Pregnancy: Panax ginseng may not be safe when taken by mouth during pregnancy. One of the chemicals in Panax ginseng has been found to cause birth defects in animals. Do not use Panax ginseng if you are pregnant. Breast-feeding: There is not enough reliable information to know if Panax ginseng is safe to use while breastfeeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use. Children: Panax ginseng may not be safe for babies and children. Panax ginseng has been linked to fatal poisoning in newborns. It is not clear if it is safe in older children. Until more is known, do not use Panax ginseng in children. "Autoimmune diseases" such as multiple sclerosis (MS), lupus (systemic lupus erythematosus, SLE), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), or other conditions: Panax ginseng seems to increase the activity of the immune system. It could make autoimmune diseases worse. Do not use Panax ginseng if you have any autoimmune conditions. Bleeding conditions: Panax ginseng appears to interfere with blood clotting. Do not use Panax ginseng if you have a bleeding condition. Heart conditions: Panax ginseng may slightly affect heart rate and blood pressure the first day it is used. Use Panax ginseng with caution if you have heart disease. Hormone-sensitive conditions such as breast cancer, uterine cancer, ovarian cancer, endometriosis, or uterine fibroids: Panax ginseng contains chemicals (ginsenosides) that can act like estrogen. If you have any condition that could be made worse by exposure to estrogen, do not use Panax ginseng. Trouble sleeping (insomnia): High doses of Panax ginseng have been linked to insomnia. If you have trouble sleeping, use Panax ginseng with caution. Suppressed immune system: Panax ginseng might make the immune system more active. This could interfere with the effects of drugs that suppress the immune system, such as those given after an organ transplant. If your immune system is suppressed, do not use Panax ginseng.