Ginseng Side Effects
A Quick Guide to Ginseng Side Effects
As with most supplements, you can find varying reports of ginseng side effects. Some people have none whatsoever, while for others, ingesting ginseng, either by itself or with other foods or substances can result in some serious conditions or interactions.
Let’s take a look at some of the reported side effects of ginseng:
People taking ginseng have reported reactions, including heart palpitations, increased blood pressure, skin conditions, diarrhea, nervous conditions, and uterine bleeding in women who were beyond the age of menopause. Women also report soreness in their breasts. Because ginseng is a stimulant, it is not recommended that it be taken with other stimulants, such as pseudoephedrine.
Women who are pregnant should not use ginseng because studies using mice showed birth defects when ginseng was used during the first trimester of pregnancy. You should also get permission from a health professional to use ginseng if you suffer from heart problems, diabetes, blood clotting disorders, asthma, high blood pressure, hypoglycemia, emphysema, allergies or fibrocystic breasts. If you take vitamin C, it may speed up the rate at which ginseng is absorbed, causing problems as well.
The most commonly reported of all ginseng side effects is sleeplessness. Ginseng may cause manic episodes in people who take phenelzine sulfate. It should also not be used by people taking such other medications as warfarin or those who take other oral anticoagulants, or who are in antiplatelet therapy. When taken with phenelzine, ginseng side effects have included nervousness and manic episodes. Ginseng side effects have also been experienced by those taking amlodipine for memory problems, estrogens, corticosteroids, or digoxin.
Ginseng has shown the fewest number of side effects in people who have taken it for four weeks or under. It is not recommended that anyone take ginseng for more than three months. The longer it is used, the more apt ginseng side effects are to occur. Some people should not use ginseng at all. These include people who are about to have surgery, because ginseng can cause bleeding, and those who take blood pressure medications. People with mental problems should also be very careful with ginseng as it has caused manic episodes in some cases.
It is sometimes very hard to predict who might have trouble with ginseng and who will not. One of the reasons is because the strength of ginseng varies greatly from brand to brand. In fact, in one instance where strengths among brands were compared, the total ginsenosides, or active ingredients in ginseng varied form 5.3 to 18.2 mg per individual serving. That is a big difference!
If you take any prescription medications or have any questions or concerns about trying ginseng, contact your medical professional before ingesting this supplement.