Home » Herbs » Potential Ginseng Side Effects, Adverse Reactions And Contraindications

Potential Ginseng Side Effects, Adverse Reactions And Contraindications

Heart conditions and high cholesterol

Ginseng is very effective at boosting circulation and it can also decrease your heart rate, thus causing your heart to work harder. If you suffer from any heart conditions, excess use should be avoided or discussed together with your healthcare provider.

Ginseng also lowers blood cholesterol levels and it is advisable not to use it together with other similar medications or supplements.

Bleeding

This herb is an effective boost to your circulation but a possible ginseng side effect is that it could thin your blood too much. If you are using other blood thinning medications or are about to undergo a surgery, you should consult your health care professional and refrain from use if necessary. Some other natural supplements like garlic and saw palmetto can also thin your blood and you may wish to avoid using these together.

Cancer

Ginseng has some components that act in a similar way to some hormones. According to a cancer.org article reviewed in 2008, ginseng is not recommended for women who have had breast or endometrial cancer. This is because there is not enough evidence about the connection between ginseng and these hormone-related types of cancer.

Possible interactions and contraindications

Potential ginseng side effects include some possible interactions with other medicines or supplements. These include all the mentioned connections above and also:

* Immune system suppressing medications or supplements.
* Central nervous system stimulating medications, for example ADHD medication.
* Monoamine oxidise inhibitors

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

According to the University of Maryland Medical Center writing in 2011, you should avoid using ginseng during pregnancy and breastfeeding. They say that ginseng can cause vaginal bleeding and might thus be dangerous for the child.

Pages: 1 2