Eluethero (Siberian Ginseng) Herbarium
Latin Name: Eleuthercoccus senticosus
Other common names: Acanthopanax senticosus
Family: Araliaceae
Descriptive Characteristics: While difficult to germinate from seed, this is a hardy deciduous shrub. It can grow 10 feet in height which makes me question the classification as a shrub. The leaves have 3-7 toothy leaflets.
Part of the plant used: Root
Texture: like straw
Color: light yellow, almost white
Aroma: smells good
Flavor: It has a mild, pleasant flavor
Constituents: Eleutherosides A-E, glycosides of aglycones (sterols, lignans, phenolics), polysaccharides. (Hoffman, 2003, p. 545) Chevallier (2016) adds triterpenoid saponins (p. 94). I looked up eleutherosides in Ganora (2009) and they are the triterpenoid saponins (p. 69). On page 142, she explains I, J, K, L, and M are different from this group. These eleutherosides are what gives Siberian Ginseng the adaptogenic property as well as the improvement of stamina and resistance to stress due to the tonic action on the adrenal glands. They are also neuroprotective and neuroregenerative. The Thorne research group (2006) further explains A-M are present in the plant but A-M are in the root, these others listed are from the leaf. Other constituents they say are in the root are ciwujianosides (minor saponins), eleutherans (polysaccharides), beta sitosterol, isofraxidin (a coumarin derivative), syringin, chlorogenic acid, sesamin (lignans), and friedelin (triterpene).
Therapeutic Actions: Adaptogen (Hoffman, 2003, p. 545) Chevallier (2016) adds tonic and immune protection (p. 94). Mills and Bones (2010) say adaptogen, immune modulating, and tonic (p. 578).
Indications: Improves body’s resistance to environmental stressors and enhances mental and physical performance. (Hoffman, 2003, p. 545). Chevallier (2016) states this herb is greatly researched though I have not gotten to that part yet. He states it stimulates stamina and reduces stress and is a general tonic for the body. He states astronauts have been given this herb to help with the effects of weightlessness.
Formulary:
Chevallier (2016, p. 308)
Stress: Take 1-2g in capsules.
Nature’s Prescriptions (2008)
Menopause-related fatigue and weakness (p. 168): mix equal parts ginger, oat straw, gingko biloba, and Siberian ginseng. Drink as a tea, cook with it or add powdered to capsules.
Griffin (1997)
Mild Energy Tonic for Fatigue (p. 145): 1T Siberian ginseng, 1T ho shou wu (fo ti), 1 codonopsis dang shen root, 2 slices astralagus, 1 T suma root. Simmer in 2 c water, covered for 1 ½ hours or tincture in brandy for 1 month. Drink ½ c of the decoction, 1t of tincture in filtered water. Use half doses for children and elderly. Children over 10 may drink this for 1-2 weeks, 1 t to 1 T daily. Elderly should have ¼ cup 2/day
Dosage:
Hoffman (2003, p. 545) use for 6 weeks then take a 2-week break
Tincture: 50-100 drop 3/day
20:1 Solid extract: 100-200 mg
BHC:
Dried root/rhizome: 2-3 g
Commission E:
Dried root: 2-3 g daily
Chevalier (2016, p. 94)
Decoction: 2T 2/day
Tincture: ½ t in water 3/day
Capsules: 1g/day
Safety: May interfere with cardiac drugs. May increase efficacy of other medications. (Hoffman, 2003, p. 545) Mills and Bones (2010) says potential adverse reactions are insomnia, palpitations, headaches, tachycardia, pericardial pain, and hypertension in cases of people with heart conditions (p. 578). Some studies say don’t use if the client has hypertension but it has also been used to treat hypertension. Healthy people should take this for 6 weeks then take a 2-week break (p. 578).
