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Eleuthero root, also known as Siberian ginseng, has been used in Traditional Chinese Medicine for centuries. Research shows it may be effective for viral infections, but other claims lack sufficient evidence. It should not be confused with American or Panax ginseng. Eleuthero root has side effects and can interact with certain medications.
Eleutherococcus senticosus, or eleuthero root, is a forest plant in the Araliaceae family. It is native to southeastern Russia, northern China, Korea, and Japan, but now grows in British Columbia, Canada, Washington state, Oregon, and northern California. Since at least 190 AD, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has used the rhizome and roots of this plant to treat a variety of diseases. Research to determine what conditions eleuthero root can successfully address shows that it is possibly effective for viral infections; However, many of the other healing claims made about this plant have insufficient evidence to substantiate them.
Eleuthero root is also known as Siberian ginseng, touch-me-not, Ussurian prickly pepper brush, Wu Jia Pi, Ci Wu, Jia, and Devil’s bush. This plant should not be confused with American or Panax ginseng, which is a plant with a different chemical composition. The United States banned the use of the name Siberian ginseng when the Ginseng Labeling Act of 2002 was passed. This act was an attempt to reduce confusion between panax ginseng and eleuthero root.
In TCM, eleuthero root is often used as an adaptogen, or tonic, for the whole body. It is available in capsule, tea, or tincture form. This herb has been used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat atherosclerosis, kidney disease, and viral infections. However, research on the effectiveness of eleuthero root has shown mixed results. The common cold appears to have less severe symptoms and a shorter duration if the plant is taken within 72 hours of the onset of symptoms. It was found to work best when combined with andrographis, another herb.
A study on the effectiveness of this herb on herpes simplex virus 2 indicated that when the patient was treated with a standardized eleuthero root extract containing 0.3% eleutherosides, the virus had a shorter duration and created less severe symptoms. Preliminary research has shown that this herb may be useful in the long-term treatment of HIV. The results indicate that T4 lymphocytes are increased when healthy people take eleuthero root. More human trials are needed to confirm how useful it will be in treating HIV. Insufficient research has been done to determine if eleuthero root treatment might help heart disease, fatigue, the flu, kidney disease, or other conditions.
There are some side effects, such as diarrhea, insomnia, or pounding heartbeat, associated with this herb. It can also act like estrogen and worsen hormone-sensitive conditions, such as uterine fibroids, endometriosis, or breast cancer. Eleuthero can also make mania or schizophrenia more severe. There are also reports that this plant interacts with several different medications, including digoxin, lithium, haloperidol, and cyclobenzaprine. Those who suffer from any of these conditions or who are taking medications may want to consult with a professional health care provider before using eleuthero.
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