People with diabetes who are being treated with either insulin or oral hypoglycemic drugs could experience a hypoglycemic reaction from American ginseng tea. That warning was conveyed in an article and a letter in the Nov. 27, 2000 issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine.

Ginseng is an extremely popular herbal medicine, and it may be used alone, as tea, or in combination with other herbal medicines in a compound formula. On its own, ginseng tends to reduce glucose levels in people with or without diabetes. But when taken by people on medication to control their diabetes, an interaction may occur, resulting in hypoglycemia.

If you are taking any herbal drugs or natural supplements containing ginseng, be sure to tell your healthcare provider.

Sources:

• Vuksan V, Sievenpiper JL. Reply. The variable effect of whole-leaf digitalis is a paradigm of the glycemic effects of ginseng. Arch Int Med 2000;160(21).
• Cheng TS. Panax (ginseng) is not a panacea. Arch Int Med 2000;160(21).