Ginseng (Ren Shen) in Chinese Medicine: Panax Ginseng and American Ginseng
Ren shen (Panax ginseng) and American ginseng in Chinese medicine: how each is traditionally used, what trials of specific uses found, and the safety and quality points that matter.
Content last updated . This page has not been medically reviewed.
What it is
Ginseng in Chinese medicine usually means the root of Panax ginseng, called ren shen (Asian, Chinese or Korean ginseng). It is native to the Far East, including Korea, northeastern China and far-eastern Siberia, and the root is the part most often used.[1] American ginseng, Panax quinquefolius (xi yang shen in Chinese), is a different species that is often confused with Asian ginseng.[2] The two are not interchangeable. For a side-by-side look, including Siberian ginseng, see American, Asian and Siberian ginseng compared.
"Red" and "white" ginseng are not different plants. They refer to Asian ginseng prepared in two different ways.[1] The European Medicines Agency describes white ginseng as dried root and red ginseng as root treated with steam and then dried.[3]
How it is traditionally used
NIH describes Asian ginseng as used in traditional Chinese medicine as a calming agent, and as an adaptogen, a term for herbs thought to help the body resist stress.[1] Memorial Sloan Kettering notes that American ginseng is frequently used in Chinese medicine to nourish "yin," which is a traditional idea about the body, not a measurable biological state.[2] (See qi, yin and yang as traditional concepts.) Reviews also separate ginseng alone from ginseng herbal formulas that contain other ingredients, which are not the same thing.[1]
The European Medicines Agency recognizes Asian ginseng preparations as having traditional use for the symptomatic treatment of weakness and fatigue. It states that this kind of "traditional use" rests on long-standing use and not on results from clinical studies.[3]
What research shows
Ginsenosides are the compounds thought to be most important in ginseng.[1] Most trials have been small, fewer than 200 people and shorter than 3 months, so conclusions are limited.[1]
| Use | What the sources found | Strength of evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Memory and thinking (Asian ginseng) | A 2024 meta-analysis of 15 randomized trials (671 people) found a small improvement in memory but no benefit for overall cognition, attention or executive function.[4] | Promising but limited |
| General fatigue | A 2023 review of 19 studies (2,413 people) suggested a small benefit of Asian ginseng alone for general fatigue; not all research agrees.[1] | Mixed |
| Cancer-related fatigue (American ginseng) | One 8-week placebo-controlled trial in 364 fatigued cancer survivors at 40 institutions showed a statistically significant difference at 8 weeks, with more benefit in people still in treatment, and no difference in side effects between groups.[5] A 2024 cancer-fatigue guideline says American ginseng may be recommended during cancer treatment, while rating the overall certainty of evidence for fatigue methods as low to moderate.[6] | Promising but limited |
| Preventing colds | A review of five trials (747 people), all using North American ginseng, found the trials varied widely in quality and concluded there is insufficient evidence that ginseng reduces how often or how severely people get colds.[7] | Insufficient evidence |
| Blood sugar and diabetes | A 2022 review of 20 studies (1,295 people) found improvements in several blood measures in prediabetes and diabetes, but research on blood sugar control in people with diabetes is overall inconclusive and conflicting.[1] | Mixed |
| Athletic performance | The majority of research shows Asian ginseng does not improve athletic performance.[1] | No good evidence of benefit |
| Erectile dysfunction | Some research suggests oral Asian ginseng improves sexual function.[1] | Promising but limited |
Other uses, including aging, asthma and anxiety, lack enough reliable information to judge.[1] Many of these studies cannot rule out placebo effects, and trial results for one ginseng species or extract should not be assumed to apply to another.
Frequently asked questions
Is ren shen the same as American ginseng?
No. Ren shen is Panax ginseng. American ginseng is a different species, Panax quinquefolius, often confused with it.[2] Their traditional roles and research differ, so results for one should not be applied to the other.
What is the difference between red and white ginseng?
Both are Asian ginseng prepared differently. The European Medicines Agency describes white ginseng as dried root and red ginseng as root steamed first and then dried.[3]
Does ginseng work for energy and fatigue?
