Red ginseng gains attention for immune health amid flu surge

# What's happening

The government issued its flu advisory on Sept. 11 and started vaccination on Sept. 21, earlier than last year's Oct. 17 advisory. Those shifts, plus the co-circulation of COVID-19, are prompting broader interest in preventive measures beyond vaccination alone. Consumers are looking at supplements and functional foods as additional options for supporting immune health.

# Why red ginseng is getting attention Red ginseng is not a new product, but it has regulatory recognition and recent research that make it a focus this season. The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety lists seven potential health benefits for red ginseng: support for immune health, blood circulation, fatigue relief, antioxidant activity, memory, women's health during menopause, and blood sugar control. That official list gives consumers and retailers a clear starting point when evaluating products.

# What the research shows The article cites several research findings relevant to red ginseng and infections:

• Research by Professor Kang Sang-moo at Georgia State University tested red ginseng in mice infected with H1N1 influenza. Mice given both vaccination and red ginseng had a 100% survival rate. That compared with 60% survival for mice given vaccine only and 40% survival for untreated mice.

• A team led by Professor Lee Sang-joon of Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology identified a molecular mechanism by which red ginseng may suppress influenza A viruses. The article does not provide full experimental details but notes this as the first identification of such a mechanism by that group.

# Practical implications for consumers and retailers Red ginseng's regulatory recognition and the cited studies support consumer interest in it as a complementary option during a season with heightened respiratory virus activity. The evidence in the article is primarily preclinical (animal and lab studies) and focuses on outcomes when red ginseng is used alongside vaccination, not as a replacement.

For consumers: consider red ginseng as part of broader preventive care that includes timely vaccination and standard public-health measures. For retailers: clear, simple product information that references recognized benefits and relevant study findings may help customers make informed choices.

# Bottom line An unusually early flu surge and rising COVID-19 hospitalizations are driving interest in immune-support products. Red ginseng has official recognition for multiple health benefits and limited preclinical evidence suggesting it can enhance vaccine responses and affect influenza outcomes in animal models. Those factors explain why it is drawing more attention this season.