Eleutherococcus senticosus (Siberian Ginseng) 50X Extract

Used as a tea, decoction, extract, capsule or food additive.

The 1997 Commission E on Phytotherapy and Herbal Substances of the German Federal Institute for Drugs recommends Eleuthero root 'As tonic for invigoration and fortification in times of fatigue and debility or declining capacity for work and concentration, also during convalescence. Contraindications: High blood pressure.'

'Daily dosage: 2 - 3 g of root; equivalent preparations. Mode of Administration: Powdered or cut root for teas, as well as aqueous-alcoholic extracts for internal use. Duration of Administration: Generally up to 3 months. A repeated course is feasible.'

'Actions: In various stress models, e.g., immobilization test and coldness test, the endurance of rodents was enhanced. With healthy volunteers, the lymphocyte count, especially that of T-lymphocytes, increased following intake of fluidextracts.'

'Siberian ginseng' is actually not ginseng per se, but has very similar properties and is therefore used in the same way as ginseng.

Eleuthero is a proven stress fighter. Taking the herb has been shown to boost the body's capacity to handle stresses ranging from heat exposure to extreme exertion. Eleuthero also has been shown to boost disease resistance and overall energy level.

In a remarkable series of Russian studies in the 1960s,100 healthy adults, ages 19 to 72, given Eleuthero, increased their ability to perform physical labor, withstand motion sickness, and work with speed and precision despite being surrounded by noise. They could also proofread documents more accurately than those who had not been given Eleuthero, and more readily adapted heat, high altitudes, and low-oxygen environments.

Eleuthero's eleutherosides and complex polysaccharides (complex sugar molecules) function as an adaptogen. Eleuthero optimizes the adrenal secretion of stress-fighting hormones. Eleuthero has been shown to enhance mental acuity and physical endurance without the letdown that comes with caffeinated products. There is little doubt that Eleuthero can heighten mental alertness and improve concentration. It may be helpful in the early stages of Alzheimer's.

Eleuthero has been shown to improve the muscular use of oxygen, enabling longer aerobic exercise and quicker recovery. It can relieve chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia.

Chinese herbal tradition has Eleuthero as a defense against colds and flu. A recent Russian study of 13,000 auto workers given Eleuthero one winter showed that participants developed 40% fewer respiratory tract infections than they had in previous winters.

Eleuthero also helps the liver detoxify harmful toxins. Animal studies have shown hepatoprotective action against chemotherapeutic agents, ethanol, sodium barbital, and tetanus toxoid. Russia studies have confirmed that the use of eleuthero for people undergoing chemotherapy and radiation therapy for cancer alleviates side effects and helps bone marrow recover more quickly.

Eleuthero may increase male and female fertility and reduce male impotence. Some studies show increased sperm count, and some animal studies indicate that the herb boosts testosterone levels.

Eleuthero's hormone modulation may help with mentrual problems and menopausal symptoms.

http://www.herbmed.org/Herbs/Herb98.htm:

Clinical Trials

Exercise induced increase of blood coagulation is reversed by A 20-day course of Eleuthrococcus tincture or by new preparations Elton and Leveton containing, respectively, eleutherosids and ecdisten [Article in Russian] Azizov 1997

Pre-surgical preparation with vitamins, Eleutherococcus, sodium oxybutyrate, retabolil, splenin, curantyl, heparin, panangin, sulfalen and trichopol reduced post-operative complications in a study with 414 cancer patients Starosel'skii 1991

T lymphocytes were increased (mainly helper/inducer type, but also cytotoxic and natural killer cells) by 10 ml of ethanolic Eleutherococcus preparation, 3 times daily for 4 weeks in a study with 36 healthy people. No side effects after 6 months Bohn 1987

Recovery from children's dysentery was quicker when Eleuterococcus was added to monomycin in a study of 100 cases [Article in Russian] Vereshchagin 1978

'Complementary Naturopathic Medicine for Periodontitis'--a clinical trial involving Siberian Ginseng at ClinicalTrials.gov