Check out our article on: Ginseng VS Ginger, Rhodiola, Caffeine, Maca, and Ginkgo Biloba for a detailed look at Ginseng alongside many other beneficial nootropic herbs!
In today’s article, we’ll take a quick look at a few different varieties of ginseng, along with the benefits and, of course, my favorite Korean Red Ginseng supplements on the market.
The following chart lists the best ginseng supplements by variety, price, and overall score.
| Product: | Type: | Price: | Quality |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Auragin Authentic Korean Red Ginseng | Tablets | $$ | 96% |
| 2. NutraChamps Korean Red Panax Ginseng | Capsules | $ | 94% |
| 3. Korean Honey Red Ginseng | Whole Roots | $$$ | 98% |
| 4. Red Panax Ginseng | Whole Roots | $$ | 93% |
| 5. Premium Korean Red Panax Ginseng | Capsules | $ | 89% |
Table of Contents:
Ginseng Varieties
If you learn only one thing from this article, make it this:
Real Ginseng belongs to the Panax genus.
Why is this important?
There are many fake Ginseng supplements sold on the market; most of these fake supplements use Eleutherococcus senticosus, also known as Siberian Ginseng.
Siberian Ginseng is in the Eleutherococcus Genus, not the Panax Genus.
Siberian Ginseng is also much cheaper than Panax Ginseng; this provides a large incentive for deceitful vendors to use it as a low-grade alternative.
It’s worth mentioning that although Siberian Ginseng actually does have some medicinal benefits of its own, they aren’t as pronounced as Panax Ginseng.
Now, there are three different varieties of real Panax Ginseng which include:
- Korean Ginseng: Which is of the Panax ginseng species.
- American Ginseng: Which is of the Panax quinquefolius species.
- Japanese Ginseng: Which is of the Panax japonicus species.
Each one of these three varieties has its own unique medicinal benefits.
Ginseng Benefits
Ginseng is loaded with various anti-inflammatory and antioxidant compounds.
Let’s take a look at some of the more important studies that highlight the medicinal benefits of each variety of Ginseng.
Korean Ginseng Benefits
- A 2006 double-blind placebo study found that Korean Ginseng maintained a good glycemic control in a population with type 2 diabetes.
- A 2000 double-blind placebo control study on 279 volunteers found that Korean Ginseng significantly improved memory quality.
- A 2008 study found that Korean Ginseng improved cognitive performance for Alzheimer patients.
American Ginseng Benefits
- A 2009 study found that American Ginseng could improve cancer-related fatigue in some adults.
- A 2015 study found that American Ginseng improved working memory better than placebo.
Japanese Ginseng Benefits
- A 2005 study found that isolated chikusetsusaponins in Japanese Ginseng prevented the increase of body-fat in mice. The isolated chikusetsusaponins likely delayed the intestinal absorption of dietary fat.
- In a study published in 2013, researchers extracted five kinds of polysaccharides from Japanese Ginseng; these polysaccharides were found to have a strong capacity on the protective effect of DNA damage; PP5 was found to have the strongest protective capacity.
All three varieties of Ginseng consist of a highly interesting and medicinally useful steroid glycosides class called Ginsenosides.
Ginsenosides have been shown to have anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory, and immunostimulatory properties.
The Best Ginseng Supplements
- 6 Year Aged Roots
- No Fillers
- Non-Extract
- Grown in Korea
- Vegetable Capsules
I’ve used both Auragin and Nutrachamps Ginseng supplements for years.
In my experience, Auragin seems to be the more potent option.
Usually, at around 6:00 or 7:00 P.M., my body begins to crash; this is unfortunate because I write most of the content on this site at around this time.
When I began taking the Auragin Red Ginseng at around 6:00 P.M. every day – always three tablets at a time – I began to notice a slight boost of mental clarity and energy.
I should note that the effect is not especially acute, but it’s enough to get me through the evening without feeling too tired. I find that Red Korean Ginseng is an especially great substitute to caffeine for night time use; it gives you some energy but it won’t keep you up.
The NutraChamps Korean Red Panax has a similar effect but from my personal experience, it is considerably less potent.
It’s worth mentioning that NutraChamps is extracted. For most people, this isn’t a very big issue, but I personally avoid extracted supplements for the most part.
You have to remember, one can’t just simply ground extract out of a Ginseng root; harsh chemicals are required for proper extraction.
I’m not necessarily advising you to stay away from extracted supplements, but you should keep in mind that there is a slightly higher chance of running into health problems down the road if you do.
I think both brands are quality, but if you’re looking for the more potent and probably safer option, there simply is no contest: go with Auragin.
If you want a slightly less expensive ginseng option, give NutraChamps a try.
Whole Root GInseng
- 6 Year Aged Roots
- No Fillers.
- Non-Extract
- Red Ginseng with Honey
- Aged 3 years
- 2-lb
Believe it or not, Ginseng root can actually be a great alternative for those of us who have a habit of using chewing tobacco.
I like to chew a few pieces of Ginseng before hiking or jogging; I get a slight burst of energy and some mental clarity, especially if I do so sparingly.
It’s worth keeping in mind that Ginseng has a kind of tolerance build up if you use it daily.
