Ginseng vs Tongkat Ali: Which Adaptogen Actually Works for You?
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Last reviewed: 2026-04-23. Evidence reviewed through 2025 publication year. This article is for general education and does not replace medical advice. See disclaimer and references at the end.
If you've been researching adaptogenic herbs for fatigue, focus, or men's vitality, two names dominate the conversation: ginseng and tongkat ali. Both carry centuries of traditional use and both are marketed for energy and performance, but the two plants have different chemistries, different mechanisms, and clinical trial records that tell two different stories.
This guide walks through what the 2021-2025 peer-reviewed evidence actually shows, how the herbs compare on every claim that matters, and where each one's data is weaker than the marketing suggests. At CafeBank we use Southeast Asian tongkat ali (Eurycoma longifolia) extracted via Supercritical CO2 in our coffee blends, so we have a clear position on this question — but ginseng is a legitimate adaptogen with its own strengths, and the goal here is to help you make a grounded decision rather than sell you one answer.
The 30-Second Answer
- Tongkat ali has the stronger evidence for men's vitality endpoints — specifically free testosterone response in men with low baseline values and stress-axis balance — and pairs naturally with coffee for daytime use.
- Ginseng has the stronger evidence for general daytime fatigue in healthy middle-aged adults and for memory-related cognitive performance. Its record on erectile function is much weaker than its reputation.
- Caffeine synergy differs. Ginseng plus heavy caffeine can tip into insomnia, tachycardia, and nervousness in sensitive users; tongkat ali sits more neutrally alongside caffeine at daily-blend doses.
- Extraction method matters. The "same" herb extracted with hexane or cheap ethanol is not the extract used in controlled clinical trials — a point most comparison articles skip.
If you want the tongkat-forward 3-in-1 blend specifically, it lives at our Exclusive Blend VIP 3-in-1 (20g sachets). Keep reading before you decide.
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
What Ginseng Actually Is (Disambiguation)
"Ginseng" gets attached to several unrelated plants, so the label needs unpacking.
Panax ginseng (Asian / Korean ginseng)
Panax ginseng is the classical ginseng of East Asian materia medica. Korean red ginseng (KRG) is steamed-and-dried Panax root, a preparation that concentrates ginsenosides like Rg3, Rg5, and Rk1. Most of the trials with the strongest ginseng signals — including Sung 2020 on chronic fatigue and Cho 2024 on rheumatic-disease fatigue — used KRG rather than raw white ginseng.
Panax quinquefolius (American ginseng)
American ginseng is a separate species native to North America. Its ginsenoside profile leans toward Rb1 and Re, which Traditional Chinese Medicine classifies as more "cooling" than Panax ginseng. The clinical record is smaller but shows similar fatigue and cognitive signals with a milder stimulant profile.
Not-really-ginseng: Siberian, Indian, Brazilian
Several plants carry "ginseng" in their common name without belonging to the Panax genus. Siberian ginseng is Eleutherococcus senticosus — a legitimate adaptogen, botanically unrelated. Indian ginseng is ashwagandha (Withania somnifera). Brazilian ginseng is Pfaffia paniculata. None share the ginsenoside chemistry behind the Panax trial data, so the species on the label matters. For the rest of this comparison, "ginseng" means Panax ginseng or Panax quinquefolius.
What are ginsenosides
Ginsenosides are the steroidal saponins unique to the Panax genus. More than 100 are documented; only a handful drive clinical effects. The protopanaxadiol-type (Rb1, Rb2, Rc, Rd) trend toward neurologically calming activity; protopanaxatriol types (Rg1, Re, Rf) trend more stimulating. Rare fermented ginsenosides like Rg3 concentrate during the red-ginseng steaming process and carry most of the modern research interest. Because ginsenosides are partly water-soluble and partly lipid-soluble, extraction solvent matters — different solvents capture different fractions and the finished extract can act meaningfully differently at the same milligram dose.
What Tongkat Ali Actually Is
Tongkat ali (Eurycoma longifolia) is a Southeast Asian shrub whose root extract has long been used in Malaysian, Indonesian, and Vietnamese traditional practice. Unlike ginseng, it does not produce ginsenosides. Its actives are a different chemical family: quassinoids (eurycomanone is the most studied) and eurypeptides, which sit closer to the ecdysteroid class than the saponin class.
