Eleutherococcus senticosus
Part Used: Dried root (2:1 double-strength extract)
Eleuthero (Eleutherococcus senticosus), also known as Siberian ginseng, is the root, root bark, or stem of a shrub in the ginseng family. It grows in thickets in northeast China, eastern Russia, Korea, and Japan's northern island, Hokkaido. Most of the supply comes from Siberia and China, but it is also grown in eastern Europe. Eleuthero has been used in China as a tonic for invigorating vital energy (qi) for more than 2,000 years. In Chinese medicine, it is used to normalize body functions, restore vigor, improve health, promote good appetite, and help to assure a long life. Generally, it serves as a preventive medicine and general tonic. Eleuthero is known as an adaptogenic herb, which helps the body to adapt to various kinds of stress such as heat, cold, exertion, or sleep deprivation. Eleutherosides are the active components in Eleuthero. Together with complex polysaccharides, Eleuthero is extremely helpful in promoting energy as it spares glycogen while utilizing fatty acids for energy in the body. It also improves the use of oxygen in a working muscle to help maintain activity for longer periods of time, while shortening recovery.
Eleuthero is used widely in eastern Asia as a tonic to enhance overall well-being. Like members of the Panax (true ginseng) family of plants, Eleuthero is considered to be an “adaptogen”, a substance that may help individuals cope with physical and emotional stress. Overall body stabilizers, adaptogens are believed to have a number of general effects that help protect cells from damage due to environmental conditions. Preliminary research has shown that Eleuthero binds to estrogen, progestin, and mineralocorticoid receptors, and stimulates T-lymphocyte and natural killer cell production to enhance immune activity. It also appears to boost immune system function slightly by increasing the activity of immune system cells. In laboratory studies, various chemicals found in Eleuthero have also shown some antiviral and anticancer properties, but these effects have not been well studied in humans.
References:
All Natural.Com. http://www.allnatural.net/herbpages/eleuthero.shtml
Drug Digest. http://www.drugdigest.org/DD/DVH/HerbsWho/0,3923,552084%7CEleuthero,00.html
