Eleuthero

Species Name:  Eleutherococcus senticosus, Acanthopanax senticosus.

Also known as: Siberian ginseng, Ci wu jia, Touch-me-not, Devil’s shrub.

Although Eleuthero is not as popular as Asian ginseng, according to Chinese medical records, its use can be traced back 2000 years.

The Chinese medical term for the herb is Ci wu jia, and it was used to prevent respiratory tract infections, colds, and flu.

What is Eleuthero: The eleutherosides in eleuthero are the constituents of the herb that have been studied the most. Seven primary eleutherosides have been identified, but most of the attention has been focused on eleutherosides B and E.

Complex sugar molecules known as polysaccharides can also be found in eleuthero. The constituents in eleuthero perform a critical function in the ability of eleuthero to support immune function.

The herb is an adaptogen, which is an agent that helps the body adapt to stressful situations. The belief is that it helps support the function of the adrenal gland when the body is challenged by stress.

Home remedies using eleuthero:

Benefits of Eleuthero:

Studies show that eleuthero enhances mental acuity and physical endurance. Researchers have discovered that it improves the use of oxygen within the exercising muscle.

What this means for the athlete is that it increases their ability to maintain aerobic exercise longer and make quicker recovery from workouts.

There are also indications that Eleuthero may support the body with its ability to help the liver with the detoxification of harmful toxins. Animal studies show that it has a protective action against chemicals such as ethanol, sodium barbital, tetanus toxoid, and chemotherapeutic agents.

In test tube studies, researchers found that it also helps protect the body during exposure to radiation. Preliminary studies in Russia suggest the possibility that it may also help alleviate the side effects of chemotherapy and radiation therapy while also helping the bone marrow to recover quicker.

The possibility of the herb being useful as a preventive during the cold and flu season has not been specifically studied, although signs are indicative of its value in that area as well as in the long-term management of diseases of the immune system including HIV infection and chronic fatigue syndrome.

  • Athletic performance
  • Fatigue
  • Immune function
  • Stress
  • Breast cancer
  • Chronic fatigue syndrome
  • Common cold and sore throat
  • Diabetes
  • HIV support
  • Infection
  • Flu

When taking dried, powdered root and rhizomes, two to three grams per day is the recommended dosage. As an alternative, 300-400 mg per day of concentrated solid extract that has been standardized on eleutherosides B and E can be substituted for the dry root.

Another alternative is to take 8-10 ml of alcohol-based extracts in two or three divided dosages. The treatment plan is to take eleuthero continuously for six to eight weeks, stop for one to two weeks and then resume.

Side Effects of Eleuthero:

  • Rapid heartbeat or high blood pressure in patients with heart disease
  • Long-term use (more than two months of continuous use) may cause muscle spasms due to nerve inflammation
  • Anxiety
  • Pain the breast
  • Drowsiness
  • Headache