Is Panax ginseng Safe During Pregnancy and Lactation?
Scientific studies have indicated that Panax ginseng is safe during pregnancy. I gave Lydian Panax ginseng while she was in labor. After 24 hours of labor (with 6 more hours to go), this herb helped her maintain her stamina.Substances Found in Panax ginseng
Panax ginseng is a traditional herb that has been used in Asian countries since antiquity. It contains a number of active ingredients known as ginsenosides including:-
-
-
-
-
- Ginsenosides
-
-
-
- Steroidal saponins
- Protopanaxadiols
- Protopanaxatriols
-
Panax ginseng Medicinal Effects
Panax ginseng is an herbal remedy that is likely safe for use during pregnancy and lactation based on the research that has been done so far. As an herbal remedy, Panax ginseng has a broad range of medicinal effects which can be extremely useful for women who have limited access to a wide range of herbs, but who don’t want to take toxic pharmaceuticals prescribed by a doctor.Panax ginseng has been used to treat the following diseases and disorders:
- Anticancer Effects
- Central nervous system diseases
- Promotes relaxation
- Acts as a natural treatment for dementia
- Metabolic diseases
- Enhances energy
- Reduces stress
- Natural diabetes mellitus treatment
- Herbal remedy that lowers blood sugar naturally
- Herbal remedy that lowers cholesterol naturally
- Infectious diseases
- Improved immunity
- Respiratory infection
- Improved Cardiovascular Function
- Sexual Dysfunctions
- Enhanced libido
- Treatment for Erectile Dysfunction
"The Natural Women's Health Guide... to Pregnancy - BUY HERE!"
Is it safe to use Panax ginseng during pregnancy?
Panax ginseng is an herb that is commonly used as a general tonic or “adaptogen” to fight stress. This herb can improve mental and physical health. Though Panax ginseng isn’t used during pregnancy and lactation on a regular basis the way that ginger might be used to treat nausea and vomiting, for example, Panax ginseng is extremely common in many herbal remedies so inevitably, pregnant women end up taking the herb accidentally during lactation or pregnancy.Currently, there is no high-quality evidence that Panax ginseng is unsafe during pregnancy or lactation. As such, many scientists today believe that this herb is likely safe during pregnancy, but because studies have not unequivocally confirmed this speculation, the recommendation is to avoid Panax ginseng during the first trimester during pregnancy and to take only low to moderate doses for short periods of time during gestation or breastfeeding.
One strong cohort study demonstrated that there were no adverse effects on the baby or the mother when Panax ginseng was used during pregnancy.
One study misreported results stating that Panax ginseng during pregnancy could cause androgenization, but later, it was shown that the androgenization was due to an adulterant. Panax ginseng did not cause these effects.
Other studies have indicated that Panax ginseng contains phytoestrogens. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing during pregnancy. Indeed, many of the herbal remedies for miscarriage are powerful phytoestrogens that serve to keep the total estrogen level high, thus preventing the body from initiating “menstruation”.
Another study showed that ginsenosides could cause birth defects in animal embryos, but in this study, exposure to the ginsenosides was at much higher levels than anything that would be achievable by human mothers during pregnancy. So while extremely high doses of ginsenosides (not the whole plant), could cause birth defects, based on the cohort study that we note above, it is unlikely that Panax ginseng in moderate to low doses would cause harm to a developing human fetus. It’s important to recognize that scientific studies that examine how substances that are derived from a plant impact the body, often, these substances behave very differently in isolation than they do when they are mixed with all of the other substances found in the whole plant. Also, this study showing birth defects due to ginsenosides involved the administration of massive doses of these substances.
As with most herbal remedies that are safe during pregnancy, it would be best to avoid Panax ginseng, if possible, during the first trimester of gestation.
The Conditions of Pregnancy Living Database - NOW AVAILABLE! Click here to learn more...
Is Panax ginseng safe during breastfeeding?
There have been no scientific human studies on the safety of Panax ginseng during lactation. Some studies have shown that Panax ginseng may have phytoestrogenic properties. Three in vitro animal studies have shown that there is minimal risk associated with taking low to moderate doses of Panax ginseng during lactation. One study in lactating cows indicated that there was minimal risk involved with the use of Panax ginseng during breastfeeding. Once again, though, women should avoid using this herb at high doses or for prolonged periods of time unless it is absolutely necessary during breastfeeding.Panax ginseng Dosage
Panax ginseng is administered orally in adults at a dose of 200 mg to 3,000 mg per day for up to 12 weeks. During pregnancy, women should avoid taking more than 1,500 mg daily (a moderate dose) for longer than 12 weeks. Avoid taking Panax ginseng during the first trimester.During lactation, women should avoid taking more than 1,500 mg of Panax ginseng daily for longer than 12 weeks. Indeed, be mindful of how this herb affects your child’s behavior and consider avoiding this herb for the first 6 months to 1 year of your baby’s life since it has not been studied in humans to determine how it impacts babies during lactation. On the other hand, if you accidentally ingest Panax ginseng during lactation or if you take it irregularly, it is unlikely to cause harm to the baby.
Click here to subscribe to the Living Database!
Resources:
• Seely, D. et al. (2008). Safety and efficacy of panax ginseng during pregnancy and lactation. Retrieved September 29, 2023 from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18204104/
• Ratan, Z. A. et al. (2021). Pharmacological potential of ginseng and its major component ginsenosides. Retrieved September 29, 2023 from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33841000/
• Attele, A. S. et al. (1999). Ginseng pharmacology: multiple constituents and multiple actions. Retrieved September 29, 2023 from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10571242/
• Mancuso, C. and Santangelo, R. (2017). Panax ginseng and Panax quinquefolius: From pharmacology to toxicology. Retrieved September 29, 2023 from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7116968/
• Seely, D. et al. (2008). Safety and Efficacy of Panax Ginseng During Pregnancy and Lactation. Retrieved September 29, 2023 from https://e-lactancia.org/media/papers/Ginseng_EficaciaSeguridad-CanJClinPhar2008.pdf
