Many people are under the misconception that increased blood pressure is a side effect of consuming Korean red ginseng . However, studies have shown that Korean red ginseng is beneficial as a safe therapeutic aid in regulating blood pressure when taken in conjunction with medications to treat hypertension. Special care should be taken with new users. You should start with a reduced dose (for example, half or one third of the normal dose) and lengthen the intervals between each dose (for example, once every 2-3 days) for the first month. Check your body's response before slowly increasing the recommended daily dose. Note : If you have severe hypertension or your blood pressure is not well controlled with medication, consult your doctor before taking Korean red ginseng .