The plant grows slowly — 8 to 10 years to harvestable root — in the rainforests of Malaysia, Indonesia, and Thailand. Modern clinical-trial supply is typically standardized on eurycomanone content (0.8–2.0%). Because the active molecules differ from ginsenosides, you cannot substitute one herb for the other at the mechanism level even when the downstream feel of less fatigue and better daytime energy looks similar.
For the deep dive — safety, dosing, and the full testosterone evidence base — see our complete tongkat ali guide.
Head-to-Head Comparison
| Dimension | Ginseng (Panax) | Tongkat Ali (Eurycoma) | Stronger evidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daytime fatigue (healthy adults) | RCT + umbrella-review signal (Sung 2020; Li 2023) | Smaller trial base | Ginseng |
| Cancer-related fatigue | Null in advanced-cancer RCT (Yennurajalingam 2017) | Not evaluated | Mixed/null |
| Memory / cognition | Memory effect at higher doses (Zeng 2024) | Smaller literature | Ginseng |
| Free testosterone in men with low baseline | Modest, smaller magnitude (Smith 2021) | Larger magnitude (Smith 2021) | Tongkat ali, modestly |
| Erectile function | Cochrane: "trivial" (Lee 2021) | Limited trials, no Cochrane equivalent | Both weak |
| Stress / cortisol-axis | Mixed; rheumatic-fatigue null (Cho 2024) | Active research area | Tongkat ali |
| Caffeine pairing | Risk of over-stimulation | Neutral at daily-blend doses | Tongkat ali |
| Duration of safe use | ≤3 months per MSD/WebMD | Fewer long-duration data; same cap applied | Ginseng (clearer guidance) |
| Pregnancy / breastfeeding | Contraindicated | Contraindicated | Neither |
"Stronger evidence" is not the same as "works for you." The next sections walk through where each herb's data is genuinely stronger — and where it is weaker than the marketing.
Where Ginseng Has the Stronger Evidence
General and chronic fatigue in healthy middle-aged adults
Sung et al. (Complement Ther Med, 2020, PMID 31987248) tested Korean red ginseng in 50 middle-aged adults with moderate chronic fatigue and reported improvement in fatigue scores versus placebo at eight weeks. Small single-site trials need replication, and Li et al.'s 2023 Frontiers in Pharmacology umbrella review (PMID 37465522), synthesizing nineteen earlier meta-analyses, classified the fatigue-improvement signal as moderate-grade evidence across healthy-adult and mixed-disease populations — the strongest aggregated fatigue signal in the adaptogen class.
Honesty check. Yennurajalingam et al. (JNCCN, 2017, PMID 28874596) studied Panax ginseng in advanced-cancer patients (n=112 evaluable) and found both the ginseng and placebo arms improved, with no statistically significant advantage for ginseng. Lee et al.'s 2016 anti-fatigue RCT with enzyme-modified ginseng (PMID 27754709) reported favorable results but lacked an active-control comparator. Taken together, the signal is real in healthy adults and middle-aged chronic-fatigue cohorts; it is weaker in advanced-disease populations where the fatigue has a primary medical driver.
Memory and cognitive function
Zeng et al. (Phytotherapy Research, 2024, PMID 39474788) pooled fifteen RCTs (n=671) and found a statistically significant effect on memory outcomes, particularly at higher doses, while attention and executive-function measures did not. Li et al. (Phytotherapy Research, 2025, PMID 40083108) published a network meta-analysis of forty-eight RCTs (n=6,599) on plant extracts for cognitive recovery in stroke populations, in which ginsenosides ranked favorably within that clinical context. If memory-related mental work is your priority, ginseng outperforms tongkat ali on that endpoint — though neither herb has been tested head-to-head on cognition in the general population.
Immune support during cold/flu season
The NCCIH (2025 summary) is specific about this: some preliminary research suggests Asian ginseng extract may help reduce the risk of developing the flu, but not the severity or duration of symptoms. NCCIH's own framing uses "may help reduce" — not "prevents illness" — and the signal is limited to seasonal respiratory infections rather than generic immune claims. Li et al.'s 2021 Translational Pediatrics RCT (PMID 34295784) reported immune-marker improvement with a modified Ginseng-Schisandra formula in children with spleen-deficiency syndrome; pediatric TCM-formula data does not transfer directly to adult claims, so the NCCIH framing remains the defensible adult-facing statement.
