Randomized Clinical Trial Finds That Korean Red Ginseng Extract Shows Promise in Easing Long COVID Symptoms
Nikhil Prasad Fact checked by:Thailand Medical News Team Apr 27, 2025 7 hours, 57 minutes ago
Medical News: Exploring Natural Relief for Long COVID
Long COVID has remained a baffling and persistent problem for millions of people recovering from COVID-19 infections. Sufferers often continue experiencing symptoms like chronic fatigue, anxiety, sleep issues, and brain fog for months after the initial infection clears. Finding an effective treatment has proven difficult, but new research suggests that a traditional herbal remedy might offer some hope. Researchers from CHA Bundang Medical Centre at CHA University, Yonsei University College of Medicine in Seoul, and Yongin Severance Hospital in South Korea have investigated the use of a Korean red ginseng extract called G1899 in a clinical trial.
In this
Medical News report, we explore how the team conducted a rigorous 12-week randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial to find out if G1899 could relieve symptoms of long COVID and support immune system recovery. Their findings suggest the extract may significantly reduce fatigue and anxiety symptoms while helping to balance the immune response.
A Closer Look at the Study and Participants
The trial involved 220 adults recently infected with COVID-19. Participants were randomly divided into two groups. One group received G1899 extract tablets, while the other received a placebo that looked and tasted identical. Each participant took four tablets daily, totaling 2 grams of G1899, for 12 weeks.
Comprehensive health assessments were conducted at several intervals, including blood tests, immune cell analysis, and detailed questionnaires focusing on long COVID symptoms like fatigue and anxiety.
Notably, both groups started with similar health profiles, meaning any differences observed could confidently be linked to the ginseng treatment. The research team focused particularly on immune markers like the CD4/CD8 T cell ratio and regulatory T cell populations, as well as self-reported symptoms using standardized scales like the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) and Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS).
Significant Improvements in Symptoms Among Women
At the end of the 12-week study, women who received the G1899 extract experienced notable improvements in their long COVID symptoms compared to the placebo group. Anxiety levels, measured by GAD-7 scores, dropped significantly in women taking G1899. Fatigue symptoms, a hallmark complaint of long COVID sufferers, also improved much more dramatically among women in the ginseng group than in the placebo group.
Interestingly, although men also showed some symptom improvement, the effects were less pronounced and in some cases did not reach statistical significance. This suggests that Korean red ginseng extract may have a stronger impact on women's recovery from long COVID.
How Ginseng Helped the Immune System Recover
Beyond symptom relief, the study also showed promising effects on immune system function. Participants taking G1899 had a significant increase in their CD4/CD8 T cell ratio over 12 weeks. A low CD4/CD8 ratio is linked with chronic inflammation and weakened immune systems, so an improvement suggests a healthier immune balance. Meanwhile, the placebo group saw only minor changes in this critical ratio.
Additionally, regulatory T cells—immune cells that help control inflammation—remain
ed stable in the ginseng group but declined significantly in the placebo group. Protecting these regulatory cells is important because their loss can contribute to chronic inflammation, one of the key factors believed to drive long COVID.
What the Study Found About Antibody Levels
Both groups showed similar increases in anti-spike antibodies against COVID-19, which means that while G1899 helped with cellular immune balance, it did not significantly change antibody production compared to the placebo. This is an important finding, suggesting that the extract's primary benefit is through regulating inflammation and T cell function rather than enhancing antibody responses.
Safety and Side Effects
The study reported no serious adverse effects linked to G1899 consumption. Participants tolerated the supplement well, adding to its appeal as a potential natural therapy for long COVID recovery.
Scientific Explanations for Ginseng’s Effects
Korean red ginseng contains powerful active compounds called ginsenosides. These compounds have well-documented immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antiviral properties. Previous research has shown that ginsenosides can reduce oxidative stress, support mitochondrial health, improve T cell homeostasis, and even provide neuroprotective benefits. All of these actions may contribute to the observed improvements in fatigue, anxiety, and immune recovery seen in this study.
Some of the suggested mechanisms include the ability of ginseng to regulate cytokine production, help restore balance between different types of immune cells, and possibly even suppress viral replication at the cellular level. These combined effects likely explain why G1899 had such a positive impact on long COVID symptoms.
Study Limitations to Consider
While the results are encouraging, the researchers caution that there are a few limitations to their study. The trial lasted only 12 weeks, which might not capture the full long-term effects of long COVID or the sustainability of the improvements. Longer-term studies extending beyond a year would be needed to fully confirm G1899’s benefits over time.
Additionally, the study was limited in its ability to rule out other causes of fatigue and anxiety. Blood tests to screen for thyroid issues or other potential confounding factors were not performed. The sample size for long COVID patients was also somewhat limited due to the changing dynamics of the pandemic.
Another point to note is that while cortisol levels and other stress markers were measured, the precise interactions between stress hormones and long COVID symptoms remain complex and were not fully explored here.
Conclusions and Future Directions
This well-designed clinical trial provides strong preliminary evidence that G1899 Korean red ginseng extract may help relieve some of the most troubling symptoms of long COVID, especially chronic fatigue and anxiety, with a more pronounced benefit seen in women. The supplement also appears to promote better immune balance by improving the CD4/CD8 ratio and preserving regulatory T cells during recovery.
Although antibody levels against the virus were similar between groups, the immune cell data strongly supports the role of G1899 in helping the body regulate post-infection inflammation, which is a major factor driving long COVID. These results are exciting because they point toward a safe, natural, and accessible intervention that could improve quality of life for long COVID sufferers.
However, it is important to continue this line of research with larger and longer-term studies to verify and expand on these findings. Future research should also explore how Korean red ginseng might interact with other therapies and whether it can prevent long COVID if given earlier during the course of infection.
For now, G1899 Korean red ginseng extract shows real promise as part of a broader strategy to support recovery from the lingering effects of COVID-19. This could pave the way for safer and more natural treatment options for millions worldwide struggling to regain their health after COVID-19.
The study findings were published in the peer reviewed Journal of Ginseng Research.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1226845325000570
For the latest on Long COVID, keep on logging to Thailand
Medical News.
Read Also:
https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/breaking-study-shows-that-korean-red-ginseng-can-actually-help-with-neural-regeneration
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https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/ginsenoside-rh2-from-red-ginseng-reduces-inflammation-by-blocking-tlr4-dimerization-and-key-immune-pathways
https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/herbs-and-phytochemicals-murine-study-shows-that-red-ginseng-extract-inhibits-lipopolysaccharide-induced-platelet-leukocyte-aggregates
https://www.thailandmedical.news/pages/thailand_doctors_listings
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