Do ginseng capsules expire?

Question

I found an old bottle of American panax ginseng capsules in my parents' medicine cabinet. They said I could take them, so I did. They estimate the bottle is as much as 3 years old.

Because ginseng is organic I'm wondering if it can go bad. Are they safe to use?

Answer 1

First of all, what do you mean by "organic?"  Organic foods are produced according to certain production standards, meaning they are grown without the use of conventional pesticides, artificial fertilizers, human waste, or sewage sludge, and that they were processed without ionizing radiation or food additives.  Livestock are reared without the routine use of antibiotics and without the use of growth hormones.  Here in the USA, organic produce must not be genetically modified.  

Just because a product is classified as "organic" does not mean that it will never go bad.  Does your ginseng even say that it is organic on the bottle anywhere?  Even so, that just refers to how it was processed.

If your parents are saying that this bottle is approximately 3 years old (so safe to assume its older,) I would not take it.  Look for an expiration date somewhere on the bottle.  If none is listed, just throw it away.  Ginseng is pretty cheap, so if you want more, go buy some.

Herbs can  lose their potency over time so you would have to take more to get the same dose.  Its just not worth it.

Answer 2

yes they do expire ,

Answer 3

sounds old to me. certain herbs or plants can only stay potent for a certain amount of time, but  i don't know the shelf life of ginseng. i do know that you shouldn't take ginseng be its no good period, its  an hybrid or unnatural plant that was created through hybridization, you may get a brief stimulation from ginseng. but its no good to be take because it starchy, which means it turns to sugar in your body.

If you are looking for something to give you energy you get some "burdock" capsules or some "yellow dock" capsules. but if you more than the aid of one herb that supplies energy to your body, you need some "Viento" here's the website www.drsebi.com and give them a call and they will let you know what they have for you.

Answer 4

It's okay to take it - it's not like it's poison but the effect of it's potency capabilities are probably little or non.  It's up to you to choose whether to or not.  I probably would, but that's me personally.