Ginseng is an ancient herb and it is a good remedy for many diseases. It is also known as the king of all herbs. It protects your body and helps fight many diseases. Ginseng is an adaptogen. It helps in protecting your body from stress, including physical and mental stress. Ginseng tea has an earthy and slightly bitter taste. You can have it with honey and/or milk. Some people find it very bitter to taste.
Harmful Effects of Ginseng Tea:
Ginseng is known for its immense health benefits. But it has some harmful effects also. So, you should be very careful when you consumer ginseng tea, especially when you are consuming it in high amounts or for a long period of time.
Side Effects of Ginseng tea are:
Blood vessels inflammation:
By consuming high doses of ginseng tea, there is the risk of inflammation of blood vessels in the brain. This can lead to fever, headaches, strokes and so on.
Blood clots:
When you are wounded, it is the platelets in the blood that help in preventing excess flow of blood. The platelets can clot the blood in case of internal as well as external injury. Ginseng tea can interfere with the functioning of these platelets. This leads to an increase in the blood clots. These blood clots may even turn into tumours and become cancerous. This can be fatal if you do not treat in time.
Fluctuating blood pressure and heart rate
Consuming ginseng tee for a long period of time and in large amounts can lead to an increase in blood pressure or low blood pressure. Although this tea is a good remedy for blood pressure, it can cause adverse effects on your body. It can also cause irregular and faster heart beats. If you are taking medicines for blood pressure, you should avoid consuming ginseng tea.
Gastrointestinal problems:
Consuming ginseng tea can also cause stomach discomfort, diarrhoea and nausea. Those who drink ginseng tea for the first time suffer from gastrointestinal problems more than those who drink it regularly. Once your body gets adjusted to this tea, these symptoms disappear.
Hormonal effects:
Korean ginseng tea has the ability to stimulate oestrogen-like effects in the body. It can affect the functioning of the hormones in the body and cause abnormalities. It is also said to cause postmenstrual vaginal bleeding, menstrual irregularities and breast tenderness in females, although a few cases have been reported as of now.
Hypoglycaemia:
Ginseng tea is said to be very effective for curing type 2 diabetes. But it can lead to abnormally low blood sugar levels, thereby causing hypoglycaemia in many people. Low blood sugar makes the person lethargic and feel low as it decreases the energy levels in the body. When you are on diabetic medicines and consume tea, the combination of the two can cause blood sugar levels to decrease abnormally. This can be very dangerous.
Insomnia:
Certain active ingredients in ginseng tea have the ability to increase the energy levels in your body. So, if you consume ginseng tea before bed time, it can cause sleeping difficulties. When this tea is consumed regularly, it can lead to the development of insomnia. So, if you want to drink this tea at night, make sure that you have it a few hours before you go to bed.
Nervousness and restlessness
Some people who consume ginseng tea regularly may experience nervousness, restlessness, loss of concentration, anxiety and excitability. This is because consumption of ginseng stimulates the brain cells and when there is over stimulation of the brain, these symptoms occur. When you take ginseng tea along with coffee and other caffeinated drinks, these symptoms may get aggravated.
Neurological and mental problems:
Ginseng tea can cause neurological effects. Because of this some people experience dizziness and headaches when they consume this tea. Some people may even suffer from depression, confusion and manic episodes when they consume ginseng tea. When you are having some antidepressant medicines, you should not have ginseng tea as it can lead to manic episodes.
Pregnancy and child birth:
Doctors advise that pregnant women and breastfeeding women should stay away from ginseng tea. This is because certain ingredients in this tea can have adverse effects on the foetus and the newborn baby. Drinking this tea can cause some problems in the formation of the foetus and cause abnormalities. Those who breastfeed their babies should also be cautious and try to avoid consuming ginseng tea so that it does not cause any adverse effects on the newborn baby.
Schizophrenia:
High doses of ginseng tea can also affect neurotransmitters in the body. Neurotransmitters are chemicals that are responsible for carrying the messages from the nerve cells to the other cells of the body. When people suffering from schizophrenia or other mental disorder consume ginseng tea along with antipsychotic drugs, it can alter the levels of neurotransmitters.
Other side effects:
Other side effects of this tea are allergic reactions, swelling of the tongue, throat and face, mild skin rashes, tightness in the chest area, difficulty in breathing, asthma, dizziness, palpitations etc.
So, now you know about the side effects of ginseng tea. If after consuming ginseng tea you notice any of these symptoms, then you should consult a doctor. If you are on any medication and are taking over-the-counter or prescription drugs, then you have to be very cautious when consuming g this tea. It is always a better idea to consult your doctor before you use herbal tea for health benefits as each individual’s body may react in a different way to the herb.
