Quick answer

The trials in women mostly looked at discomforts after menopause. A 2022 review pooled three of them, with 515 women, and found small reductions in menopause rating scores and hot flashes, though most trials were open to bias. We grade it early. Hormone levels did not change. NIH's complementary health center says it may be unsafe in pregnancy.^1,2,3

Key facts

A 12-week trial in 72 women aged 45 to 60 after menopause used 3 g a day of red ginseng with 60 mg of ginsenosides.²
The largest trial, in 384 women over 16 weeks, found only a trend on its main well-being score and no change in hot flushes.⁴
Estradiol, FSH and the thickness of the womb lining did not change in the trials that measured them.^1,2,4
Women made up 69 of the 90 adults in the 4-week tiredness trial.⁵
A systematic review advises caution with Panax ginseng in pregnancy, especially in the first trimester, and while breastfeeding.⁶

What the research on women covers

The studies designed around women centered on the years after menopause. A 2022 review of placebo-controlled trials found 15 of them, and judged that most were open to bias.¹

Some trials in women looked at other outcomes that this site does not cover, so this page leaves them out. It sticks to what the research says about discomforts after menopause and general tiredness, then to safety.

Discomforts after menopause

May ease some self-rated discomforts after menopause*^1,2,4

Early evidence

A 2022 systematic review pooled three trials in 515 women and found small reductions in menopause rating scores and hot flashes. In a 12-week trial, 72 women aged 45 to 60 taking 3 g of red ginseng a day, with 60 mg of ginsenosides, scored lower on two menopause rating scales than on placebo. In the largest trial, 384 women taking a standardized extract for 16 weeks showed only a trend on the main well-being score and no change in hot flushes. Estradiol, FSH and the lining of the womb did not change in the trials that measured them.

Amount studied: 3 g a day of red ginseng in one trial; trials ran 12 to 16 weeks

Trials of Panax ginseng in women after menopause^1,2,4
Trial	Who	Preparation and amount	Length	What was reported
Kim and colleagues, 2012	72 women aged 45 to 60	Red ginseng, 3 g a day, with 60 mg of ginsenosides	12 weeks	Lower scores on two menopause rating scales than placebo; estradiol unchanged
Wiklund and colleagues, 1999	384 women, average age 53.5	Standardized extract (amount not given in the abstract we read)	16 weeks	A trend on the main well-being score, some subscales in favor of ginseng, no change in hot flushes
Pooled review of three trials, 2022	515 women	Various	Various	Small reductions in menopause rating scores and in hot flashes

The results do not line up neatly. The smaller trial found lower scores on both of its rating scales, while the larger one saw only a trend on its main measure and no change in hot flushes. When the review pooled three trials, hot flashes fell by a small amount, and the margin of error nearly reached zero.^1,2,4

In trials in women after menopause, ginseng did not change estradiol, FSH or the thickness of the womb lining.^1,2,4

That suggests the changes in these trials were not driven by a rise in estrogen. The authors of the larger trial concluded that any effects were most likely not hormone replacement-like.^1,4

General tiredness

May ease general tiredness a little*^3,5,7,8

Early evidence

A 2023 meta-analysis of 19 randomized trials found no clear effect on fatigue overall, but a small reduction in general tiredness not linked to a specific illness. In a 4-week trial of 90 adults with long-lasting tiredness of unknown cause, 1 or 2 g a day of root extract lowered mental fatigue scores more than placebo, and 2 g also lowered a second fatigue scale, while total fatigue scores did not differ. An earlier pooled analysis saw no clear effect below 1,000 mg a day or in courses shorter than 6 weeks, and NIH's complementary health center notes that not all research agrees.

Amount studied: 1 or 2 g a day of root extract for 4 weeks in the main trial; pooled trials used 350 to 3,000 mg a day

Women made up 69 of the 90 adults in the 4-week trial that found lower mental fatigue scores on 1 or 2 g a day. So most of the people behind that result were women, though we did not find results reported separately for them.⁵

Amounts and length of time

A 12-week trial in women after menopause gave 3 g a day of red ginseng, containing 60 mg of ginsenosides.²

Trials in women after menopause lasted 12 to 16 weeks.^2,4

Whatever you take, check what is in it. LiverTox notes that commercial ginseng products vary widely in ginsenoside content, and some have none, so two bottles with the same milligrams on the label may not match the preparation in these trials.⁹

Pregnancy, breastfeeding, hormones and medicines

Some studies suggest Asian ginseng may be unsafe in pregnancy, because one of its compounds caused birth defects in animals. Little is known about whether it is safe while breastfeeding.^3,6

A systematic review found one cohort study with no adverse effects in pregnancy, but also laboratory evidence that isolated ginsenosides can harm animal embryos at levels far above normal use. It found no human studies of breastfeeding, and advised caution in both, especially in the first trimester.⁶

The same review found conflicting evidence on whether Panax ginseng acts like estrogen. If you have a condition that is sensitive to estrogen, such as some breast or uterine cancers, ask your doctor before taking it.⁶

Ask your pharmacist or doctor first

The warfarin label lists ginseng among the botanicals that may decrease warfarin's effect, and says the INR, the blood test that guides the dose, should be checked more often when starting or stopping botanicals. MedlinePlus also names ginseng among the herbal products that may interact with warfarin.^9,10,11

On the medicine's label

Asian ginseng might lower blood sugar. In one study, single doses of 200 or 400 mg lowered blood glucose in healthy young adults.^3,12

Trouble sleeping is the most common side effect of Asian ginseng.^3,9

Ask first if you are pregnant or breastfeeding^3,6
Ask first if you have a condition that is sensitive to estrogen⁶
Ask first if you take warfarin or another blood thinner, or medicine that lowers blood sugar^3,10
Ask first if you have an autoimmune condition³

Questions people ask

What does Panax ginseng do for women?

The trials in women looked mainly at discomforts after menopause. A 2022 review pooled three trials with 515 women and found small reductions in menopause rating scores and hot flashes. We grade that early, because most trials were open to bias and the results differ.^1,4

Does Panax ginseng change hormone levels?

Not in the trials that measured them. Estradiol did not change in a 12-week trial of red ginseng or in a 16-week trial of a standardized extract, and the thickness of the womb lining did not change either.^1,2,4

Is Panax ginseng safe for women?

For most adults, NIH's complementary health center says it appears safe by mouth for up to 6 months in recommended amounts, with trouble sleeping the most common side effect. Pregnant or breastfeeding women should ask a doctor first, and so should women who take warfarin or have a condition sensitive to estrogen.^3,6,10

Can you take Panax ginseng while breastfeeding?

There are no human studies on it. A systematic review advised caution while breastfeeding, and NIH's complementary health center says little is known about whether it is safe. Ask your doctor or midwife first.^3,6

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Sources

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

This page is information, not medical advice. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist about your own situation.