Name: Siberian Ginseng - Natural Whole Herb
Scientific Name: Eleutherococcus senticosus/Acanthopanax senticosus
Intro: Eleuthero, which is known in the United States as Siberian ginseng, has been used for centuries in China and Russia. Although a distant relative of American and Asian ginsengs (Panax sp.), with some overlap in its uses, Siberian ginseng is a distinct plant with different active chemical components. Prized for its ability to restore vigor, increase longevity, enhance overall health, and stimulate both a healthy appetite and a good memory, it is widely used in Russia to help the body adapt to stressful conditions and to enhance productivity.
In Chinese medicine, it is valued for its beneficial effects on "qi" and its ability to treat "yang" deficiency in the spleen and kidney. Like the panax ginsengs, Siberian ginseng is considered to be an adaptogen, which means that it helps in stressful circumstances and also helps return the body to a normal balance. So, for example, an adaptogen might lower blood pressure in someone who has high blood pressure, but raise it in another person who has low blood pressure. The active ingredients in Siberian ginseng, eleutherosides (similar to ginsenosides in the panax species), are thought to increase stamina and to stimulate the immune system.
Siberian ginseng may help the body deal with physically and mentally stressful exposures such as heat, cold, physical exhaustion, viruses, bacteria, chemicals, extreme working conditions, noise, and pollution. By strengthening the system, it may also help prevent illness.
Nutrient Content: Siberian ginseng products are made from the root. The root contains a mixture of components, common to many plants but occurring together in Siberian ginseng, called eleutherosides. Among the other ingredients are chemicals called polysaccharides, which have been found to boost the immune system and lower blood sugar levels in laboratory studies using animals.
Benefits:
Comments: The American Herbal Products Association (AHPA) rates Siberian ginseng as a class 1, which means that it is safe when used as directed. Siberian ginseng should be taken before 3 P.M. to avoid insomnia
Caution: Should not be taken by those with high blood pressure, obstructive sleep apnea (repeated, prolonged periods when breathing stops while sleeping), narcolepsy (frequent day time sleeping), or by women who are pregnant or breastfeeding.
Possible Interactions
If you are currently being treated with any of the following medications, you should not use Siberian ginseng without first talking to your healthcare provider.
Digoxin
Siberian ginseng may raise blood levels of digoxin, a medication used to treat heart conditions. This can increase the risk of adverse side effects from this medication.
Sedatives for Insomnia
Caution should be taken when considering use of Siberian ginseng with sedatives, primarily barbiturates (a class of medications including pentobarbital which are used for sleep or seizures).