Ginseng is thought to have the following effects:
- It can help reduce fatigue
Ginseng can be used for short-term treatment of fatigue, weakness and lack of vitality, according to the European Medicines Agency's Committee on Herbal Medicine Products (HMPC).5
- It can stabilise blood sugar
For example, a 2018 study in the Journal of Psychopharmacology reported that Panax ginseng reduced blood sugar within one hour of consuming it.6
- It may support your brain
Scientists think ginseng has a stimulatory effect on the brain.7
In fact, the above study found that after taking ginseng, participants performed better on a mental arithmetic test than those taking the placebo.8
Meanwhile, a 2010 study by Northumbria University reported that 400mg of ginseng taken daily for eight days increased participants’ sense of calmness and ability to perform mental arithmetic.9
However, other studies into ginseng’s effect on memory and concentration have had mixed results, so more research is needed.
- It can increase blood circulation
In 2013, Korean scientists also reported that red ginseng in particular can dilate blood vessels – improving the flow of blood not just through each vein, but throughout the whole circulatory system.10