difference in toxicity. [5] A smaller trial of 32 head and neck cancer survivors found no significant difference from placebo. [7] A 2024 ASCO guideline update said American ginseng may be recommended for fatigue in adults undergoing cancer treatment, and rated certainty low to moderate. [8] For colds, a systematic review of five trials (747 people, all using North American ginseng) found a tendency toward fewer colds that did not reach statistical significance, and said evidence was insufficient to conclude it reduces incidence or severity. [6] Label: promising but limited for cancer-related fatigue; insufficient evidence for colds.

Siberian ginseng. Memorial Sloan Kettering says human studies are quite limited, with one small study of an herbal mixture in knee osteoarthritis. [1] Label: insufficient evidence; traditional use and preclinical findings only.

Frequently asked questions

Is Siberian ginseng really ginseng?

No. It is a different plant, Eleutherococcus senticosus, and sources say it is not a species of ginseng. [1]

Which type has the best research?

American ginseng has the largest single trial among the three, in cancer-related fatigue. Even so, results across trials are not consistent. [5][7]

Is American ginseng the same as Asian ginseng in Chinese medicine?

No. Sources describe American ginseng as used to nourish "Yin" in Chinese medicine and as a separate plant from Asian ginseng. [4]

Can ginseng interact with medicines?

Yes. Warfarin with American ginseng, digoxin with Siberian ginseng, and blood sugar and clotting effects with Asian ginseng have all been noted. [4][1][3]

Can I tell what is in a ginseng product from the label?

Not always. Researchers have had to develop DNA tests to detect one ginseng species mixed into another. Ask a pharmacist for help reading labels. [2]

More details: evidence, limits and cautions

The details behind this page: cautions, limits of the evidence and where sources disagree. Open any note to read it.

Safety and quality
Do not treat the three as interchangeable: a safety note for one does not carry over to the others, and the reverse is also true. NCCIH says some experts recommend against Asian ginseng for children and for women who are pregnant or breastfeeding. [3] The European Medicines Agency committee also advises against Asian ginseng root medicines for under-18s and in pregnancy or breastfeeding because of a lack of data. [9] Memorial Sloan Kettering advises avoiding Siberian ginseng while breastfeeding. [1]

Ask a doctor or pharmacist before use if you take blood thinners, diabetes medicines or digoxin. See interactions by drug class and product quality and contamination. If you are being treated for cancer, tell your oncology team before taking any ginseng.

References
  1. Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Siberian Ginseng. Read 2026-10-22.
  2. Molecular authentication of Panax ginseng and ginseng products using robust SNP markers. J Pharm Biomed Anal 2011. Read 2026-10-22.
  3. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, Asian Ginseng (updated February 2025). Read 2026-10-22.
  4. Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, American Ginseng. Read 2026-10-22.
  5. Barton DL et al., Wisconsin ginseng to improve cancer-related fatigue: a randomized, double-blind trial, N07C2. J Natl Cancer Inst 2013. Read 2026-10-22.
  6. Seida JK et al., North American and Asian ginseng preparations for prevention of the common cold in healthy adults: a systematic review. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med 2011. Read 2026-10-22.
  7. Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase II study of ginseng for fatigue in head and neck cancer patients. J Cancer Res Clin Oncol 2020. Read 2026-10-22.
  8. Management of Fatigue in Adult Survivors of Cancer: ASCO-Society for Integrative Oncology Guideline Update. J Clin Oncol 2024. Read 2026-10-22.
  9. European Medicines Agency, Ginseng radix: herbal medicine summary. Read 2026-10-22.
Education, not medical advice. This page is for general information. It does not diagnose or treat any condition and is not a substitute for care from a qualified health professional. Natural does not automatically mean safe. Ask a clinician or pharmacist before changing your care, especially if you take medication, are pregnant or breastfeeding, or have a health condition.