The evidence is mixed. A 2023 review suggested a small benefit of Asian ginseng alone for general fatigue, though not all research agrees.[1] American ginseng showed a benefit for cancer-related fatigue in one large trial.[5]
Can I take ginseng with warfarin or diabetes medicine?
Ask your prescriber or pharmacist first. American ginseng has been shown to weaken warfarin's effect in people,[2] and Asian ginseng might lower blood sugar and interfere with clotting.[1]
Is ginseng safe in pregnancy?
Sources advise against it. NIH says some studies suggest Asian ginseng may be unsafe by mouth in pregnancy,[1] and the European regulator advises against use in pregnancy and breastfeeding because data are inadequate.[3]
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.
Quick safety note
Ginseng is a strong herb, not a harmless tea. Tell your doctor or pharmacist before using it, especially if you take blood thinners such as warfarin, diabetes medicine, or medicines for any long-term condition. Avoid it in pregnancy and breastfeeding unless a clinician who knows your situation says otherwise.
Safety, interactions and quality
NIH says short-term oral use of Asian ginseng in recommended amounts, up to 6 months, appears safe for most people, but questions remain about long-term safety.[1] Insomnia is the most common side effect. Uncommon reports include severe rash, liver damage and severe allergic reactions.[1] The European Medicines Agency also lists stomach upset and skin reactions.[3]
Take extra care in these situations:
- Blood thinners. Asian ginseng may interfere with blood clotting,[1] and American ginseng has been shown to work against warfarin's effects in people.[2]
- Diabetes medicine. Asian ginseng might lower blood sugar.[1]
- Autoimmune conditions. Asian ginseng may worsen autoimmune disorders.[1]
- Pregnancy, breastfeeding and children. Some experts recommend against use in infants, children, and pregnant or breastfeeding women.[1] One chemical in Asian ginseng has caused birth defects in animals.[1] The European regulator advises against use under age 18 and in pregnancy or breastfeeding because of a lack of adequate data.[3]
Sources do not agree on interactions: the European summary reports none described in the literature at the time of its assessment,[3] while NIH advises that Asian ginseng might interact with certain medications.[1] Treat this as a reason to ask a pharmacist, not as a green light.
On quality, researchers note that Panax ginseng products can be adulterated with other Panax species,[8] so a label does not guarantee what is inside. See Chinese herbal products: quality, contamination and medicine interactions and the general herb safety and interactions guide. For how medicine interactions work, see how interactions work.
Who should check with a clinician first
Anyone on prescribed medicines, people with diabetes, a bleeding disorder, an autoimmune condition, or a hormone-sensitive condition, and anyone who is pregnant, breastfeeding, or planning surgery. Do not stop or change a prescribed medicine because of ginseng. For wider context on herbal practice, see Chinese herbal medicine: what it is and what research shows and adaptogens explained.
References
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (US NIH), Asian Ginseng. Read 2026-10-22.
- Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, American Ginseng (About Herbs, last updated 2022). Read 2026-10-22.
- European Medicines Agency, Ginseng radix: herbal medicinal product (Committee on Herbal Medicinal Products summary). Read 2026-10-22.
- Effects of Ginseng on Cognitive Function: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Phytotherapy Research, 2024, PubMed. Read 2026-10-22.
- Wisconsin Ginseng (Panax quinquefolius) to improve cancer-related fatigue: a randomized, double-blind trial, N07C2. J Natl Cancer Inst, 2013, PubMed. Read 2026-10-22.
- Management of Fatigue in Adult Survivors of Cancer: ASCO-Society for Integrative Oncology Guideline Update. J Clin Oncol, 2024, PubMed. Read 2026-10-22.
- North American (Panax quinquefolius) and Asian Ginseng (Panax ginseng) Preparations for Prevention of the Common Cold in Healthy Adults: A Systematic Review. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med, 2011, PubMed. Read 2026-10-22.
- Application of a modified tetra-primer ARMS-PCR assay for rapid Panax species identity authentication in ginseng products. Sci Rep, 2023, PubMed. Read 2026-10-22.