Why Most Korean Panax Ginseng Supplements Don’t Work
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One thing I’ve learned while building Korjin:
Most ginseng products on the market are extremely diluted.
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Walk into almost any store and browse the supplement aisle and you’ll be bound to see “ginseng” products everywhere.
But when you actually look closer, a lot of them are:
- Pills or capsules
- Sugar syrups or fillers (ie: gummies)
- Trace amounts of actual ginseng (sometimes ~0.4%)
- No mention of active compound (ginsenoside) content (Rb1 + Rg1 + Rg3)
Furthermore, another thing people don't realize is that not all ginseng is the same.
There are several different types used in products today:
• Korean ginseng (Panax ginseng) – historically considered the most potent and widely used in Asian natural medicine
• American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius) – generally milder and often used for calming or cooling effects
• Chinese-grown ginseng – often lower cost and commonly used in mass-produced supplements
Korean ginseng has the longest history of cultivation and some of the strictest quality standards in the world. It’s also known for having higher concentrations of the key active compounds (saponins/ginsenosides) that give ginseng its effects.
The benefits of Korean Panax ginseng is widely known to boost energy, improve circulation, and strengthen immunity.
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Unfortunately, many products don’t clearly tell you which type you're actually getting — or how much is really inside.
The result?
People try “ginseng,” feel nothing, and assume it doesn’t work.
But traditionally, ginseng was never meant to be watered down or turned into candy-like supplements. It was used in concentrated forms designed to support the body over time.
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One of the goals with Korjin is bringing ginseng back closer to its original purpose — quality and potency over dilution.