Ginseng has a long history of widespread use and remarkable effects as traditional medicine, adjuvant and dietary supplement. The therapeutic value, diverse functionalities and rapid development of ginseng have driven a significant increase in the number of ginseng clinical trials, ranging from its use in various ailments, formulation to safety concerns. Despite the persistent interest in ginseng clinical research, the medical effectiveness of ginseng is inconclusive and there is a lack of bibliometric analysis for the hundreds of ginseng clinical trials in this field. Therefore, this review aims to provide an extensive overview of ginseng clinical trials over the past 40 years (1979–2018) in combination with qualitative and quantitative analysis. The annual clinical trial analysis for time distribution, country and institution network analysis for space cooperation, and statistical analysis for various functions, efficiency and effect size were performed for ginseng clinical trials. Besides, preparation categories, administration routes, and the safety of ginseng clinical trials were also investigated. In conclusion, this review provides new insights into the understanding of global ginseng clinical trials and identifies potential future perspectives on ginseng research and development.