All Articles | Dr. Pat Nardini, Naturopathic Doctor

If you’re looking to improve your energy, manage stress, or improve your overall health, there is no shortage of natural supplements that you could take. But how to know if taking a supplement will help or if you are just wasting your time and money? A little research into botanical medicine solutions can go a long way in determining what, if any, supplements would be most helpful for your current situation. In a previous article, I discussed the potential health benefits of the botanical medicine, Ashwagandha. Today, let’s take a closer look at another powerful herb – Siberian Ginseng. It’s powerful not because it’s going to blast you with energy. The benefits of Siberian Ginseng are subtle but can often be sustained for relatively long periods of time. So, what are its health benefits and what issues could it help with? Keep reading to learn more. What is Siberian Ginseng? The botanical name of Siberian Ginseng is Eleutherococcus senticosus (it is also known as Acanthopanax senticosus). Sometimes called just “Eleuthero”, this herb is native to eastern Asia, ranging from Siberia in the north, unsurprisingly, to Vietnam in the south. Despite its common name, Siberian Ginseng is not actually a true ginseng. It does, however, have similar health benefits to ginseng (Panax ginseng). It’s used medicinally in Traditional Chinese Medicine and has been adopted by western botanical traditions. It’s known as an “adaptogen”, meaning that it helps the body to manage the effects of stress. Benefits of Siberian Ginseng In addition to being an adaptogen, Siberian Ginseng is considered to have a number of other health benefits, including brain and immune system support. It is likely that the adaptogen properties of the herb are part of the reason why it can aid so many aspects of health. Let’s have a closer look at some of these benefits. 1. Stress Management As an adaptogen, Eleuthero is excellent at giving the body the edge when it comes to stress, both mental and physical. This can be extremely helpful for the thyroid and adrenal glands, as they are particularly important for modulating the body's stress response. The effects of stress on the body begin with a short-term alarm phase, then move into a longer-term resistance phase. If the stress continues, an exhaustion phase is the final stage. Siberian ginseng can potentially aid the body during the resistance phase and prevent the exhaustion phase. Research appears to support this. A study in the elderly showed an improvement in quality-of-life for those supplementing with eleuthero extract1. The benefits to the stress response and the other properties of Siberian Ginseng appear to be due mainly to its lignans and iridoid glycoside phytochemicals2. The principle of these are known as eleutherosides, Eleutheroside B and Eleutheroside E, especially. 2. Energy and Sleep Fatigue is something that most of us experience from time to time. Some of us have to deal with chronic fatigue that is always there. Evidence suggests that Siberian Ginseng can help. A study performed on people diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome showed some symptom improvement over a 1-month period for those with mild to moderate fatigue3. A major factor in determining one’s energy is the quality of their sleep. Siberian Ginseng may have some benefit for those with sleep issues. A study on mice in 2011 demonstrated more normalized sleep patterns in mice given eleuthero extract4. Better sleep better energy. Eleuthero may very well be of value here. 3. Immune System One way to look at the immune system is, simply, that it’s a set of repair and detoxification processes of the body. However, the common view of it is as a system of cells and molecules that protect us from external invaders, like bacteria and other microbes. From the latter standpoint, Siberian Ginseng may be of considerable help. A study with macrophages, cells that consume cellular debris and bacteria and are a hallmark of inflammation, showed a reduced inflammatory response when treated with Eleutherococcus senticosus extract5. There is also evidence that Eleuthero may be helpful for the treatment of allergy symptoms. A study on rats showed that a Siberian Ginseng preparation reduced the release of histamine from mast cells, the step in an allergic reaction that precipitates symptoms6. Although more research is needed, the early returns are promising when it comes to Eleuthero’s anti-inflammatory and anti-allergy effects. 4. Physical Performance Exercise, despite its benefits, can put stress on the body, especially if it is of the high-performance type. There is some evidence that Siberian Ginseng can reduce the stress on the body during physical activity and even enhance performance. Research on rats has shown improvement in the time to exhaustion during swimming7. A human study in recreationally trained males demonstrated that 8-week supplementation with Eleuthero extract improved endurance capacity, elevated cardiovascular and respiratory function, and spared carbohydrate stores during cycling8. The enhanced performance did not increase the perceived exertion level. Siberian Ginseng may also reduce the post-exercise reduction in immune system-associated cells, although the research results on this are unclear. 5. Memory and Brain Function As with physical performance, Eleuthero may hold some benefit for mental acuity. A study on nerve cells showed increased growth when administered Siberian Ginseng extract9. However, how that translates in a living brain is still unknown. Learning and memory improved in aging rats given Eleutherosides B and E over four weeks10. This research shows promise for those suffering from age-related cognitive decline and dementia. Eleuthero may also protect nerve cells from oxidative damage from acute or chronic chemical exposure. A study on nerve cells in 2013 showed that an extract of Siberian Ginseng protected the cells from damage by glutamate, a neurotoxin11. This effect is believed to be due to the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties of the plant. What to Consider with Siberian Ginseng In addition to the ones listed above, there are many other potential benefits to Siberian Ginseng. Research suggests that it can aid with cardiovascular health, help to balance blood sugar, and may even have anti-cancer effects. These might be topics for another article. Siberian Ginseng, used as a natural medicine, comes in a variety of formats – capsules, powder, solid extract, and alcohol tincture being the most common. Although capsules are often the most convenient, absorption of the active compounds tends to be better with the tincture or solid extract. All of these forms can be found in health food stores. Use an organic source of the herb whenever possible. How much, how often, and for how long to take Siberian Ginseng will depend on the issue being treated and the person taking it. Research tends to indicate that 1000 mg of dried herb 2-3x/day in capsule form, 400 mg solid extract 2-3x/day, or about 5 mL of tincture 2x/day are sufficient for most purposes. Work with a qualified health professional to determine a dose that is most appropriate for your individual needs. Although it is generally found to be safe with few side effects, there are some cautions to consider with Siberian Ginseng. Anyone with a history of high blood pressure or other cardiovascular condition, especially if taking pharmaceutical medication, should speak with their prescribing doctor before using Siberian Ginseng. If you are taking any medication, check with your doctor before starting Siberian Ginseng, as it may interact with several of them. Although Eleuthero is associated with improved sleep, taking it close to bedtime may interfere with sleep for some people. Siberian Ginseng should also be used only under supervision during pregnancy and lactation, due to the relative lack of research in this area. If you take these precautions into account, Siberian Ginseng may just be the thing to give your health a boost! https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15207399/ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11749801/ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/14971626/ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21376030/ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18486372/ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11322643/ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/2208394/ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21793317/ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/7735203/ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4145894/ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23395777/ Book An Appointment With Nardini Naturopathic Are you concerned about your energy or your immune system and wonder if botanical medicine can help? Or perhaps you’d like a review of your overall diet to see where you could be doing better. Maybe you have food allergies or intolerances and worry you aren’t getting enough nutrients because of your restricted diet. I’m Dr. Pat Nardini, a naturopathic doctor who offers nutritional counseling services to help ensure all of those gaps in your diet are filled, and that you’re getting enough of all the important nutrients which your body needs to function at its best. Contact me today for more information, or book a free 15-minute consultation where I will help you understand how naturopathic medicine can help you.

Category: All Articles

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