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Enjoy sex like you used to
Scan message boards on the internet, and you’re bound to find a garden’s worth of natural male enhancement products and aphrodisiacs that someone says will grant you sexual superpowers. Nitric oxide, antioxidants, some random Amazonian mushroom, Meyer lemons and (probably) at least one flavor of AriZona® tea all could make the list. But which list matters?
That’s the question you’re likely here to answer about ginseng — what does the scientific research actually say about this plant’s potential for making you and your body more sex-ready?
You aren’t the first guy to wonder this.
Below, we’ll explain what ginseng is, what benefits it allegedly brings into the bedroom and how strong the research is. We’ll also share some alternative ways to make your sexual health better — in case you’re not convinced, like us.
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Ginseng is a plant — well, actually three plants, depending on the origin. According to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH), Panax ginseng — the Latin name for Asian ginseng — is native to China, Korea and parts of far-eastern Siberia.
Ginseng root is commonly used in natural remedies and herbal supplements, with a long history of use in traditional Chinese medicine.
American ginseng is closely related — both forms of ginseng contain various pharmacologically active components called ginsenosides, which are often credited as offering health benefits.
There’s technically a third king of ginseng from Siberia. Siberian ginseng is a different plant entirely, and it lacks the pharmacological benefits of American and Asian ginseng.
Ginseng is an adaptogen — an alternative medicine term for medicines that improve resistance to stress and increase vitality. As such, it’s often found in dietary supplements and herbal medicines as part of a “blend.”
You’ve probably seen numerous names for ginseng on supplement labels. Here’s where it gets a little complicated: Asian ginseng is sometimes also referred to as “red ginseng” or “white ginseng,” with each offering different health benefits.
Confused? Well, it’s tricky. “Red” and “white” don’t actually refer to different ginseng plants. Instead, they refer to different preparation methods to extract valuable compounds from the ginseng roots.
For instance, Korean red ginseng is prepared using a water extraction to get the volatiles out, followed by a concentration process. Korean white ginseng, meanwhile, is dried.
So red and white ginseng are the same plant, but you can think of them as mashed potatoes versus french fries.
Both styles of preparation use six-year-old plants that are dug up, washed and steamed before drying or water-concentrating. Why would you do this? That depends on who you ask.
So, does ginseng offer any real benefits for your sex life or overall well-being? It’s hard to say one way or another due to a lack of solid data.
There isn’t much in the way of placebo-controlled, randomized, large-scale, high-quality, double-blind clinical research on ginseng benefits, either for sexual dysfunction or well-being. And most of the published studies had small sample sizes.
However, several smaller studies suggest it may offer value, including:
Improvements in heart health. A review published in 2014 in the Journal of Ginseng Research noted potential benefits of ginseng for reducing cholesterol, improving blood circulation and boosting general cardiovascular health — though some studies in the review were animal studies.
Better mental function. Improved mental function has been shown in a few small studies. However, much of the research relies on studies performed on animals.
Potential for improving diabetes. One small study of just 36 newly diagnosed diabetics (without insulin dependence) found that ginseng lowered blood sugar and glucose, produced mood improvements and helped reduce body weight.
Improved immune function. A 2021 study found that ginseng improved T cells, B cells and a person’s white blood cell count, which may have down-line benefits for immune system function.
That said, there are some warnings you should heed as well. First, we know very little about the long-term side effects of Korean red ginseng and other types of the herb.
We haven’t really discussed the known side effects of Panax ginseng, either. It could affect blood pressure, interfere with blood clotting and potentially mess with blood thinner medication.
Okay, but what about erectile dysfunction? Over the years, several studies have looked at ginseng for ED, with mixed results.
A 2020 review suggests ginseng may improve sperm quality, while other studies revealed little or no benefits. According to most high-quality research, ginseng has a very mild impact on a man’s ability to get and maintain an erection during sex.
A review published in 2021 analyzed nine studies involving 587 men with mild to moderate ED. It concluded that ginseng appeared to have a “trivial effect” on ED — and no significant benefits for sexual desire or sexual arousal were noted.
There’s currently no research comparing different productions or types of ginseng as erectile function medicines. So if you want your sexual function to be enhanced, boosted or leveled up, you’ll have to go with something proven in clinical studies and approved by the FDA (U.S. Food and Drug Administration).
Generally, ED treatment falls into a few categories: medication, therapy and lifestyle changes.
There’s a plethora of FDA-approved erectile dysfunction medication on the market today to improve blood flow to the blood vessels of your penis — just a few decades ago, options weren’t really available.
Common ED medications include sildenafil (the active ingredient in Viagra®), tadalafil (Cialis®) and avanafil (Stendra®).
Our chewable hard mints are the latest in discreet ED meds, FYI.
While you won’t get a prescription for lifestyle changes, making positive adjustments to your daily life can help. For instance, the NIH (National Institutes of Health) explains that good sleep, healthy eating, exercise and stress management habits may all reduce your risk of ED.
