Eleuthero has been considered in the alternative medicine world for quite a long time now. Its scientific name is Eleutherococcus senticosus. Further, it belongs to a species of small shrubs that are usually found in China, Russia, Korea and Japan.
Recently, it has been in the news for its highly desired health benefits and it acting as a herbal supplement. Another common name for Eleuthero is Siberian ginseng.
This is because its health benefits are very closely related to that of Panax ginseng. This article aims to bring to light the benefits and side effects of this herb which has numerous benefits.
This herb is usually acquired from the leaves or the woody roots of the Eleutherococcus plant. Further, it is consumed in a pill form or a supplement form. Yet, in its traditional form, the leaves and roots are naturally suppressed to extract the volatile oils.
Table of Contents
Health Benefits Of Eleuthero (Siberian Ginseng)
This herb has many benefits as has been cited above. Some of the more important ones are mentioned herein also:
1. Boosts Immunity
This herb significantly boosts immunity when taken as a combination with other immunity-boosting herbs. Further, it can also reduce the duration and severity of colds when taken regularly. You may either take a pill of this herb or you can also regularly drink eleuthero tea.
2. Reduces Fatigue
Eleuthero further helps to boost the energy levels. This is accomplished as it has a profound impact on the nervous system. It also helps to improve the metabolism, increase circulation and reduce fatigue and cloudiness. Those people, who tend to get exhausted after practically no work, can get back on track by the frequent intake of eleuthero tea or pill.
3. Improves Cognition
Eleuthero is that herb which has also been associated with boosting the mental capacity and cognition of a person. It has been proven that it increases the blood flow in the brain, which helps to improve the memory and cognition of the person. Thus, this herb has proved to be extremely beneficial for students as they require better mental levels to compete in the world.
4. Relieves Stress
Eleuthero is also considered to be an adaptogen. An adaptogen is that rare herb that helps your body to adapt to the dynamic nature and makes it stronger to handle the various stimuli and conditions in the environment. It also helps to relieve stress as it teaches the body to handle the bio-chemical situations in the best way possible.
5. Reduces Neurological Disorders
Eleuthero is that herb which also aids in reducing the risk of neurological disorders like Alzheimer’s or cerebral palsy. It is indeed undeniable that these disorders are the most saddening out of the lot.
Thus, the regular consumption of this herb may help to remove the free radicals which tend to cloud the functioning of the brain. This also helps in improving memory retention which can either stop or slow the neurological disease.
6. Anti-Inflammatory Effects
If you are suffering from any form of inflammatory diseases, like osteoarthritis or gout, then you must consume the Eleuthero herb. It aids in improving the functionality of the joints and also helps to reduce pain all over the body. Yet, research is still going on, on this topic, however, the result is very promising.
7. Protects Heart Health
Eleuthero can also help in improving the overall health and the cardiovascular functioning. This includes lowering the blood pressure, helping in better circulation and reducing cholesterol from the body.
It also helps in dilating the blood vessels so that more blood can flow throughout the body without any pressure or strain. By doing this, it indirectly lowers the chance of a person to suffer from the disease like atherosclerosis, heart attacks and strokes.
8. Controls Diabetes
There have also been results to show that regular intake of eleuthero herb helps to regulate the sugar levels in the body. Thus, this helps to control the condition of diabetes which many people have become prone to these days. It further helps to manage the glucose and insulin levels in the body thereby preventing diabetic shock.
9. Improves Respiratory Health
If you are someone who regularly suffers from colds, bronchitis or other respiratory afflictions, then eleuthero is a wise solution. It has some major anti-inflammatory properties that help in eliminating the symptoms of those conditions. It also aids in removing the underlying illnesses that cause them. Further, it also acts as an expectorant, by clearing out phlegm and mucus from the body.
10. Reduces Herpes Outbreaks
One surprising benefit of eleuthero is that it reduces the number of herpes outbreaks. It reduces the severity of the outbreak, the duration and the number of herpes outbreaks.
11. Liver Support
It also helps the liver to detox harmful waste from radiation exposure. Studies have shown that it has been used to treat bone marrow suppression as it reduces the effects of chemo and radiation therapy.
12. Increases The Sexual Drive
It has been found that it helps men to produce testosterone but not to a very high extent. Yet, it may be an excellent herb in increasing the sex drive and fighting impotence.
13. Reduces The Risk Of Common Cold
Eleuthero has been traditionally used to help to build up the energy of a person, especially while a recovery phase.
