Contemporary utilization of ginseng among individuals with health needs: A nationwide questionnaire survey

Despite the increasing use of ginseng in healthcare contexts, its usage patterns and influencing factors among individuals with health needs are not well understood. This study investigated current ginseng usage through a nationwide survey in China.

A multicenter, cross-sectional survey was conducted from September 26 to October 10, 2025, across 15 Chinese medical institutions, involving 5,041 respondents.

The study found a 72.78% overall ginseng usage rate. Higher usage willingness was seen among males, middle-aged and older adults, those with higher education, and those with stable middle incomes (p < 0.05). Usage varied by health status. Nonchronic disease patients primarily used ginseng for immune enhancement (78.96%), preferring American ginseng (68.57%) and raw material (71.53%), with short-term (52.93%) and irregular use (52.33%). Chronic disease patients used ginseng more for managing their conditions (44.09%), favoring wild ginseng (43.67%) and soup/stew preparation (56.70%), with more regular and longer-term use, as only 25.56% used it for <1 month. Overall satisfaction was 68.14%; however, adverse reactions were reported by 52.30%. Satisfaction was lower among chronic disease patients at 41.39%. Among potential ginseng consumers, 51.83% of those with high future usage intent mentioned price constraints, while 57.81% of those with low intent cited safety concerns.

Ginseng consumption was widespread but highly segmented, characterized by distinct consumption patterns driven by health status. Key barriers to the use of ginseng included perceived safety concerns and cost.