Panax ginseng (ginseng) is the representative of Qi-invigorating herbal medicines (QIHM) and is known for its strong primordial Qi-invigorating action in traditional Chinese medicine(TCM).Ginseng can adjust the central nervous system,improve immune function, protect myocardium and liver, decrease blood sugar, and has anti-tumor, anti-aging, anti-apoptosis, anti-fatigue, anti-oxidation, anti-hypoxia activities and others.The diversified effects of ginseng can indicate its peculiar efficacy to cure all decreases to a certain extent.These pharmacological effects are closely related to the mitochondria whose main function is the production of the energy currency adenosine triphosphate (ATP) by oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS), and mitochondria are the hub and core of all lifes activities.Bioenergetic dysfunction is emerging as a cornerstone for understanding the pathophysiology of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer, and neurodegenerative diseases, which ginseng is used widely.A large number of studies over the past three decades have demonstrated that Ginseng was able to improve mitochondrial function by enhancing cellular bioenergetics and had the pharmaceutical activities of mitochondrial protection.Ginsengs pharmacological activities mainly depend on its Qi-invigorating action according to TCM theory.Therefore, the review proposes that ginseng invigorate Qi through the mitochondrial bioenergetic pathway based on the recent advances in effects of ginseng on mitochondria, which provides evidence for the scientific hypothesis that "Qi is bioenergy", which was proposed by the author.