Ginseng

Ginseng is a name used for several plants in the Panax genus. Our current ingredient record identifies the ingredient as Panax ginseng, commonly called Asian or Korean ginseng, and records the root as the part used. The root contains a complex mixture of constituents, with ginsenosides — also called panaxosides — receiving the most scientific attention.

Ginseng has a long history in East Asian botanical traditions and is now used in modern supplements positioned around energy, fatigue and cognition. Human research is mixed. The US National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health notes some evidence for small effects on general fatigue and limited evidence for particular aspects of cognitive performance, while also emphasising that many trials are small and short.

Not all “ginseng” is the same plant. Asian ginseng (Panax ginseng) and American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius) are different species with different ginsenoside profiles. That distinction matters for our own data: the current ingredient record says Panax ginseng and Korea/China, while current Boost product copy refers to “Canadian Ginseng”. We are therefore treating the exact species and supplier provenance as a verification point rather than silently combining the two descriptions.