Lab, Notes And Media:
The herb I chose from this module is Eleuthero. Choosing a way to use it is being difficult because I have 3 things in my head. I did some research on PubMed and have all kinds of things and even found a really nice monograph from 2006. I’m thinking I should choose between flu remedy and something to help the brain work better (to which I would add rosemary). Tough choice! I can’t have 2 people try my recipe. I’m not sure my children would want it and I surly can’t get proper feedback from them on it. I chose licorice because it’s great for coughs. Elder is wonderful for flu. This is just ONE of ways Siberian Ginseng is of use. I wanted to add some rosemary too but I haven’t finished dehydrating it yet and won’t be done in time to get this lab done with my other assignments. Honey has antibiotic effects, which my son is too young to have even if I wanted him to try it. I did try to get my daughter to try it. She smelled it and refused to taste. I would take this even though I hate licorice. I never understand what this thing is asking for in “required safety protocol”. I cleaned my area, used clean appliances and utensils and such. I wear glasses so I don’t need to use goggles though I don’t know why anyone would need to use those but I always get marked off on that item. When I looked up licorice in Chevallier, I was surprised to find 2 recipes for coughs so that was pretty cool. I probably shared more than needed but I didn’t know if you wanted the data on all the herbs or not. Since I have a virtual herbarium entry for all 3 herbs, I just copy-pasted below. I don’t think I can summarize what I learned. This entry is already 4 pages in my word doc… I have downloaded so many articles on eleuthero it’s not funny. It is such an amazing and versatile herb that I think everyone should give it a really good look.
Cough and Cold remedy
1 cup eleuthero decoction (made with ½ oz of herb to 1 c water)
3 ml elder tincture
3 ml licorice tincture
2 heaping tablespoons of raw honey
I stopped my decoction at 20 minutes but it wasn’t down to 1 cup yet so I put it back in. At 30 minutes, I checked again and it was at 1 1/8th cup so I put it back in. after 40 minutes, it was just a tad over 1 cup so I’m coloring it done. The timer went off while I was changing a diaper. This is why I like tinctures. You can’t cook them too long. I have to pause here and convince the children to take a nap because I’m tired of the griping. Okay, one is asleep, the other is being needy still but let’s see if I can get through this. I used my strainer thing in my pot for the herbs so I didn’t need to strain anything. I did taste it before I added anything after it had cooled. I added the tinctures to the decoction in the pot when I added the honey to warm it up so the honey would dissolve correctly and the alcohol in the tinctures would cook off. The directions said to simmer for 20 minutes. I simmered it until the honey was incorporated. While I do have vegetable glycerin, it’s very sweet already. The first picture below is Eleuthero by itself while the decoction was brewing. The second picture is the final result before I bottled it.
Other common names: Acanthopanax senticosus
Family: Araliaceae
Descriptive Characteristics: While difficult to germinate from seed, this is a hardy deciduous shrub. It can grow 10 feet in height which makes me question the classification as a shrub. The leaves have 3-7 toothy leaflets.
Part of the plant used: Root
Texture: like straw
Color: light yellow, almost white
Aroma: smells good
Flavor: It has a mild, pleasant flavor
Constituents: Eleutherosides A-E, glycosides of aglycones (sterols, lignans, phenolics), polysaccharides. (Hoffman, 2003, p. 545) Chevallier (2016) adds triterpenoid saponins (p. 94). I looked up eleutherosides in Ganora (2009) and they are the triterpenoid saponins (p. 69). On page 142, she explains I, J, K, L, and M are different from this group. These eleutherosides are what gives Siberian Ginseng the adaptogenic property as well as the improvement of stamina and resistance to stress due to the tonic action on the adrenal glands. They are also neuroprotective and neuroregenerative. The Thorne research group (2006) further explains A-M are present in the plant but A-M are in the root, these others listed are from the leaf. Other constituents they say are in the root are ciwujianosides (minor saponins), eleutherans (polysaccharides), beta sitosterol, isofraxidin (a coumarin derivative), syringin, chlorogenic acid, sesamin (lignans), and friedelin (triterpene).
