Eleuthero Benefits for Immunity, Energy, Health & More

Eleuthero is a common name for supplements derived from the shrub Eluetherococcus senticosus. This deciduous shrub grows in parts of China, Korea, Japan and Siberia and its roots have been historically used as a tonic herb.

Eleuthero is commonly called Siberian ginseng because its properties were once thought similar to other kinds of ginseng from the Panax genus, such as American and Asian ginseng. It is now known that Siberian ginseng is not related to either the American or Asian varieties and does not share the same active constituents.

Ginsenosides are the active constituents in American and Asian ginseng whereas Siberian ginseng contains elutherosides. Because it is unrelated to the Panax genus and has different uses, Siberian ginseng is now commonly called eleuthero to avoid confusion.

Eleuthero is considered an adaptogen, meaning it is thought to help the body cope with periods of acute physical and emotional stress. Additionally, eleuthero is more commonly used to support good health than for periods of acute illness. There have been thousands of studies on eleuthero, but most have been conducted in Russia because the plant is indigenous to Siberia.

Siberian Ginseng

Herbal Supplement

Energy & Stamina

Immune Function

Mood

How It Works:

• Promotes physical performance & endurance
• Supports cognitive abilities & mood
• Boosts immune function & vitality

Dosage:

Between 100 - 300 mg per day

Safety:

Rated Likely Safe

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Eleuthero Benefits

In China, eleuthero use may date back 2,000 years. It has also been long used by the people of Siberia to improve physical performance and quality of life.

Based on its traditional uses, the herb was commonly consumed by athletes and cosmonauts in the former Soviet Union.

Contemporary uses of eleuthero have expanded well beyond its traditional functions. Many of these uses remain unsubstantiated.

The herb is now used for insomnia, increased work capacity, neuroses, diabetes, chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia and rheumatoid arthritis, to name only a few.

The following are some benefits that are often attributed to eleuthero:

Boosts Energy: Russian civil service agencies were reported to encourage eleuthero use by their workers to boost productivity. Most Russia research on eleuthero was conducted after the Cold War, when the Russians were looking for positive ways to use the herb to increase Russian efficiency.

Improves Athletic Performance: Russians dominated the 1988 Olympic Games. They attributed a portion of their success to the benefits of eleuthero and its ability to increase overall athletic performance.

Boosts the Immune System: Eleuthero is believed to boost the immune system. It is commonly used to reduce the frequency and severity of colds, flu symptoms and improve immunity against bacteria. This herb is also said to have anti-cancer benefits. However, is no clinical evidence that supports these uses.

Radiation: Survivors of Chernobyl were given eleuthero to combat the effects of nuclear fallout. The Russians classified their studies on eleuthero and nuclear energy, so it remains unclear what effects this herb had.

Improves concentration and memory: Eleuthero is often used to improve concentration and memory, but this use remains largely unsubstantiated. Most study has taken place in Russian laboratories. Some people report better workplace efficiency when taking the herbal supplement.

Speeds recovery from illness: Limited study indicates people may recover faster from illness if they take eleuthero root. The particular mechanism of action that supports this observation remains unknown. Some hypothesize eleuthero may improve the function of the immune system.

Regulates blood pressure: Some herbalists use eleuthero to combat high blood pressure. However, there are not any definitive studies to back up this claim.

Reduces inflammation: Herbalists combine eleuthero with other herbs to reduce inflammation in the body. Inflammation can mean anything from inflamed joints to swelling of a wound site. Eleuthero`s mechanism of action has not been well studied and the anti-inflammatory effects may be due to the other herbs with which it is combined.

Lowers blood sugar levels: While eleuthero is not recommended as a treatment for diabetes, it may have an effect on pre-diabetics who have mild elevations in fasting and post-meal blood sugar levels.

Research into Eleuthero Effects

Conventional medications made by pharmaceutical companies go through many clinical trials to verify their safety and effectiveness. In the United States this process is overseen by the Food and Drug Administration, or FDA.

Herbal medicines do not have to pass rigorous tests or undergo clinical trials before reaching the marketplace. There are three ways that one can identify whether or not eleuthero benefits the human body:

Clinical experimentation: Some supplements are tested in a clinical environment to help understand their efficacy. These experiments involve a number of people, some of whom are taking the actual supplement and some of whom are taking a placebo.

Ideally, neither the researchers nor the subjects themselves know what each subject is taking – this is called a double-blind placebo-controlled study. Observations are made throughout the trial and these observations are used at the end of the study to attribute effects to a supplement.

Unfortunately, these studies are expensive. In the case of eleuthero, many of the Russian studies remain unavailable to the public and limited research has been conducted elsewhere.

International example: Other countries have different ways of approving natural supplements. For example, Commission E (the German regulatory agency responsible for herbs) lists eleuthero among its approved herbs in tablet, tincture, capsule and liquid forms.

Traditional Use: Eleuthero benefits have been relied upon for thousands of years in traditional Chinese medicine and in Russia. The Chinese have used eleuthero for strengthening the liver and the kidneys, preventing respiratory illnesses, warding off influenza, supporting restful sleep, treating symptoms of menopause and for managing physical and mental stress.

These uses may not be backed by clinical study, but they do lend some degree of evidence to the effects of this herb. Traditional uses speak to general safety of the herb as well as potential “holistic” health benefits that users may experience when taking these supplements.

Eleuthero Safety and Side Effects

Eleuthero is generally well tolerated when taken properly. Some herbalists suggest this herb should not be taken for more than six weeks at a time.

Be sure to speak with your doctor before taking eleuthero. Drug interactions and unforeseen side effects may undermine any possible eluthero benefits for health.

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