cognition

Black ginseng (흑삼, Heuk-sam)—the nine-times–steamed-and-dried form of Panax ginseng—is back in the headlines. In 2025, researchers reported safer manufacturing that eliminates benzo[a]pyrene, new mechanistic data on mood and brain health, and oncology-focused findings from ginsenoside–enriched preparations. Here’s your up-to-date guide to what changed this year and how to pick the right product. What’s “black” about