Supplement
American ginseng is a root from a North American plant whose active compounds, called ginsenosides, are thought to influence immune activity and how the body handles stress and sugar. People most often look at it for colds, and the evidence is moderate: studies of a standardized extract found colds were less common and symptoms didn't last as long. Those results came from a few hundred people and mostly one branded extract, while findings for blood sugar and working memory were smaller and more limited.
- Updated
- How we grade
- Best evidence
- Grade B
- Conditions studied
- 3
- Outcomes
- 4
- Graded outcomes
- 0220
Evidence by condition
- Strong
- Moderate
- Limited
- Very limited
Upper Respiratory Infection
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| URTI Incidence Reduced incidence and duration of colds (COLD-FX studies) | Improves (the measure goes down) | Moderate effect | 750 people | |||
| Cold Duration Shortened duration of cold symptoms | Improves (the measure goes down) | Small effect | 400 people |
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blood Glucose Small reduction in postprandial glucose | Improves (the measure goes down) | Small effect | 120 people |
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Working Memory Modest cognitive enhancement in some studies | Improves (the measure goes up) | Small effect | 80 people |
Key findings
- URTI IncidenceImproves (the measure goes down)
- Cold DurationImproves (the measure goes down)
- Blood GlucoseImproves (the measure goes down)
Shop the evidence-backed picks
Third-party tested American Ginseng products, in the forms the graded studies used where we can match them.
- Grade B
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