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Eleuthero (Eleutherococcus senticosus) is a medicinal herb said to offer a wide range of health benefits. Although it is also referred to as "Siberian ginseng," eleuthero does not belong to the same family as "true" ginseng, which includes Korean or Asian ginseng and American ginseng. Eleuthero is available as a dietary supplement and sometimes used in skincare products.
What Is Eleuthero Used For?
Eleuthero is thought to act as an adaptogen, a class of herbs that supposedly boost the body's resistance to stress. Proponents claim that eleuthero can also help with these health conditions:
- • Alzheimer's disease
- • Arthritis
- • Atherosclerosis
- • Bronchitis
- • Chronic fatigue syndrome
- • Colds
- • Diabetes
- • Fibromyalgia
- • Flu
- • High blood pressure
- • Insomnia
- • Kidney disease
- • Rheumatoid arthritis
In addition, eleuthero is sometimes used to improve athletic performance, boost the immune system, and ease the side effects of chemotherapy.
To date, research on the health effects of Siberian ginseng is fairly limited. However, some studies suggest that eleuthero shows promise in the treatment of certain conditions, including:
Colds
Eleuthero is possibly effective for cold relief when taken in combination with the herb Andrographis, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH). A 2004 study of 130 children published in Phytotherapy Research found that an herbal formula containing eleuthero and Andrographis helped reduce cold duration and severity when treatment was started at the early stages of the cold.
Fatigue
Eleuthero may help improve mental performance in people with mild, stress-induced fatigue, according to a 2009 research review published in Current Clinical Pharmacology.
Additionally, a 2004 study from Psychological Medicine found that eleuthero might benefit people with "moderate fatigue." However, the study also found that eleuthero was not effective for people with severe fatigue. The study involved 96 people with fatigue, each of whom received either eleuthero or a placebo for two months.
Osteoarthritis
For a 2009 study published in The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology, researchers assigned 57 patients with osteoarthritis of the knee to six weeks of daily treatment with either a placebo or an herbal formula containing eleuthero, Panax ginseng, and Chinese foxglove. By the study's end, those had received the herbal formula showed greater improvement in pain and physical functioning (compared to those who had taken the placebo). However, it's not known whether eleuthero on its own can help manage osteoarthritis.
High Cholesterol
Eleuthero may help cut high cholesterol, according to a small study published in Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications in 2008. For the study, 40 postmenopausal women were assigned to receive either calcium or calcium plus eleuthero for six months. Study results revealed that those who were given calcium plus eleuthero experienced significant decreases in LDL cholesterol and certain markers of oxidative stress (a destructive biological process linked to many major health problems, including heart disease and cancer).
Possible Side Effects
Although eleuthero is likely safe when used in the short term, it may trigger a number of side effects including insomnia, headache, nervousness, upset GI tract, and diarrhea.
It's also important to take caution when using Siberian ginseng if you have high blood pressure, a heart condition, diabetes, a hormone-sensitive condition (such as breast cancer or uterine fibroids), or a mental condition (such as mania or schizophrenia). In these cases, the NIH recommends avoiding the use of eleuthero or using eleuthero only under your healthcare provider's supervision.
Not all supplements are tested for safety and due to the fact that dietary supplements are largely unregulated, the content of some products may differ from what is specified on the product label. Also keep in mind that the safety of supplements in pregnant women, nursing mothers, children, and those with medical conditions or who are taking medications has not been established.
Dosage and Preparation
There is not enough scientific evidence to establish an appropriate dose of eleuthero. In studies investigating the herb's effects on colds, 400 mg of a combination treatment (Siberian ginseng plus a specific andrographis extract) standardized to contain 4-5.6 mg andrographolide was taken three times daily.
The correct dose for you may depend on factors including your age, gender, and medical history. Speak to your healthcare provider for personalized advice.
What to Look For
The NIH warns that eleuthero products often contain adulterants—other ingredients that do not contribute to the benefit of the product. Silk vine is a common adulterant of eleuthero, according to the NIH.
To avoid adulterants, read product labels carefully or ask your health-care provider to recommend an eleuthero product to you.
It's also important not to confuse eleuthero with other types of ginseng commonly used in herbal medicine, such as Panax ginseng and American ginseng.
If you're considering the use of Siberian ginseng in the treatment of a chronic condition, make sure to consult your healthcare provider before starting your supplement regimen. Self-treating a condition and avoiding or delaying standard care may have serious consequences.
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You can find eleuthero supplements in capsule, tablet, tincture, solid extract, or powder form online or at your local health food store. You can also purchase eleuthero tea bags or make tea by combining the dried root with hot water.
It’s very important to buy eleuthero products from a reputable sources because quality is known to vary significantly. Testing of commercial products claiming to contain Siberian ginseng found that as many as 25 percent had none of the herb while others were contaminated with ingredients not even marked on the label!
What is a proper eleuthero dosage? It depends upon your individual health status and health concerns. Always read product labels carefully and check with a professional if you are unsure how much eleuthero to take.
According to the University of Michigan’s Health Library, some commonly used dosages of Siberian ginseng root include:
- • Dried powder: two to three grams per day.
- • Concentrated solid extract with standardized amounts of eleutherosides B and E: 300 to 400 milligrams per day.
- • Alcohol-based liquid extracts: eight to 10 milliliters in two to three divided dosages.
The following doses have been studied in scientific research:
- • For the common cold: 400 milligrams of Siberian ginseng by mouth three times daily in a supplement that also contains andrographis extract.
- • For herpes simplex type 2 infections: Siberian ginseng extract (standardized to contain eleutheroside E at 0.3 percent) in doses of 400 milligrams per day by mouth.
According to the Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, for chronic conditions, such as stress or fatigue, Siberian ginseng is sometimes taken for three months, followed by three to four weeks off. It’s best to take Siberian ginseng under your doctor’s supervision.
You may want to avoid taking eleuthero before bed because it is known to cause sleep trouble for some people when taken at night. *
Note 1: UHPLC-DAD/ESI-TOF-MS Phytochemical Characterization and Evaluation of the Impact of Eleutherococcus senticosus Fruit Intractum on Biochemical, Hepatological, and Blood Parameters in Balb/c Mice