Where Tongkat Ali Has the Stronger Evidence
Free testosterone response in men with low baseline
This is where the two herbs most diverge, and the language needs to be precise. Smith et al. (Advances in Nutrition, 2021, PMID 33150931) examined thirty-two studies on herbal effects on testosterone concentrations in men and found that tongkat ali produced a more consistent and larger-magnitude free-testosterone response than Asian red ginseng, whose effect Smith called present but "to a lesser degree" than fenugreek, ashwagandha, or tongkat ali. Trials in men with lower baseline testosterone reported larger magnitude changes than in healthy eugonadal subjects — biologically plausible, since baseline depressed by stress, sleep debt, or over-training has more room to respond.
Important caveat: free-testosterone changes in short RCTs are not the same as disease-endpoint outcomes. None of the trials evaluated either herb against a clinically diagnosed hypogonadism endpoint. A serum-value change is not automatically a meaningful change in how a man feels or performs. The herbs support male vitality within normal physiological ranges; they are not clinical treatments and not substitutes for medical evaluation of persistently low testosterone.
Daytime stress and cortisol-axis balance
Tongkat ali's mechanistic literature centers on HPA-axis (hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal) modulation — the body's stress-signaling pathway. Liao et al. (Chinese Medicine, 2018, PMID 30479654) frames eurycoma alongside ginseng, ashwagandha, and rhodiola as classical adaptogens whose mechanisms converge on stress-axis normalization rather than direct stimulant action. Clinical trials in stressed subjects have reported lower perceived stress scores and more favorable cortisol-to-testosterone ratios; our tongkat-ali pillar covers the trial record in more depth.
Libido and sexual satisfaction
On self-reported libido and sexual-satisfaction endpoints — not clinical ED — the tongkat ali trial base is somewhat stronger than the ginseng base. Neither herb has Cochrane-level ED evidence; tongkat ali's signals come from trials in generally healthy men, on subjective scales rather than the validated IIEF questionnaires the ginseng Cochrane review used.
The Honest Take on Ginseng for ED and Testosterone
Most comparison articles skip this section.
The most authoritative ED evidence is the 2021 Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews entry by Lee et al. (PMID 33871063). Cochrane is the highest-rigor systematic-review body in evidence-based medicine. The review synthesized nine RCTs covering 587 men and concluded that ginseng produced trivial effects on erectile function as measured by the IIEF-15 and IIEF-5, with low-certainty evidence of possible improvement in self-reported ability to have intercourse. "Trivial" is Cochrane's word, not ours. A 2023 meta-analysis by Petre et al. (Nutrients, PMID 37686709) and a 2021 systematic review by Leisegang and Finelli (Arab J Urol, PMID 34552783) place red ginseng among several herbal options for ED with similarly mixed evidence. Neither review lifts the bar above the Cochrane verdict.
Why does the marketing overstate this? Smaller single-site trials with favorable outcomes get cited individually while the pooled null or near-null effect is omitted, and "supports sexual function" reads stronger than FTC substantiation actually permits.
If erectile function is the reason you are researching, Cochrane says ginseng is not a strong lever — speak to a physician about established therapies. If sexual vitality more broadly (libido, energy, mood) is the goal and you want a plant-based adaptogen, tongkat ali has a somewhat better trial record, and even then the honest framing is "some signal in generally healthy men on subjective measures," not a clinical claim.
How Extraction Method Changes Everything
Most competitor articles skip this entirely. It materially affects whether the herb in the bottle resembles the herb in the trial.
Ethanol extraction
Most commodity ginseng and tongkat ali extracts on the market use ethanol as the solvent. Ethanol is effective and has a long industrial history, but its chemistry preferentially extracts the water-and-alcohol-soluble fraction and leaves part of the lipid-soluble bioactive fraction behind. Ginsenoside recovery is reasonable; eurycomanone recovery is reasonable; the full native profile of the root is not what ends up in the capsule.
