Research
Panax ginseng for Menopause: Evidence, Interactions and Cautions
Panax ginseng is an ingredient used in menopause supplements marketed to women. Below is what it has actually been studied for, how strong that evidence is, the drug interactions and cautions on record, and the primary source our grade rests on — all drawn from the HerWellReport ingredient dataset.
Also sold as: Panax ginseng; Asian ginseng; Korean red ginseng; G115
What the evidence says about Panax ginseng
A systematic review of four randomised trials found that the one trial measuring hot flush frequency failed to show a significant effect of Korean red ginseng over placebo, with some benefit reported for sexual arousal and well-being. Most of the included studies were at high risk of bias and the reviewers concluded firm conclusions cannot be drawn. The Menopause Society's 2023 nonhormone therapy position statement names ginseng on its not-recommended list (Level I), citing a trial in which 384 postmenopausal women took the G115 extract or placebo for 16 weeks with no greater reduction in hot flushes than placebo.
The grade "limited for hot flushes; none for stress incontinence" means: limited — One or two small human trials, or trials for a closely related outcome. none — No human trial evidence we could find for this use. Grades are explained in full on our methodology page.
Read the primary source this grade rests on (opens in a new tab).
Panax ginseng drug interactions
- insulin and sulfonylureas
- monoamine oxidase inhibitors
- imatinib
- warfarin
- drugs metabolised by CYP3A4
Who should be careful with Panax ginseng
- May lower blood sugar, so monitor closely if you take diabetes medicines
- reported effects include insomnia, nervousness, fast heart rate, nausea and diarrhoea
- cases of bleeding around surgery have been reported
Read more on HerWellReport
- Best Menopause Supplements: What Is Actually In Them
- Nature’s Way AM/PM PeriMenopause Formula: An Honest Ingredient Review
This entry is generated from row "Panax ginseng" of the HerWellReport ingredient dataset (v2.1, updated 2026-09-23). The dataset is free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 — how to cite it. Ingredient evidence is not evidence for any finished product, and nothing here is medical advice.