Likewise, not drinking enough water, consuming lots of alcohol, doing recreational drugs and taking poor care of yourself are preventable risks for getting ED in the first place.
Psychological ED might sound made up to some of the less mental-health-focused in the room. But if you’ve ever felt sexual performance anxiety or noticed your libido was down during a bout of depression, you kind of get it.
Treating problems like anxiety and psychological ED may help those whose medications fail. For more on the different types of therapy and how they can help, check out our guides.
Sexual health is important. Whether you’re dealing with ED or premature ejaculation (PE), you should look into speaking with a healthcare provider, not a supplement store clerk. Also, ginseng isn’t the crossover supplement to make it on the “official” list.
Ginseng supplements aren’t the safest or soundest pathway to better erections, and the use of ginseng isn’t considered a valid treatment of erectile dysfunction.
Here’s the low-down of what we covered:
Ginseng is a type of plant widely promoted as a supplement for erectile health and other positive effects, including benefits to your sex drive.
While ginseng is associated with some health benefits, including improvements in diabetes and certain aspects of heart health, the studies trying to prove this have been small and often involved animals instead of humans.
Most published research supporting these supposed benefits is low in quality and doesn’t show strong efficacy for ginseng use.
Ginseng is considered safe, but there’s very little research on its potential long-term side effects.
Other options just work better, according to science. Explore our sexual health platform to see what FDA-approved treatments you can access online.
Hims & Hers has strict sourcing guidelines to ensure our content is accurate and current. We rely on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations. We strive to use primary sources and refrain from using tertiary references. See a mistake? Let us know at [email protected]!
Dr. Kelly Brown is a board certified Urologist and fellowship trained in Andrology. She is an accomplished men’s health expert with a robust background in healthcare innovation, clinical medicine, and academic research. Dr. Brown was previously Medical Director of a male fertility startup where she lead strategy and design of their digital health platform, an innovative education and telehealth model for delivering expert male fertility care.
She completed her undergraduate studies at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (go Heels!) with a Bachelor of Science in Radiologic Science and a Minor in Chemistry. She took a position at University of California Los Angeles as a radiologic technologist in the department of Interventional Cardiology, further solidifying her passion for medicine. She also pursued the unique opportunity to lead departmental design and operational development at the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center, sparking her passion for the business of healthcare.
Dr. Brown then went on to obtain her doctorate in medicine from the prestigious Northwestern University - Feinberg School of Medicine and Masters in Business Administration from Northwestern University - Kellogg School of Management, with a concentration in Healthcare Management. During her surgical residency in Urology at University of California San Francisco, she utilized her research year to focus on innovations in telemedicine and then served as chief resident with significant contributions to clinical quality improvement. Dr. Brown then completed her Andrology Fellowship at Medical College of Wisconsin, furthering her expertise in male fertility, microsurgery, and sexual function.
Her dedication to caring for patients with compassion, understanding, as well as a unique ability to make guys instantly comfortable discussing anything from sex to sperm makes her a renowned clinician. In addition, her passion for innovation in healthcare combined with her business acumen makes her a formidable leader in the field of men’s health.
Dr. Brown is an avid adventurer; summiting Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania (twice!) and hiking the incredible Torres del Paine Trek in Patagonia, Chile. She deeply appreciates new challenges and diverse cultures on her travels. She lives in Denver with her husband, two children, and beloved Bernese Mountain Dog. You can find Dr. Brown on LinkedIn for more information.
Education & Training
Andrology Fellowship, Medical College of Wisconsin
Urology Residency, University of California San Francisco
M.D. Northwestern University Feinberg School of MedicineB.S. in Radiologic Science, Chemistry Minor, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Published as Kelly Walker
Cowan, B, Walker, K., Rodgers, K., Agyemang, J. (2023). Hormonal Management Improves Semen Analysis Parameters in Men with Abnormal Concentration, Motility, and/or Morphology. Fertility and Sterility, Volume 118, Issue 5, e4. https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/fertility-and-sterility/vol/120/issue/1/suppl/S
Walker, K., Gogoj, A., Honig, S., Sandlow, J. (2021). What’s New in Male Contraception? AUA Update Series, Volume 40. https://auau.auanet.org/content/update-series-2021-lesson-27-what%E2%80%99s-new-male-contraception
Walker, K., Shindel, A. (2019). AUA Erectile Dysfunction Guideline. AUA Update Series, Volume 38. https://auau.auanet.org/content/course-307
Walker, K., Ramstein, J., & Smith, J. (2019). Regret Regarding Fertility Preservation Decisions Among Male Cancer Patients. The Journal of Urology, 201(Supplement 4), e680-e681. https://www.auajournals.org/doi/10.1097/01.JU.0000556300.18991.8e
Walker, K., & Smith, J. (2019). Feasibility Study of Video Telehealth Clinic Visits in Urology. The Journal of Urology, 201(Supplement 4), e545-e545. https://www.auajournals.org/doi/10.1097/01.JU.0000556071.60611.37