Ginseng (Panax)

There is some clinical and preclinical evidence that Panax ginseng (Korean/Asian ginseng) and related Panax species (including American ginseng, Panax quinquefolius) can improve some attention/cognitive outcomes in people with ADHD — but the evidence is limited, small, and mixed. Larger, higher-quality trials are still needed before ginseng can be considered a proven first-line ADHD treatment.

Ginseng contains active saponins called ginsenosides that have multiple effects relevant to attention, arousal and cognition:

• Modulation of monoamine neurotransmitters (dopamine, norepinephrine, serotonin) — important because ADHD therapies typically act on catecholamine systems. Ginsenosides influence both release and receptor signalling in preclinical models. Wiley Online Library
• Neuroprotective / anti-inflammatory effects and upregulation of neurotrophic factors (BDNF, etc.), which can support neuronal function and synaptic plasticity relevant to learning and attention. Frontiers
• Effects on cholinergic transmission and cerebral blood flow reported in human and animal studies — mechanisms that can also affect attention and executive function. Oxford Academic

(These mechanisms are derived from preclinical and human pharmacology literature — they provide plausible biological reasons why attention and cognitive symptoms might improve, but mechanism data do not by themselves prove clinical benefit.) Oxford Academic

• Korean red ginseng (Panax ginseng) — one observational/clinical study in children aged 6–14 used 1,000 mg twice daily (i.e., 2,000 mg/day total) for 8 weeks and reported improvements on clinical rating scales during the study period. (This is the commonly-cited Panax ginseng pediatric protocol in the ginseng literature.) KoreaScience
• American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius) + Ginkgo biloba combo (AD-FX product) — an open pilot study used a combination capsule (reported dose example: American ginseng extract 200 mg + Ginkgo extract 50 mg) taken twice daily on an empty stomach for 4 weeks; the study reported clinical improvements in some children. Note: that study was open (not placebo-controlled). Europe PMC
• Omega-3 + Korean red ginseng pilot — a small pilot combined omega-3 with Korean red ginseng (protocol details are reported in the pilot PDF) and found improvements in attention and some cognitive measures; the paper calls for larger randomized controlled trials. (Pilot study designs vary; some use ginseng as adjunct to standard therapy.) Semantic Scholar

Summary: published trials often used around 1,000 mg twice daily for Korean red ginseng or ~200 mg twice daily in American ginseng preparations when combined with other herbs — but trial sizes were small and regimens varied. If someone is considering use, these are the doses that have been tested, not formal dose recommendations — discuss with a clinician first. KoreaScience

Systematic review (Journal of Ginseng Research, 2024) — recent systematic review of ginseng and ginsenosides for ADHD (searched databases up to mid-2023). Authors conclude there is suggestive evidence but highlight limitations: few randomized trials, small sample sizes, heterogeneity in species/doses/outcomes, and risk of bias — they call for larger high-quality RCTs. This is the most up-to-date synthesis. KoreaScience

Clinical study — Korean red ginseng (Panax ginseng), children (2011, Journal of Ginseng Research) — 18 children (age 6–14) with ADHD were given Korean red ginseng 1,000 mg twice daily for 8 weeks; the paper reports improvements on behavioral scales across the study period. This is a small study and not placebo-controlled (observational/clinical assessment design). KoreaScience

Pilot/open study — Panax quinquefolium (American ginseng) + Ginkgo (AD-FX) — open pilot in children (n≈36) using ginseng + ginkgo twice daily for 4 weeks showed symptom improvements; because it was open (no placebo), results are preliminary. Europe PMC

Other pilot trials and combinations — a few small studies combining ginseng with omega-3 or other supplements have shown improvements on attention/cognitive tests in pilot settings; however, sample sizes are small and trial designs differ. Examples and a pilot PDF are summarized in the literature. Semantic Scholar

Reviews on cognition & ginseng — broader reviews/meta-analyses of ginseng effects on cognition and neurological disorders summarize positive signals for attention, working memory and executive function in some populations, but again emphasize inconsistent quality and effect sizes. Oxford Academic