GENERAL INFORMATION: Eleuthero, known in the United States as Siberian ginseng, has been used for centuries in China and Russia. It has been traditionally used for fighting fatigue, providing supplemental immune support, providing energy, supporting and stimulating adrenal function, and helping with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. Siberian ginseng products are made from the root. The root contains a mixture of components, common to many plants but occurring together in Siberian ginseng, called eleutherosides. Another group of chemicals in the root called polysaccharides have been found to boost the immune system.
AN "ADAPTOGENIC" HERB: Siberian ginseng is considered to be an "adaptogen" which means it helps in stressful circumstances and also helps the body return to normal balance. As an example, an adaptogen might lower blood pressure in someone who has high blood pressure, but raise it in another who has low blood pressure. The adaptogenic affects of Siberian ginseng are well supported by research (see below). The Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine has a specific set of criteria that must be satisfied for a substance to be properly be termed an adaptogen:
1. Must be innocuous (harmless) and cause minimal disorders in the physiological
functions of an organism.
2. Must have a nonspecific action (should increase resistance to adverse influences by a wide range of physical, chemical, and biochemical factors).
3. Usually has a normalizing action irrespective of the direction of the pathologica state.
Research has borne out Siberian ginseng to be a qualifying adaptogenic substance per the criteria just listed.
ADAPTOGENIC RESEARCH: A four-week study in healthy subjects by the Department of Pharmacology at the University of Milan in Italy found that those who received Siberian ginseng extract had marked improvements in a number of measures that reflect the functioning of the immune system (1). An Alternative Medicine Review found adaptogenic herbs including Siberian ginseng to allow individuals to sustain an adaptive response and minimize some the systemic effects of stress (2). The Institute of Medical Pathophysiology at the University of Chieti in Italy found muscular oxygen utilization to increase during exercise tests after treating subjects with standardized ginseng extracts (3). The Department of Internal Medicine at the University of Milan in Italy found a preparation containing ginseng extract to improve the detoxifying activity of the liver in elderly patients with toxin-induced chronic liver disease (4). A German team of scientists also found strong antiviral activity in Eleutherococcus extract (5).
MEMORY/MOOD ENHANCER: The Cognitive Drug Research Group in England reported substantial enhancement to both working and long-term memory after a 14-week study of subjects treated with standardized extracts of ginkgo and ginseng (6). Another group in England found significant improvement in "Quality of Memory" and the associated "Secondary Memory" factor at all time points following 400 mg of ginseng (7). The Department of Internal Medicine at the University of Oulu in Finland found ginseng to elevate mood and improve overall psychophysical performance (8).
REFERENCES:
1) Scaglione F, Cattaneo G, Alessandria M, Cogo R. Efficacy and safety of the standardized Ginseng extract G115 for potentiating vaccination against the influenza syndrome and protection against the common cold. Drugs Exp Clin Res. 1996; 22(2): 65-72.
(2) Kelly GS. Nutritional and botanical interventions to assist with the adaptation to stress. Altern Med Rev. 1999 Aug; 4(4): 249-65.
(3) Pieralisi G, Ripari P, Vecchiet L. Effects of a standardized ginseng extract combined with dimethylaminoethanol bitartrate, vitamins, minerals, and trace elements on physical performance during exercise. Clin Ther. 1991 May-Jun; 13(3): 373-82.
(4) Zuin M, Battezzati PM, Camisasca M, Riebenfeld D, Podda M. J Int Med Res. 1987 Sep-Oct; 15(5): 276-81.
(5) Glatthaar-Saalmuller B, Sacher F, Esperester A. Antiviral activity of an extract derived from roots of Eleutherococcus senticosus. Antiviral Res. 2001 Jun; 50(3): 223-8.
(6) Wesnes KA, Ward T, McGinty A, Petrini O. The memory enhancing effects of a Ginkgo biloba/Panax ginseng combination in healthy middle-aged volunteers. Psychopharmacalogy (Berl). 2000 Nov; 152(4): 353-61.
(7) Kennedya DO, Scholeya AB, Wesnes KA. Dose dependant changes in cognitive performances and mood following acute administration of Ginseng to healthy young volunteers. Nutr Neurosci. 2001; 4(4): 295-310.
(8) Sotaniemi EA, Haapakoski E, Rautio A. Ginseng therapy in non-insulin-dependent diabetic patients. Diabetes Care. 1995 Oct; 18(10): 1373-5.
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