Hexane and solvent residues
Cheaper commodity extracts, particularly in markets with loose manufacturing oversight, still use hexane or similar petroleum-derived solvents. Hexane is efficient for lipophilic compounds — it's the standard for cooking-oil extraction — but residue is the problem. Even with standard evaporation protocols, trace hexane can remain. The ICH Q3C residual-solvent guidance, adopted by the US FDA and European EFSA, classifies hexane as a class-2 solvent with a 290 ppm concentration limit in finished products. A well-run hexane extraction meets those limits; a less well-run one does not, and consumers have no way to tell from the label.
Supercritical CO2 (SFE)
Supercritical fluid extraction uses CO2 pressurized past its critical point, where it behaves as both a liquid (dissolving lipophilic bioactives) and a gas (diffusing through plant tissue). When pressure releases, the CO2 evaporates cleanly — zero solvent residue by definition, since food-grade CO2 is the same substance that leaves your bloodstream when you exhale. Modern SFE literature documents higher recovery of thermolabile terpenoids and a cleaner aromatic profile compared to ethanol and hexane baselines.
For a coffee-adjacent product that matters twice: the preserved terpene profile carries the aromatic compounds that make a blend taste like what it is, and solvent residues change flavor in ways that are hard to mask.
Why CafeBank uses SFE
Every herb in our 3-in-1 coffee lineup — tongkat ali in Exclusive Blend VIP 3-in-1 (20g), and maca and guarana in that SKU plus Active Blend VIP 3-in-1 (10g) and VIP Coffee Tabs — is extracted by Supercritical CO2. The full rationale, side-by-side with ethanol and hexane, lives on our extraction-method hub page.
We do not sell ginseng. If you decide ginseng is right for your use case, look for a product that specifies SFE extraction, a standardized ginsenoside content (commonly "minimum X% total ginsenosides"), and ideally third-party certificate-of-analysis documentation for residual solvents.
How to Stack (or Not Stack) With Coffee
Ginseng plus caffeine
Both compounds act on the central nervous system — ginseng via its adaptogenic ginsenosides and caffeine via adenosine-receptor antagonism. At moderate doses most healthy adults tolerate the combination, but the Cleveland Clinic advises caution: in caffeine-sensitive users, in anxiety disorders, or at higher doses, the stack can produce insomnia, restlessness, tachycardia, and blood-pressure elevation. Combining espresso with 400 mg of standardized ginseng extract is already a stimulant-heavy stack.
Tongkat ali plus caffeine — the CafeBank approach
Tongkat ali is not a CNS stimulant in the caffeine sense. It works on steroidogenesis and stress-axis pathways, not adenosine receptors, so its acute effect profile sits more quietly alongside a cup of coffee. That is the mechanistic rationale for our 3-in-1 blend — caffeine provides the acute energy while the adaptogens support underlying stress-axis balance, rather than stacking two stimulants.
Both herbs are inappropriate during pregnancy and breastfeeding; both should be stopped at least 1–2 weeks before scheduled surgery per ASA/AANA perioperative-herbal guidance (Elvir Lazo 2024, PMID 38613937); and neither should be combined with warfarin or similar anticoagulants without physician sign-off. More in the safety section below.
Dosing, Timing, Duration
Ginseng
NCCIH references a standardized Panax ginseng extract range of 200 to 400 mg per day, ideally split morning and early afternoon, for a defined course. Korean red ginseng dosing in the Sung 2020 trial was higher (2 g per day of extract) and should be considered upper-end; adverse events accumulate above about 1 g per day. Some traditional-medicine frameworks recommend cycling ginseng supplementation (e.g. two weeks on, two weeks off). This cycling pattern is based on traditional use and is not endorsed by regulatory bodies. What IS institutionally documented: NCCIH states Asian ginseng "appears safe" when taken short-term (up to 6 months), while MSD Manual and WebMD take the more conservative position of a 3-month continuous-use cap before a washout period. CafeBank adopts the 3-month conservative floor. Morning dosing is almost always correct; evening dosing reliably disrupts sleep.
Tongkat ali
Standardized extract is typically dosed at 200 to 400 mg per day of a 0.8–2.0% eurycomanone preparation, taken with food. CafeBank's Exclusive Blend 3-in-1 20g uses a standardized tongkat ali SFE extract within the clinical evidence-base range of 200–400 mg per serving that Henkel 2014 used to observe fatigue and muscle-strength improvements — the exact proprietary dose is not publicly disclosed. Additional loose-powder supplementation is not recommended while using the product.