Therapeutic Actions: Adaptogen (Hoffman, 2003, p. 545) Chevallier (2016) adds tonic and immune protection (p. 94). Mills and Bones (2010) say adaptogen, immune modulating, and tonic (p. 578).
Indications: Improves body’s resistance to environmental stressors and enhances mental and physical performance. (Hoffman, 2003, p. 545). Chevallier (2016) states this herb is greatly researched though I have not gotten to that part yet. He states it stimulates stamina and reduces stress and is a general tonic for the body. He states astronauts have been given this herb to help with the effects of weightlessness.
Formulary:
Chevallier (2016, p. 308)
Stress: Take 1-2g in capsules.
Nature’s Prescriptions (2008)
Menopause-related fatigue and weakness (p. 168): mix equal parts ginger, oat straw, gingko biloba, and Siberian ginseng. Drink as a tea, cook with it or add powdered to capsules.
Griffin (1997)
Mild Energy Tonic for Fatigue (p. 145): 1T Siberian ginseng, 1T ho shou wu (fo ti), 1 codonopsis dang shen root, 2 slices astralagus, 1 T suma root. Simmer in 2 c water, covered for 1 ½ hours or tincture in brandy for 1 month. Drink ½ c of the decoction, 1t of tincture in filtered water. Use half doses for children and elderly. Children over 10 may drink this for 1-2 weeks, 1 t to 1 T daily. Elderly should have ¼ cup 2/day
Dosage:
Hoffman (2003, p. 545) use for 6 weeks then take a 2-week break
Tincture: 50-100 drop 3/day
20:1 Solid extract: 100-200 mg
BHC:
Dried root/rhizome: 2-3 g
Commission E:
Dried root: 2-3 g daily
Chevalier (2016, p. 94)
Decoction: 2T 2/day
Tincture: ½ t in water 3/day
Capsules: 1g/day
Safety: May interfere with cardiac drugs. May increase efficacy of other medications. (Hoffman, 2003, p. 545) Mills and Bones (2010) says potential adverse reactions are insomnia, palpitations, headaches, tachycardia, pericardial pain, and hypertension in cases of people with heart conditions (p. 578). Some studies say don’t use if the client has hypertension but it has also been used to treat hypertension. Healthy people should take this for 6 weeks then take a 2-week break (p. 578).
Lab, Notes And Media:
The herb I chose from this module is Eleuthero. Choosing a way to use it is being difficult because I have 3 things in my head. I did some research on PubMed and have all kinds of things and even found a really nice monograph from 2006. I’m thinking I should choose between flu remedy and something to help the brain work better (to which I would add rosemary). Tough choice! I can’t have 2 people try my recipe. I’m not sure my children would want it and I surly can’t get proper feedback from them on it. I chose licorice because it’s great for coughs. Elder is wonderful for flu. This is just ONE of ways Siberian Ginseng is of use. I wanted to add some rosemary too but I haven’t finished dehydrating it yet and won’t be done in time to get this lab done with my other assignments. Honey has antibiotic effects, which my son is too young to have even if I wanted him to try it. I did try to get my daughter to try it. She smelled it and refused to taste. I would take this even though I hate licorice. I never understand what this thing is asking for in “required safety protocol”. I cleaned my area, used clean appliances and utensils and such. I wear glasses so I don’t need to use goggles though I don’t know why anyone would need to use those but I always get marked off on that item. When I looked up licorice in Chevallier, I was surprised to find 2 recipes for coughs so that was pretty cool. I probably shared more than needed but I didn’t know if you wanted the data on all the herbs or not. Since I have a virtual herbarium entry for all 3 herbs, I just copy-pasted below. I don’t think I can summarize what I learned. This entry is already 4 pages in my word doc… I have downloaded so many articles on eleuthero it’s not funny. It is such an amazing and versatile herb that I think everyone should give it a really good look.
