S
APA); Arthrosis (f; APA; CRC; MAB; PH2); Atherosclerosis (f; APA); Backache (f; APA; MAB);
Bronchosis (1; BGB; CRC; DAA); Cachexia (1; SHT); Cancer (1; APA; MAB); Cancer, stomach
(f; CRC; DAA); Cardiopathy (1; APA; BGB; DAA; MAB); CFS (1; APA; MAB; SKY); Cold (f;
SKY); Convalescence (2; KOM; SHT); Cramp (f; MAB); Debility (2; APA; KOM; PH2; SHT);
Depression (1; APA; MAB); Diabetes (1; APA; MAB; PH2; SKY); Dysuria (f; MAB); Edema (1;
MAB); Fatigue (2; AKT; KOM; SHT; PH2; WAM); Fibromyalgia (1; SKY); Flu (f; SKY); Gastrosis
(f; DAA); Glaucoma (1; BGB); Heart (f; CRC); Hemiplegia (f; CRC); High Blood Pressure (f;
APA; CRC); Hip (f; PH2); HIV (f; APA); Hypercholesterolemia (f; CRC); Hyperglycemia (1;
MAB; PED; PH2); Hypoglycemia (1; MAB); Hypotension (f; APA); Impotence (f; CRC; PH2;
SHT); Immunodepression (1; AKT; FAY; KOM; PH2; SHT; WAM); Infection (1; PHR; PH2);
Inflammation (f; APA); Insomnia (1; APA; CRC; MAB; PH2); Leukemia (1; BGB); Leukocytosis
(1; MAB); Leukopenia (1; MAB); Longevity (f; DAA); Lupus (f; SKY); Mental and Physical
Dysfunction (1; SHT); Myopia (1; BGB); Nephrosis (f; APA; PH2); Nervousness (f; MAB);
Neurasthenia (f; CRC); Pain (f; PH2); Plumosus (f; CRC); Radiation (f; APA); Rheumatism (f;
APA; CRC; DAA); Sore Throat (f; SKY); Stress (1; AKT; FAY; KOM; MAB; WAM); Swelling
(f; MAB); Thyroid (1; MAB); Trauma (f; MAB); Tumor (1; APA; MAB); Virus (1; PH2; WAM);
Water Retention (f; APA; PH2).
Dosages (Siberian Ginseng) — 250–500 mg herb 1–2 ×/day (APA); 0.6–3 g root/day for 1
month (CAN); 4.5–27 g root (FAY); 2–3 g root (KOM; PHR); 1–4 g root/day (MAB); 1–2 tsp
fresh root (PED); 0.5–1 g dry root (PED); 1 g dry root:5 ml alcohol/5 ml water (PED); 2–8 ml
root extract (1:2) (MAB); 2–16 ml alcoholic root extract 1–3 ×/day up to 60 days (CAN); 0.5–6
ml alcoholic root extract 1–3 ×/day up to 35 days (CAN); 1–2 droppers herb tincture 2–3 ×/day
(APA).
Contraindications, Interactions, and Side Effects (Siberian Ginseng) — Class 1 (AHP).
“Hazards and/or side effects not known for proper therapeutic dosages” (PH2). Commission E
reports contraindications for high blood pressure (AEH). “No known side effects or drug-drug
interactions” (SHT). Though generally regarded as safe by non-FDA types, use is not recom-
mended “for patients in febrile states, hypertonic crisis, or myocardial infarction” (LRNP, May
1988). CAN cautions against use in patients with mastalgia, vaginal bleeding, and insomnia, and
suggests it be avoided by patients with hyperkinesis, hysteria, mania, schizophrenia, and by those
who are nervous or tense. Should not be taken with stimulants, including coffee, antipsychotic
drugs, or during treatment with hormones (CAN). May elevate serum levels of digoxin (PH2).
May enhance effects of antiaggregant and antidiabetic drugs (PH2). Russians suggest that users
abstain from alcohol, bitter and spicy foods, and sex. In Russia, it is even suggested that healthy
people under 40 years should not take ginseng, but that middle-aged people can take small doses
on a regular basis (CAN). Because of hormonal activity, its use in pregnancy and lactation is to
be avoided (CAN). Versus, “It can be used during pregnancy and lactation” (SKY). And the
moms, White and Mavor say, “Many herbalists err on the side of caution and say to avoid it
during pregnancy. Limit children’s use to two weeks, then take a one week break” (WAM).
Commission E suggests limiting use to only 1–3 months (AHP). Use should be restricted to 3
months. (SHT). Lininger et al. (1998) report rare transient diarrhea and insomnia when taken
too close to bedtime.
Extracts (Siberian Ginseng) — 33% ethanolic extract LD50 = >20 ml/kg orl dog, LD50 = 23
ml/kg orl mus, LD50 = 14,500 mg/kg orl mus. Powdered root LD50 = 31,000 mg/kg orl mus,
aqueous extract LD50 = 3000 mg/kg orl mus (CAN). According to Pedersen’s unreferenced book,
Siberian ginseng, with aerobic exercise, mobilizes and activates natural killer cells for up to 24
hours, while with exercise alone, they are mobilized for only 2 hours and never activate (PED).
Russian studies report amphoteric activity, impeding both hypertrophy and atrophy of the adrenals
and thyroid glands; hypoglycemic activity in people with hyperglycemia, and hyperglycemic