Does ginseng keep you awake?

First things first. Does ginseng keep you awake?

Given ginseng’s potent fatigue-fighting effects, the answer would have to be “yes”.

Proof: a comprehensive 2018 systematic review (note: systematic reviews are considered one of the most robust scientific evidence available) published in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine (New York).

After screening 149 studies (yes, 149!), the researchers concluded that American and Asian ginseng are promising treatment options for fatigue.

There’s even evidence that ginseng—once again, both American and Asian—effectively alleviates cancer-related fatigue, which has been described as “overwhelming, extreme, and persistent exhaustion that disrupts daily activities and function”.

But does ginseng cause insomnia?

OK, so ginseng boosts energy. This means ginseng does indeed keep you awake.

But does that mean it’ll make it difficult for you to fall asleep, stay asleep, or get good quality sleep (i.e., insomnia)? Not necessarily.

Now, let’s go back to the first study—FYI, this—we mentioned in the introduction that showed ginseng improves sleep efficiency. If you check it out, you’ll see that the researchers used red ginseng. That’s a type of Asian ginseng.

While there’s no “direct” evidence available on the effects American ginseng has on sleep latency (the time it takes for a person to fall asleep) or quality, it would likely exert similar benefits on sleep as Asian ginseng because it:

• Lowers inflammation: American ginseng is known to have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Interestingly, research shows that inflammation in the body may, at least in part, disrupt circadian rhythms and contribute to sleep disruptions. So, following that line of thought, American ginseng may improve sleep by lowering inflammation.

• Relieves excessive stress: How well do you sleep when stressed out? Chances are, not well at all. You’re not alone. There’s plenty of research linking stress, anxiety, and insomnia. Meaning? If you wish to improve your sleep, you’ll need to find a way to manage your stress, which is where American ginseng’s stress-relieving and mood-lifting effects come in handy.

Ginseng for sleep and energy: yes, it’s possible

That said, here’s an important disclaimer: there is evidence that taking high doses of American ginseng might cause sleeping problems.

But notice the keywords “high doses”.

This means you’d likely be able to enjoy the energy-boosting and sleep-promoting effects of American ginseng (think of it as the perfect have-your-cake-and-eat-it-too situation) by taking two “precautions”:

• Sync your intake with your circadian rhythm: You should consume most of your American ginseng in the morning and mid-afternoon before tapering off to get ready for a good night’s sleep. (Pretty much as you would with caffeine.)

• Limit your consumption: You only need a little American ginseng to see many benefits. But just how little? We cover that (and more!) in this North American Ginseng Guide.

Get your hands on American ginseng right here

Excited to feel more energetic and fall asleep faster with North American ginseng?

Then you’ll want to click here to check out our selection of high-quality North American ginseng—from classic ginseng to ginseng tea to ginseng powder to ginseng slices; we’ve got every kind of ginseng available to suit your preferences.