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Panax ginseng and calmness: grade C

Limited evidence. Direction: No effect.

C LimitedSubjective outcome onlyShort-term onlySingle research group

Educational guidance, not medical advice

Why this grade

Rubric condition met: C: one small RCT with a restricted positive finding, one RCT finding no effect on well-being

In one crossover trial of 30 healthy young adults, 400 mg of G115 improved self-rated calmness only at 2.5 and 4 hours on the first day, and 200 mg slowed a fall in mood. A separate placebo-controlled trial found no improvement in psychological well-being in healthy young adults. Evidence is limited to small, short trials with subjective outcomes.

How we grade evidence

Studies this grade rests on

EffectMixedNo effectSize shows participants (n)2000200520102015RCTCrossover RCTCardinal 2001, 2001: RCT, n = 83, result not recordedReay 2010, 2010: crossover RCT, n = 30, result not recorded
each study this grade rests on, by publication year and design. Solid: effect versus the comparator; half-filled: mixed; hollow: no effect; dashed: result not recorded yet. Larger marks had more participants.
Show the numbers
StudyYearDesignParticipantsResult
Cardinal 20012001RCT83result not recorded
Reay 20102010crossover RCT30result not recorded

Ginseng does not enhance psychological well-being in healthy, young adults: results of a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized clinical trial.

Cardinal BJ, Engels HJ. Ginseng does not enhance psychological well-being in healthy, young adults: results of a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized clinical trial J Am Diet Assoc, 2001. PMID 11424544

Result not recorded
Design
Double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized clinical trial (8 weeks)
Sample
n = 83
Population
Healthy young adults (mean age 25.7)
Funding
not stated in PubMed or Crossref records

Panax ginseng (G115) improves aspects of working memory performance and subjective ratings of calmness in healthy young adults.

Reay JL, Scholey AB, Kennedy DO. Panax ginseng (G115) improves aspects of working memory performance and subjective ratings of calmness in healthy young adults Hum Psychopharmacol, 2010. PMID 20737519

Result not recorded
Design
Placebo-controlled, double-blind, randomised crossover trial (8 days per treatment)
Sample
n = 30
Population
Healthy young adults (mean age 22.87)
Funding
not stated in PubMed or Crossref records

Search and history

Search (): Kennedy DO[au] AND ginseng[ti] AND (cognitive[tiab] OR mood[tiab]); Europe PMC: TITLE:"ginseng" AND (ABSTRACT:"calmness" OR ABSTRACT:"mood") AND PUB_TYPE:"randomized controlled trial" AND ABSTRACT:"healthy"

  • Graded C (proposed): Proposed in the monograph draft
  • C to C (proposed): Updated in the monograph draft
  • C to C (approved): Editor sign-off November 13, 2026: grade matches the editor-approved final page