Does Korean red ginseng work for men?
At best, a small lift for erections. In six trials, more men on ginseng said they could have sex. Yet their erection score gain fell short of one number.
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What are the benefits of Korean red ginseng for men?
At best, a small lift for erections. That comes from a Cochrane review of nine trials, and even there the evidence is mostly low certainty.
For testosterone, fertility and sport, the trials are fewer, smaller or say no.
Korean red ginseng is the root of Panax ginseng, steamed or heated, then dried. White ginseng is the same plant prepared another way.
| Benefit | What trials found | How strong |
|---|---|---|
| Erections | Scores rose a little. More men said they could have sex. | Review of 9 trials. Mostly low certainty. |
| Testosterone | Unclear. Small trials disagree. | Weak. |
| Energy | May ease everyday tiredness a little. | Review of 19 studies. Small effect. |
| Fertility | Better semen volume in one trial. No sperm count gain reported. | One trial. 30 men took ginseng. |
| Sport | Most research finds no gain. | No benefit shown. |
Sources: Cochrane; NCCIH; Herbs and testosterone review; Fertility trial
Buying it for energy? See Panax ginseng for tiredness. For erections, read the next section first.
Does Korean red ginseng help erectile dysfunction?
It may help a little. The Cochrane review pooled 587 men aged 20 to 70 with mild to moderate erection problems. Every trial compared ginseng with a dummy pill, for up to 12 weeks.
Source: Cochrane
Doctors also score erections with a questionnaire, from 1 to 30. On it, ginseng beat the dummy pill by about 3.5 points.
That number is 4. The review took 4 points as the smallest change men would notice. Ginseng fell just short, so the review calls the gain trivial.
The trials gave 800 mg to 3,000 mg a day. No trial has tested it against erection medicines such as sildenafil (Viagra).
If erection problems keep happening, the NHS says they may come from high blood pressure or high cholesterol, diabetes, depression or anxiety, or hormone problems.
What a GP may do if erection problems keep happening
- 1
Talk
Asks about your lifestyle, relationships and any problems.
- 2
Check
Takes your blood pressure and may examine you.
- 3
Treat the cause
Such as blood pressure, cholesterol or a medicine that causes it.
- 4
Erection medicine
Such as sildenafil, which a pharmacy can also sell.
Source: NHS
See blood tests for erection problems and blood pressure and erections.
Does Korean red ginseng raise testosterone or help fertility?
Not clearly. A 2021 review of 32 trials of 13 herbs found only some evidence for Asian red ginseng. Many trials were small, and half were in men under 40.
In a 2024 trial, 88 men aged 40 to 75 with urinary symptoms took red ginseng oil for 12 weeks. Their testosterone did not change.
For fertility there is one small trial. Infertile men took 1.5 g of ginseng a day for 12 weeks.
Semen volume and sexual function scores improved. The rise in sperm count was seen with carob, a different supplement.
Think you have low testosterone? A blood test answers that, not a supplement. See testosterone booster supplements and male fertility blood tests.
Is Korean red ginseng safe?
For most men, short-term use seems to be. NCCIH, the US government centre for complementary medicine, says up to 6 months by mouth, in recommended amounts, appears to be safe for most people.
Trouble sleeping is the most common side effect. Uncommon ones include severe rash, liver damage and severe allergic reactions.
It may also lower blood sugar and interfere with blood clotting. It may worsen conditions where your immune system attacks your own body.
Before you buy Korean red ginseng
- Ask a pharmacist first if you take any other medicine, even one you bought without a prescription.
- Take extra care with statins, antidepressants, diabetes medicines such as metformin, blood pressure tablets such as ramipril, or blood thinners such as warfarin.
- Skip herbal medicines if you have kidney or liver problems.
- Have diabetes? Speak to your doctor first, as ginseng may lower blood sugar.
- Look for a THR mark and an MHRA product code on the pack.
- Don’t buy unlicensed herbal medicines online.
Sources: NHS: herbal medicines; NCCIH
The NHS says herbal medicines can stop some medicines working or cause harm. Never stop or change a prescribed medicine without your prescriber.
When to speak to a GP
Most men sometimes can’t get or keep an erection. The NHS says this is usually down to stress, tiredness or too much alcohol. See a GP or a sexual health clinic if:
- Erection problems keep happening. It might be a sign of a health condition that can be treated.
- You have diabetes and want to try ginseng, as it may lower blood sugar.
- You have kidney or liver problems. The NHS says not to take herbal medicines.
- Your erection problems began after starting a new medicine. It can be a side effect of some medicines.
Sexual health clinics give the same treatment as your GP, and many offer walk-in visits.