Safety, Side Effects, and Who Should Avoid
Common side effects
For ginseng, the most frequently reported side effects are insomnia (especially when dosed late), headache, gastrointestinal upset, and elevated blood pressure in sensitive users. For tongkat ali, reported side effects are generally mild — occasional restlessness, mild insomnia at high doses, rarely gastrointestinal discomfort — but the long-duration human safety database is thinner than ginseng's.
Drug interactions
Warfarin is the most critical. Milić et al. (Nat Prod Commun, 2014, PMID 25233607) catalogued ginseng among fourteen herbs with documented warfarin interactions, including altered INR and bleeding events. A 2020 cross-sectional study by Mohammadi et al. (J Res Pharm Pract, PMID 33102379) documented real-world herbal-supplement use in chronic-kidney-disease patients at rates that confirm this interaction profile is not theoretical. Anyone on warfarin or a direct-acting oral anticoagulant should speak to their prescriber before starting either herb.
Ginseng also interacts with MAOI antidepressants (serotonin-syndrome signal) and with diabetes medications — Kim et al. (Chin J Integr Med, 2011, PMID 22139546) examined red ginseng in type 2 diabetes and found the glucose-control evidence "not convincing," but an additive effect with metformin or sulfonylureas raises hypoglycemia risk regardless of whether ginseng's solo glucose effect is robust. That combination warrants physician oversight.
Who should avoid
- Pregnancy and breastfeeding. WebMD notes a possible birth-defect signal with Panax ginseng and insufficient data on tongkat ali. Both are contraindicated.
- Autoimmune conditions (multiple sclerosis, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, post-transplant). Ginseng may stimulate immune function — the opposite of what these conditions need.
- Scheduled surgery. Per the American Society of Anesthesiologists and American Association of Nurse Anesthetists perioperative-herbal guidance (Elvir Lazo et al., J Clin Anesth, 2024, PMID 38613937), herbal medications including ginseng should be stopped 1–2 weeks before elective surgical procedures due to bleeding-risk, cardiovascular, and anesthetic-interaction concerns. CafeBank recommends the 2-week end of the range to be conservative.
- Children under 18. Pediatric healthy-population trial data is too thin to support OTC use.
- Cardiac conditions, high blood pressure, or anxiety disorders. Discuss with a specialist before starting either herb.
Duration cap
MSD Manual and WebMD cite a conservative three-month continuous-use cap for ginseng (NCCIH's less-conservative position allows up to 6 months). We extend the 3-month framing to tongkat ali in the absence of longer-duration RCTs. After three months, cycle off for at least one month before resuming.
Our Verdict: Why CafeBank Uses Tongkat Ali and Not Ginseng
Ginseng is a legitimate adaptogen. We chose tongkat ali for three reasons.
Use-case fit. Our customer is a daytime coffee drinker who wants sustained vitality and stress-axis balance, not a peak-cognition-on-demand stack. The tongkat ali evidence base on stress-axis and free-testosterone response matches that use case more directly than the ginseng evidence base, which skews toward acute fatigue and memory endpoints.
Caffeine compatibility. A coffee product should not be a two-stimulant stack. Ginseng plus coffee walks into over-stimulation territory for a meaningful fraction of drinkers; tongkat ali plus coffee does not.
Extraction integrity. Running one SFE-extracted tongkat ali source, plus SFE-extracted maca and guarana, is a tighter supply chain than trying to source SFE-grade ginseng at commercially viable cost.
If you want a tongkat-forward 3-in-1 coffee, Exclusive Blend VIP 3-in-1 (20g) is the SKU that contains tongkat ali. For a lighter daily coffee without tongkat ali, Active Blend VIP 3-in-1 (10g) uses maca and guarana only. For a portable tab format, VIP Coffee Tabs is the option. None of our SKUs contain ginseng.
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is ginseng safe to take with coffee?
For most healthy adults in moderate amounts, yes — but the Cleveland Clinic advises caution. In caffeine-sensitive users, anxiety disorders, or at doses above 400 mg ginseng extract paired with multiple cups of coffee, the combination can produce insomnia, restlessness, and elevated heart rate. Split the doses or stop the combination if you notice sleep disruption or jitteriness.
Ginseng vs ashwagandha — which is better?
