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Eleuthero (Siberian Ginseng): Benefits, Uses, Side Effects

Eleuthero, also known as Siberian ginseng, is one of the most powerful and exciting adaptogens on the market. In this post, we’ll go over the fascinating origins of the supplement and tell you how you can use it effectively for stress reduction and more.

What is Eleuthero (Siberian Ginseng)?

Siberian ginseng is an adaptogen that comes from the Eleuthero bush, a plant that grows in the chillier parts of Northeast Asia. To get medicine from the plant, harvesters take the gnarled roots and grind them up to produce a brown powder that contains eleutherosides, triterpenoid saponins, coumarins, flavones, and polysaccharides [1], [2].

What is Eleuthero (Siberian Ginseng)

Although the name would suggest otherwise, eleuthero is not actually ginseng. While the medicinal properties are similar to those of Asian and American ginseng, “Siberian ginseng” is a completely distinct plant, only named as such because Russian researchers mistook it for ginseng in the early stages of their research on the adaptogen.

History and Origins of Eleuthero

Eleuthero gained scientific prominence in Russia back in the 1950s. At the time, Dr. Nikolai Lazarev was trying to create a performance drink that could give Russians a boost in the Cold War in the event physical battles broke out. He coined the term “adaptogen” especially for this herb.

It wasn’t until 2021 when a large-scale study on the benefits of eleuthero [3] was published internationally that eleuthero was introduced to the Western world, and it is still gaining awareness in the Australian medical community.

Traditional Uses of Siberian Eleuthero

For thousands of years, the Chinese have been aware of the ability of eleuthero (known in China as “Ciwujia”) to prevent the flu, increase vitality, and help with stress reduction. They have traditionally used it as an herbal additive for teas and rice wine.

Health Benefits of Eleuthero

The study on eleuthero [4] and several studies published since then have confirmed that the supplement has a variety of health benefits. Siberian eleuthero benifits include:

Adaption to stress/stress reduction

The reason stress is often so hard on your mental state is because your mind hass to deal with going from no stress at all to intense stress very quickly, and that change is jarring. Eleuthero and other adaptogens help to slow the transition and make the stress feel less painful.

Read more: Adaptogenic stress support.

Improves performance

Eleuthero is believed to have been used as a performance supplement for olympic athletes. It can help with physical strength and agility, especially during high-intensity workout sessions.

Enhances lymphatic system

The lymphatic system aids with the body’s fluid regulation and enhances the immune system, and eleuthero helps it run smoothly. This is especially useful for reducing edema, a buildup of fluid in the body’s tissues.

Decreases bad cholesterol

High cholesterol can lead to heart disease, and bad cholesterol is difficult to avoid given the diet of many modern Australians. Eleuthero keeps cholesterol in check, though.

High in antioxidants

Eleuthero contains antioxidant agents called coumarins. Not only do coumarins give the eleuthero a more sweet and fragrant flavor, but they also help to prevent cell damage and cancer.

Lowers blood sugar

Eleuthero lowers blood sugar, so it’s great for individuals with diabetes or vision problems. Stable blood sugar levels also contribute to improved focus and memory, better weight management, and better moods.

Boosts immune system

Consuming eleuthero regularly strengthens your body’s defenses and makes you less likely to get sick both in the short and long term. A strong immune system also helps you heal faster from wounds and gives you healthier hair and nails.

Improves memory and energy

People who take eleuthero report feeling enhanced mental clarity and sharpness, including an increased ability to recall old and recent memories. Eleuthero will likely mean you no longer need to have a cup of coffee midday just to work efficiently!

Helps osteoarthritis

Osteoarthrisis is a deterioration of the cartilage that keeps joints supple. It is most common in middle aged or older people, but eleuthero helps prevent its onset or prevents any existing osteoarthritis from having as much effect.

Helps with insomnia

Thanks to the busy pace of modern life, about 66% of Australians suffer from at least one sleep disorder [5]. An eleuthero regimen helps you to fall asleep more easily and have restful sleep once you do, even if you normally have trouble shutting down your brain for the night. 

Potential Side Effects of Eleuthero (Siberian Ginseng)

As an adaptogen, Siberian eleuthero benefits the vast majority of people with no side effects whatsoever.

Just like most substances you ingest, however, eleuthero can cause an allergic reaction in rare cases. Other people who should not take eleuthero include:

  • People with heart issues
  • Pregnant women
  • People with autoimmune diseases
  • People with serious mental health issues like schizophrenia
  • People with sleep apnea

Consult your doctor to make sure you can take eleuthero.

Potential Side Effects of Eleuthero (Siberian Ginseng)

How to Use Eleuthero (Siberian Ginseng)

Eleuthero has an earthy, slightly bitter taste that is fairly distinct. Because of that, a little bit of eleuthero extract makes a great addition to teas, smoothies, or other hot beverages. It will give your drink a pleasantly naturalistic taste that lets your body know it’s consuming something healthy and 100% all-natural.

Choosing the Right Eleuthero (Siberian Ginseng) Supplement

The #1 tip for choosing the best Siberian eleuthero supplement is to buy a product that uses “eleutherococcus senticosus”, which is the name for the pure form of the herb. There are a lot of less reputable eleuthero brands that use other species of the eleuterococcus plant or who mix their product with the herb periploca, which tastes similar but has a sweeter flavor. These alternatives are not as potent and may not cause the same positive effects.

99% of brands are transparent with what ingredients they use in their Siberian eleuthero extract. However, it’s best to just stick to eleuthero supplements from a brand with a long track record of dealing in top-quality health supplements like Shoku Iku.

Wild Harvested Eleuthero (Siberian Ginseng) Extract Powder

Reference:

  1. Eleuthero. (2021). In Drugs and Lactation Database (LactMed®). National Institute of Child Health and Human Development.
  2. Ginseng. (2021). In Drugs and Lactation Database (LactMed®). National Institute of Child Health and Human Development.
  3. Gerontakos, S., Taylor, A., Avdeeva, A. Y., Shikova, V. A., Pozharitskaya, O. N., Casteleijn, D., Wardle, J., & Shikov, A. N. (2021). Findings of Russian literature on the clinical application of Eleutherococcus senticosus (Rupr. & Maxim.): A narrative review. Journal of ethnopharmacology278, 114274. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2021.114274
  4. Lauková, A., Simonová, M. P., Chrastinová, Ľ., Plachá, I., Čobanová, K., Formelová, Z., Chrenková, M., Ondruška, Ľ., & Strompfová, V. (2016). Benefits of combinative application of probiotic, enterocin M-producing strain Enterococcus faecium AL41 and Eleutherococcus senticosus in rabbits. Folia microbiologica61(2), 169–177. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12223-015-0423-x

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