Does ginseng lower blood sugar?

Ginseng cannot directly lower blood sugar levels, but it can be used as an adjunctive method in combination with other blood sugar-lowering approaches.

Ginseng is a precious traditional Chinese herb known for various effects such as strengthening the spleen and lungs, greatly replenishing vital energy, and calming the mind to enhance mental function. However, ginseng itself does not directly reduce blood glucose. Ginseng and its extracts may have blood sugar-lowering effects, primarily attributed to the presence of ginsenosides. Ginsenosides can promote insulin secretion and enhance cellular uptake and utilization of glucose, thereby helping regulate blood sugar levels. Furthermore, ginseng may exert hypoglycemic effects by modulating the activity of enzymes involved in carbohydrate metabolism and improving insulin resistance.

Nevertheless, elevated blood sugar levels are typically associated with impaired insulin secretion, and the effectiveness of herbs like ginseng in this aspect is relatively limited. Therefore, patients needing to lower blood sugar, especially those with diabetes, should use antidiabetic medications such as insulin glargine injection and insulin aspart injection under medical supervision.

Although ginseng cannot directly lower blood sugar, patients can still manage their blood glucose through dietary regulation and physical exercise. For example, consuming foods rich in dietary fiber, avoiding high-sugar foods, and engaging in physical activities such as jogging and swimming can all help control blood sugar levels.