Ginseng

Andy

Andy

Senior Member (Voting rights)
This 2022 research paper by Yang et al (thread here) found that there is not enough data of sufficient quality to warrant any conclusions:

Abstract

Background
Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is a complex and often disabling chronic condition emerging worldwide, with no curative or definitive therapy yet identified. Ginseng has been widely used to treat fatigue in other patient groups and conditions; however, a systematic review focusing solely on the impact of ginseng on fatigue in patients with CFS has not been performed.

Objective
This study aimed to assess the current state of evidence regarding ginseng for CFS.

Methods
Multiple databases were searched from inception to October 2020. All data was extracted independently and in duplicates. Outcomes of interest included the effectiveness and safety of ginseng in patients with CFS.

Results
2 studies enrolling 68 patients were deemed eligible, including one randomized clinical trial and one prospective observational study. The certainty of evidence in the effectiveness outcome was low and moderate from both studies, while the safety evidence was very low as reported from one study.

Conclusion
Study findings highlight a potential benefit of ginseng therapy in the treatment of CFS. However, we are not able to draw firm conclusions due to limited clinical studies. The paucity of data warrants limited confidence. There is a need for future rigorous studies to provide further evidence.

Open access, https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/2164957X221079790
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I've done my own study, N=1.

Ginseng, 3 different types if memory serves, provides no non transitory benefits.
 
Any use of a stimulant with ME should be treated with caution, given the risk of it taking people’s activity levels over their individual thresholds for triggering PEM and because of the possibility of sustained use encouraging sustained over exertion with consequent deterioration in the underlying condition. I would want to see long term follow up perhaps over several years before deciding whether more than occasional use for specific one off activities was safe.
 
I don't need supplements that enhance/boost stamina and endurance when I have a 'energy limit' deficit.

It doesn’t improve oxygen use or aerobic performance, or influence how quickly you bounce back after exercising.
 
These are the two studies included in the review by Yang et al mentioned above.
The eligible 2 studies (N = 68 patients) included one prospective observational pre-post study by Bentler et al32 in 2005 and one randomized controlled trial (RCT) by Sung et al33 in 2020.
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We have a thread on another fairly recent study, this on Korean red ginseng, which it claims has a higher content of 'anti-fatigue substance'. Efficacy of Korean red ginseng (Panax ginseng) for middle-aged and moderate level of chronic fatigue patients, 2019, Sung et al. It was a randomised double blind trial, presumably excluded from the Yang review due to it being applied to chronic fatigue, defined as fatigue for longer than 6 months. Fatigue declined significantly in both the treated patients and the controls, but there was no difference between the treated patients and controls.
 
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