Different tools for different jobs. Ashwagandha has stronger evidence on subjective stress-scale reduction and sleep quality; ginseng has stronger evidence on daytime fatigue and memory. Our ashwagandha vs maca breakdown covers the ashwagandha side in depth.
How does rhodiola compare?
Rhodiola (Rhodiola rosea) sits in a different evidence lane from both ginseng and tongkat ali — its RCT base is strongest for acute mental fatigue, burnout symptoms, and stress-driven cognitive lapses, often at endpoints measured in days to weeks rather than the multi-month windows that anchor the ginseng fatigue trials. Rhodiola is not in any CafeBank SKU, but if you’re choosing between adaptogens for daytime mental endurance specifically, our rhodiola vs ashwagandha comparison walks through the head-to-head literature in detail.
How long does it take ginseng to start working?
Subjective energy effects can be felt within one to three hours of dosing. Fatigue-score and memory endpoints in the RCT literature typically required four to eight weeks of continuous use to reach statistical significance over placebo — expect a slow build, not a same-day transformation.
Can women take ginseng?
Yes — none of the guidance contraindicates ginseng for non-pregnant, non-nursing adult women. Trial populations have included women, and the fatigue and cognitive findings are not sex-specific. The pregnancy and breastfeeding caveats are absolute.
American ginseng vs Korean red ginseng — which do I pick?
Korean red ginseng (KRG) has the larger modern trial base, particularly for fatigue. American ginseng has a milder, more "cooling" profile in TCM terms and is often chosen by users sensitive to KRG's more stimulating feel. Both are legitimate; KRG has the stronger evidence weight today.
Does ginseng affect testosterone levels?
In some trials and in men with lower baseline values, a modest free-testosterone response has been reported — less robustly than tongkat ali or ashwagandha, per Smith 2021. A change in a serum value in a short RCT is not the same as a meaningful real-world effect. The herb supports male vitality within normal physiological ranges; persistently low testosterone is a physician-led conversation, not a self-supplementation decision.
Is ginseng coffee a real thing?
Yes — several coffee blends include ginseng, and the concept is legitimate. Our own line uses tongkat ali for the reasons covered in the Verdict. If you want ginseng in coffee, look for a product that names the species (Panax ginseng vs Panax quinquefolius), discloses the standardized ginsenoside content, and specifies the extraction method.
References
- Sung W-S, Kang H-R, Jung C-Y, Park S-S, Lee S-H, Kim E-J. (2020). Efficacy of Korean red ginseng (Panax ginseng) for middle-aged and moderate level of chronic fatigue patients: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Complement Ther Med. 48:102246. DOI: 10.1016/j.ctim.2019.102246. PMID: 31987248.
- Yennurajalingam S, Tannir NM, Williams JL, Lu Z, Hess KR, Frisbee-Hume S, House HL, Dubauskas Lim Z, Lim K-H, Lopez G, Reddy A, Azhar A, Wong A, Patel SM, Kuban DA, Kaseb AO, Cohen L, Bruera E. (2017). A Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trial of Panax Ginseng for Cancer-Related Fatigue in Patients With Advanced Cancer. Journal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network. 15(9):1111-1120. DOI: 10.6004/jnccn.2017.0149. PMID: 28874596.
- Cho S-K, Song Y-J, Han J-Y, Kim HW, Nam E, Sung Y-K. (2024). Effectiveness of Korean Red Ginseng on fatigue in patients with rheumatic diseases: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Korean Journal of Internal Medicine. 39(4):680-690. DOI: 10.3904/kjim.2023.350. PMID: 38576235.
- Lee N, Lee S-H, Yoo H-R, Yoo HS. (2016). Anti-Fatigue Effects of Enzyme-Modified Ginseng Extract: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial. J Altern Complement Med. 22(11):859-864. DOI: 10.1089/acm.2016.0057. PMID: 27754709.
- Li Z, Wang Y, Xu Q, Ma J, Li X, Tian Y, Wen Y, Chen T. (2023). Ginseng and health outcomes: an umbrella review. Front Pharmacol. 14:1069268. DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2023.1069268. PMID: 37465522.
- Zeng M, Zhang K, Yang J, Zhang Y, You P, Yan L, Weng Y. (2024). Effects of Ginseng on Cognitive Function: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Phytotherapy Research. 38(12):6023-6034. DOI: 10.1002/ptr.8359. PMID: 39474788.
