Ginseng Pills

By HerbaZest Editorial Team | Updated: Jun 18, 2020

Ginseng Pills

Ginseng has been used for thousands of years to stimulate immunity, improve mental performance, and treat a number of medical conditions. Though pills were the first known solid form of herbal consumption back in ancient Egypt, their use has faded in popularity, and nowadays, both ginseng tablets and ginseng capsules are considered modern forms of ginseng pills.

Difference between Pills and Tablets

For millennia, pills were known as the only solid form of dosage. They resemble tiny pellets, and manufacturing them requires wet massing or molding techniques.

Tablets, on the other hand, were created by the English inventor William Brockedon in 1844 and carry a fixed dosage in an airtight, compressed form. The active ingredient is bound by an inactive, soluble filler ingredient (excipient) that helps the tablet to maintain its shape.

NOWADAYS, THE TERM “PILL” REFERS TO ANY DRUG OR SUPPLEMENT IN HARD FORM.

Ginseng Pills Content

The main active constituents in ginseng pills are ginsenosides, which are natural sugar compounds believed to be responsible for many of ginseng's health benefits. Most ginseng pills contain between 5 - 10% ginsenoside content.

However, ginseng pills or tablets may contain different ingredients depending on the brand. They are often paired with other herbs, such as gingko, with the intention of adding more benefits or strengthening shared benefits. Additionally, zinc, as well as many other nutrients, is often found in ginseng pills in varying amounts.

How to Choose Ginseng Pills

As the term ginseng pills refers to any kind of solid supplement, both tablets and capsules are considered as convenient ways to consume ginseng without the bitter taste. The fixed dosage contained in these supplements is helpful for avoiding ginseng abuse syndrome, which can cause a number of adverse side effects, including hypertension, nervousness, sleeplessness, skin rash, diarrhea, confusion, and depression.

The shelf life of pills in general depends on the method used for manufacturing them and the quality of their components. While all ginseng pills deliver the benefits of this herb, the manufacturing process of ginseng tablets allows them to have a longer shelf life compared to capsules, which are not airtight.

Before buying any type of ginger pill, read the label carefully and remember to check the expiration date.

Depending on the size, some people find it easier to swallow capsules than tablets, while others open them or crush them to aid the ingestion. When it comes to solid supplements, it is advised to take them as they were formulated in order not to affect the time of absorption and reap all their benefits.

The recommended daily dosage for ginseng pills is 100 - 600 mg, to be divided into multiple doses.

Benefits of Ginseng Pills

The multiple benefits of ginseng pills include:

  • Treating high blood pressure. Ginseng pills work to alleviate hypertension by lowering blood pressure levels.

  • Reducing blood sugar. Type 2 diabetics take ginseng pills to help increase their insulin production and therefore reduce their glucose levels.

  • Restoring hormonal balance. Men and women use ginseng pills to help with erectile dysfunction, low libido, and menopause symptoms.

Ginseng pills benefit healthy individuals as well by ostensibly increasing energy, improving memory, and enhancing mental performance.

Where to Buy Ginseng Pills

Ginseng pills are readily available at supermarkets, herbal health stores, and online retailers. The level of active ingredients depends on the brand and will result in price variance. When choosing ginseng pills, look for the origin and color of the ginseng used. Korean red ginseng is proven to have a high ginsenoside content.

Ginseng pills are generally safe when taken in appropriate doses and have been shown to be extremely beneficial in improving health.

Sources

  • AAPS PharmSciTech, On the Shelf Life of Pharmaceutical Products, 2012
  • American Family Physician, Panax ginseng, 2003
  • Journal of Human Hypertension, The effect of ginseng (genus Panax) on blood pressure: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled clinical trials, 2016
  • Laeknabladid: the Icelandic Medical Journal, Tablets and Tablet Production, 2013
  • National Health Service, England, Problems swallowing pills
  • Pharmacopeial Forum, Pharmaceutical Dosage Forms, 2009
  • Public Health Nutrition, Efficacy and safety of ginseng, 2000
  • University of Maryland Medical Center, American ginseng
  • Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, Ginseng on Hyperglycemia: Effects and Mechanisms, 2008