14. Antiviral Capacity
Eleuthero helps to stimulate the activation of the immune system components that tend to attack bacteria. This makes this herb a useful antiviral supplement for the body, especially when you are going through some severe infection.
15. Other Benefits
Researchers have claimed that eleuthero has helped in the improvement of the following health conditions also:
a) Alzheimer’s disease
b) Arthritis
c) Atherosclerosis
d) Bronchitis
e) Fibromyalgia
f) High blood pressure
g) Rheumatoid arthritis
Side Effects Of Eleuthero (Siberian Ginseng)
As we know there is always another side of the coin. Eleuthero herb also has some severe side effects which should be kept in mind when consuming the same. Some of them are mentioned herewith:
- It has been associated with:
a) agitation,
b) confusion
c) drowsiness
d) a headache
e) high blood pressure (hypertension)
f) nosebleed
g) vomiting
h) palpitations,
i) insomnia in people
j) cardiovascular disorders. - If you have high blood pressure, then before consuming this herb you should always consult your general physician as he would surely be the better judge.
- This herb is not advised for women who are breastfeeding or are pregnant as it may affect the placenta in the womb. It is also mandated that this herb should not be used by children under any circumstances.
- People with diabetes should observe blood glucose concentrations while using this herb. This is because it has some severe hypoglycemic effects on people.
- Eleuthero can also act like estrogen inside the body. Thus, women with estrogen-sensitive cancer should consult the doctor before use.
- Always buy eleuthero supplements from highly regarded manufacturers as few products vary to a great extent in the ingredient content. There have been instances when the product has been found to be contaminated also.
- Eleuthero also has a tendency to interact or react with other medications such as:
- Anticoagulants
- Corticosteroids
- Digoxin
- Diabetes medications
- Lithium
- Drugs that suppress the immune system
- Sedatives
Eleuthero Tea
Eleuthero tea is considered to be one of the most important uses of the Eleuthero herb. The traditional uses of this tea range from improving energy levels to decreasing the stress levels of a person. The way to prepare this tea is not very difficult and the methodology has been mentioned below:
- Start with fresh or organic Siberian ginseng root. Use a knife to shave the root into very thin slices. Place a tablespoon of these slices into the teapot or metal tea steeping ball.
- In another saucepan start heating purified water. Once the water starts to boil, turn off the heat. Pour the water into a cup and place the tea ball in it. Let it simmer for about 5 minutes.
- Drink this tea hot. You may also add some flavors like lemon, honey or cream. Some people also use black pepper extract in this drink for better flavor.
How To Use Eleuthero?
After reading the above article, it becomes clear as to how all you may use this herb. You can use eleuthero in the form of a tea as mentioned above or you may also use its natural extract by mixing it in some solution.
It should be noted that if you are using its natural extract then you should mix it with some dissoluble mixture as it may become very bitter if ingested naturally.
Further, it is also available as pills and as supplements in the chemist. So that can also be used. Yet, it is mandated that this does provide complete benefits to the person.
Eleuthero Dosage
The recommended dosage for this herb is around 2-3 grams of dried root per day. Or you may also consume 1 gram of natural extract per day.
However, while taking this supplement be assured that there are no filler substances in the capsules. This is because this herb has been found to be adulterated quite often.
What Does Eleuthero Do For You?
As it has already been discussed in the above-mentioned sections regarding the innumerable health benefits of this herb, this herb is considered to be a hidden gem. This is because not many people know about the advantages of this magical herb.
This herb helps to improve your cognition, boosts your energy and your body’s capacity to overcome viral infections. It makes your immunity so strong that there is very little chance you will be coughing or sneezing in winters.
Thus, owing to the benefits it provides, it has become a must for people to consume this at least once a day for living a better and a quality life.
Is Eleuthero Safe During Pregnancy And Breastfeeding?
As per recent researches, eleuthero tea or herb has been considered to be not very safe for womb who are either pregnant or breastfeeding. This is because the bacteria present inside the herb may affect the placenta in the womb. This may prove to be dangerous for the fetus.
Thus, it is better that pregnant women tend to avoid this herb under all circumstances.
Final Talk
It is hoped that this article has helped you understand the nuances of the benefits of this herb.
Further, it is hoped that you apply the same in your daily life for best results. It is further mandated that this article only aims to bring to your attention the benefits and importance of this hidden gem like herb.
Yet, it is always a word of caution, that you should consult your doctor before ingesting this herb, in case of any apprehensions.