- Li J, Jin J, Cheng Y, Zhang Y, Wang X, Chen Y, Wang C, Tang W, Zhang N. (2025). Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analysis of the Effects of Plant Extracts on Cognitive Function and Quality of Life in Stroke Patients. Phytotherapy Research. 39(5):2110-2130. DOI: 10.1002/ptr.8472. PMID: 40083108.
- Lee HW, Lee MS, Kim T-H, Alraek T, Zaslawski C, Kim JW, Moon DG. (2021). Ginseng for erectile dysfunction. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 4(4):CD012654. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD012654.pub2. PMID: 33871063.
- Petre GC, Francini-Pesenti F, Vitagliano A, Grande G, Ferlin A, Garolla A. (2023). Dietary Supplements for Erectile Dysfunction: Analysis of Marketed Products, Systematic Review, Meta-Analysis and Rational Use. Nutrients. 15(17):3677. DOI: 10.3390/nu15173677. PMID: 37686709.
- Leisegang K, Finelli R. (2021). Alternative medicine and herbal remedies in the treatment of erectile dysfunction: A systematic review. Arab J Urol. 19(3):323-339. DOI: 10.1080/2090598X.2021.1926753. PMID: 34552783.
- Smith SJ, Lopresti AL, Teo SYM, Fairchild TJ. (2021). Examining the Effects of Herbs on Testosterone Concentrations in Men: A Systematic Review. Adv Nutr. 12(3):744-765. DOI: 10.1093/advances/nmaa134. PMID: 33150931.
- Kim S, Shin B-C, Lee MS, Lee H, Ernst E. (2011). Red ginseng for type 2 diabetes mellitus: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials. Chin J Integr Med. 17(12):937-944. DOI: 10.1007/s11655-011-0937-2. PMID: 22139546.
- Li H, Cui Q-K, Li Z, Li J, Li F. (2021). Clinical observation of the effect of modified Ginseng-Schisandra decoction (MGSD) on trace elements and immune function in children with spleen deficiency syndrome after recurrent respiratory tract infection (RRTI): a randomized controlled trial. Translational Pediatrics. 10(6):1692-1700. DOI: 10.21037/tp-21-243. PMID: 34295784.
- Liao L-Y, He Y-F, Li L, Meng H, Dong Y-M, Yi F, Xiao P-G. (2018). A preliminary review of studies on adaptogens: comparison of their bioactivity in TCM with that of ginseng-like herbs used worldwide. Chinese Medicine. 13:57. DOI: 10.1186/s13020-018-0214-9. PMID: 30479654.
- Milić N, Milosević N, Golocorbin Kon S, Bozić T, Abenavoli L, Borrelli F. (2014). Warfarin interactions with medicinal herbs. Nat Prod Commun. 9(8):1211-1216. PMID: 25233607.
- Mohammadi S, Asghari G, Emami-Naini A, Mansourian M, Badri S. (2020). Herbal Supplement Use and Herb-drug Interactions among Patients with Kidney Disease. J Res Pharm Pract. 9(2):61-67. DOI: 10.4103/jrpp.JRPP_20_30. PMID: 33102379.
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH). Asian Ginseng. Updated 2025. https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/asian-ginseng
- MSD Manual Consumer Version. Ginseng. Accessed 2026-04. https://www.msdmanuals.com/home/special-subjects/dietary-supplements-and-vitamins/ginseng
- Elvir Lazo OL, White PF, Lee C, Cruz Eng H, Matin JM, Lin C, Del Cid F, Yumul R. (2024). Use of herbal medication in the perioperative period: Potential adverse drug interactions. J Clin Anesth. 95:111473. DOI: 10.1016/j.jclinane.2024.111473. PMID: 38613937.
- Henkel RR, Wang R, Bassett SH, Chen T, Liu N, Zhu Y, Tambi MI. (2014). Tongkat Ali as a potential herbal supplement for physically active male and female seniors — a pilot study. Phytother Res. 28(4):544-550. DOI: 10.1002/ptr.5017. PMID: 23754792.
Disclaimer: These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. This article is for educational purposes and does not constitute medical advice. Consult a qualified healthcare provider before starting any supplement, particularly if you are pregnant, nursing, taking prescription medications, or managing a chronic condition.