Forms
4 guides from Panax Ginseng on forms, each with the studies behind it.
Korean Ginseng vs Notoginseng
Korean ginseng and notoginseng (sanqi) are different Panax species with different jobs: energy, stamina and immunity on one side, circulation on the other.
“Natural killer (NK) activity levels at weeks 8 and 12 were nearly twice as high in the G115 group as compared to the placebo group (p < 0.0001).”
Korean ginseng (Panax ginseng) and notoginseng (Panax notoginseng) are two different plants in the same genus, and each one carries its own long record. Notoginseng, called sanqi or tianqi in China, is the root people keep for circulation, bruises and recovery after a stroke. Korean ginseng is the root people take for energy, stamina, sexual function and a stronger immune response. This page sets the two side by side from the Korean ginseng side. The three way picture is in the three Panax species, and our sister site tells the same story from the notoginseng side in notoginseng vs Korean ginseng, with the full species guide at panaxnotoginseng.com.
Ginseng for Erectile Dysfunction
Red ginseng improved erectile function in clinical trials, including the doses and the 8 to 12 week course behind those gains.
“In response to the global efficacy question 60% of the patients answered that Korean red ginseng improved erection (p <0.01).”
Red ginseng can help with erectile dysfunction. A 2021 Cochrane review of nine studies in 587 men found a measurable improvement on standard erectile function scores. A 2008 analysis found men were about 2.4 times as likely to report improvement as men on a placebo.
How to Choose a Ginseng Supplement
Choose Panax Ginseng with a named species, a standardized ginsenoside percentage, and a dose in the range the trials used.
“Clinical trials and 50 years of presence on the market are proof of a good safety profile of G115.”
Look for the species (Panax ginseng or Panax quinquefolius), a standardized ginsenoside percentage, and the gram amount per serving. Although an analysis of 25 commercial ginseng products found real products can vary widely from their labeled amounts, a clear species name and a standardized percentage are what bring a bottle close to the benefits in the trials.
Red vs White Ginseng: What Processing Changes
Red and white Panax Ginseng differ by one step, steaming. What that step changes in the root, and which studies apply to each form.
“The results of this study suggest that both hydroponically cultivated red and wild growing white ginseng have similar beneficial effects on the cognitive functions of elderly subjects”
Red and white ginseng come from the same plant, Panax ginseng. White ginseng is the fresh root simply air dried, while red ginseng is steamed before drying, a step that changes its mix of active compounds called ginsenosides and gives it a reddish brown color, denser texture, and longer shelf life.