What drugs should be avoided with ginseng: detailed explanation of incompatibility and precautions
As the "King of Herbs" in traditional Chinese medicine, ginseng has the effects of replenishing vitality, strengthening the spleen and lungs, etc. However, when taking it, you need to pay attention to its incompatibility with certain drugs. This article will combine the popular health topics on the Internet in the past 10 days, compile a list of contraindications for ginseng medication, and provide structured data for reference.
1. Basic pharmacological effects of ginseng

Ginseng mainly contains active ingredients such as ginsenosides, polysaccharides, and volatile oils, which can regulate immunity, resist fatigue, and improve cardiovascular function. However, improper compatibility may reduce drug efficacy or cause adverse reactions.
| Ingredient Category | Main function | contraindicated risks |
|---|---|---|
| Ginsenosides | Regulate central nervous system, antioxidant | Easy to overdose when used together with stimulants |
| Ginseng polysaccharide | Enhance immunity | Affect the effectiveness of immunosuppressants |
| volatile oil | Improve microcirculation | May enhance the effect of anticoagulants |
2. List of western medicines that should not be used with ginseng
According to the latest clinical research, there are clear incompatibilities between the following Western medicines and ginseng:
| drug type | Representative medicine | Reasons for taboos | risk level |
|---|---|---|---|
| anticoagulant drugs | warfarin, aspirin | increased risk of bleeding | high risk |
| hypoglycemic drugs | Insulin, metformin | cause hypoglycemia | medium to high risk |
| antidepressants | Fluoxetine, Paroxetine | Causes serotonin syndrome | medium risk |
| diuretics | Furosemide, hydrochlorothiazide | Increased electrolyte imbalance | medium risk |
| cardiac glycosides | digoxin | aggravate cardiotoxicity | high risk |
3. Incompatibility of traditional Chinese medicines
Traditional Chinese medicine theory emphasizes the compatibility principle of "eighteen antis". Special attention should be paid to the following taboos for ginseng:
| Contraindicated Chinese medicine | Compatibility consequences | Ancient book basis |
|---|---|---|
| hellebore | Increased toxicity | "Compendium of Materia Medica" |
| Wulingzhi | Reduce the effect of replenishing Qi | "Shen Nong's Materia Medica" |
| honey locust | produce sediment | "Treatise on Febrile Diseases" |
| Rapeseed | Breaking Qi to offset the benefits | "Compendium of Materia Medica" |
4. Precautions for special groups of people
According to the recently hotly searched health topics, the following groups of people need special attention:
1.Hypertensive patients: Ginseng may cause blood pressure fluctuations, so blood pressure needs to be monitored when used together with antihypertensive drugs.
2.preoperative patients: It should be stopped 2 weeks before surgery to prevent intraoperative bleeding.
3.Pregnant women group: May stimulate uterine contractions (especially in early pregnancy)
4.autoimmune disease patients: May aggravate excessive activation of the immune system
5. Scientific advice on taking
1. Medication interval: Take at least 2 hours apart from contraindicated drugs.
2. Control the dose: the daily dosage of dried ginseng should not exceed 3g (Chinese Pharmacopoeia standard)
3. Monitor reaction: pay attention to blood pressure, blood sugar and other indicators during taking
4. Consult a physician: Patients taking medications for a long time need professional guidance.
Note: The data in this article are synthesized from the latest literature of the State Food and Drug Administration, PubMed and the database of ancient Chinese medicine books, and are current as of October 2023. Please follow your doctor’s instructions for specific medication.
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