The Siberian Ginseng comes from a thorny shrub called Eleutherococcus senticosus. Other common names for it are touch-me-not and devil's shrub.

According to Chinese historical records, Siberian Ginseng has been valued for its medicinal functions for the past 2000 years. It currently enjoys wide use in Russia as a booster to increase stress and fatigue resistance.

Various studies have looked at the effects of talking Siberian Ginseng and they all underline the importance of talking the remedy over a long term. This means that you can't take a few capsules and realistically expect to feel instantly, dramatically better. Remember that regular consumption seems to yield good results.

Immune Function

Siberian Ginseng has anti-stress properties. This enhances the body's ability to cope with physical and mental stress (Kimura and Sumiyoshi, 2004).

Stress leads to an increased level of cortisol (a hormone). As cortisol levels rise due to external stresses the body begins to break down muscle tissue and at the same time immune functions decrease. Supplementation with Siberian Ginseng seems to help the body adapt to stress and reduces muscle losses and boosts immune function.

A number of medical studies have shown that Siberian Ginseng can lower the severity of fatigue in chronic stress patients (Hartz 2004).

On a more technical level some claims for Siberian Ginseng suggest that it increases the synthesis of interferon (an immune system booster for which many new high tech drugs have recently appeared). It is also generally accepted that Siberian Ginseng intake stimulates T cells (lymphocytes) which fight all kinds of infections.

Heart Therapy

Siberian Ginseng is widely believed to lower cholesterol and blood pressure.

A study of patients who had existing coronary heart disease (hardening of the heart arteries) showed a real improvement in heart function for those patients taking Siberian Ginseng.

Besides the enhancements to heart function, there seems to be an increased ability to operate under conditions of lowered oxygen levels. These may be the reasons why some athletes use Siberian Ginseng to enhance their athletic performance

Sexual Performance

Siberian Ginseng may be useful in the non-medical treatment of impotence (erectile dysfunction). But definitive evidence has yet to emerge.

References: Kimura Y , Sumiyoshi M . Effects of various Eleutherococcus senticosus cortex on swimming time, natural killer activity and corticosterone level in forced swimming stressed mice . J Ethnopharmacol

About the Author

Dr Howard Rybko (MD) has an interest in nutrition, with a special focus on sports nutrition. He is part of the team at Holistix a specialist producer of vitamins and herbal products for pharmacies, doctors, and health care practitioners and health shops.