Ginseng Side Effects

Ginseng has been used for thousands of years. It's a great healing and rejuvenating herb. Asian ginseng is also great for weight loss. There are some side effects and different things you should know about ginseng before you begin taking it.

If you have never tried Asian ginseng, it may be very potent for you. Start out with a smaller dose. I wouldn't recommend for you to begin taking 500 mg of Asian ginseng to start with if you are not used to it. Work your way up to stronger amounts if you have to.

Most common side effects of ginseng:

• difficulty sleeping

Other, less common, side effects of ginseng:

• Menstrual irregularity or difficulty
• Headaches
• Increase in heart rate
• High blood pressure/Low blood pressure
• Tender breasts

To avoid the most common side effect, which is trouble sleeping, I would suggest you take ginseng early in the day. You should probably take it in the morning time rather than the afternoon or evening. This will lower your chance of experiencing this side effect.

The other side effects are less common. It isn't likely that you will experience those things, but if you run into any problems that are just too bothersome, maybe it's best that you try another herb.

Some very rare side effects include allergic reactions, liver damage, and Stevens-Johnson syndrome.

If you are pregnant or nursing, do not take ginseng. It's not healthy for the baby and could cause some birth defects. Also, do not give ginseng to children.

Do not use ginseng if you have:

• Any bleeding disorder
• Auto-immune disease (such as rheumatoid arthritis, etc)
• Schizophrenia

If you have gotten an organ transplant, it is best if you don't use ginseng. Ginseng can alter the immune system and could interfere with your condition.

Ginseng can lower blood sugar, so if you are diabetic, you should be careful. Monitor yourself if you choose to take ginseng and watch for signs of low blood sugar.

If you have a heart condition, ginseng is known to speed up the heart or elevate blood pressure, so you should practice caution.

If you already have insomnia to begin with, ginseng may make your condition worse. Use at your own discretion. If your insomnia worsens, you may want to try another herbal remedy.

Ginseng can act like estrogen, so if you have any condition that is sensitive to hormones, you should be careful. These conditions include ovarian cancer, endometriosis, uterine cancer, breast cancer, and urterine fibroids. If your condition becomes worse when in contact with estrogen, you shouldn't use ginseng.