Cough and Cold remedy
1 cup eleuthero decoction (made with ½ oz of herb to 1 c water)
3 ml elder tincture
3 ml licorice tincture
2 heaping tablespoons of raw honey
I stopped my decoction at 20 minutes but it wasn’t down to 1 cup yet so I put it back in. At 30 minutes, I checked again and it was at 1 1/8th cup so I put it back in. after 40 minutes, it was just a tad over 1 cup so I’m coloring it done. The timer went off while I was changing a diaper. This is why I like tinctures. You can’t cook them too long. I have to pause here and convince the children to take a nap because I’m tired of the griping. Okay, one is asleep, the other is being needy still but let’s see if I can get through this. I used my strainer thing in my pot for the herbs so I didn’t need to strain anything. I did taste it before I added anything after it had cooled. I added the tinctures to the decoction in the pot when I added the honey to warm it up so the honey would dissolve correctly and the alcohol in the tinctures would cook off. The directions said to simmer for 20 minutes. I simmered it until the honey was incorporated. While I do have vegetable glycerin, it’s very sweet already. The first picture below is Eleuthero by itself while the decoction was brewing. The second picture is the final result before I bottled it.
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Research:
Cichello el al. (2015) did an interesting study looking at the anti-cancer abilities of this version of Siberian ginseng (there are 2). Depending on what dosage is used, the effects work but reach a plateau. At higher dosages, it just plain works. They do need to conduct more studies because they didn’t catch how the apoptosis works and that’s important to understand.
References
Chevallier, A. (2016). Encyclopedia of Herbal Medicine: 550 Herbs and Remedies for common Ailments. New York, NY: DK, a Division of Penguin Random House, LLC. p. 94.
Cichello, S. A., Yao, Q., Dowell, A., Leury, B., and He, X. Q. (2015). Proliferative and Inhibitory Activity of Siberian ginseng (Eleutherococcus senticosus) Extract on Cancer Cell Lines; A-549, XWLC-05, HCT-116, CNE and Beas-2b. Asian Pacific Journal for Cancer Prevention, 16(11): 4781-4786. doi: 10.7314/APJCP.2015.16.11.4781
Ganora, L. (2009). Herbal Constituents: Foundations of Phytochemistry. Louisville, Colorado: Herbalchem Press. p. 69, 142.
Gladstar, R. (2012). Medicinal Herbs: A Beginner’s Guide. North Adams, MA: Storey Publishing. P. 164, 183.
Griffin, J. (1997). Mother Nature’s Herbal: A Complete Guide for Experiencing the Beauty, Knowledge, & Synergy of Everything that Grows. Woodbury, MN: Llewellyn Publications. P. 141, 145, 156.
Hoffman, David. (2003). Medical Herbalism: The Science and Practice of Herbal Medicine. Rochester, VT: Healing Arts Press. p. 545
Mills, S. & Bone, K. (2010). The Essential Guide to Herbal Safety. Elsevier Limited. P. 64, 76, 101, 108, 434, 578-80.
Pizzorno, J. E. and Murray, M. T. (2013). Textbook of Natural Medicine. St. Louis, MO: Elsevier. P. 727-30, 1300.
Thorne Research Inc. (2006). Eleutherococcus senticosus Monograph. Alternative Medicine Review 11(2)
Weiss, R. F. & Fintelmann, V. (2000) Herbal Medicine. Theime. P. 284, 413.
Cichello el al. (2015) did an interesting study looking at the anti-cancer abilities of this version of Siberian ginseng (there are 2). Depending on what dosage is used, the effects work but reach a plateau. At higher dosages, it just plain works. They do need to conduct more studies because they didn’t catch how the apoptosis works and that’s important to understand.
References
Chevallier, A. (2016). Encyclopedia of Herbal Medicine: 550 Herbs and Remedies for common Ailments. New York, NY: DK, a Division of Penguin Random House, LLC. p. 94.
Cichello, S. A., Yao, Q., Dowell, A., Leury, B., and He, X. Q. (2015). Proliferative and Inhibitory Activity of Siberian ginseng (Eleutherococcus senticosus) Extract on Cancer Cell Lines; A-549, XWLC-05, HCT-116, CNE and Beas-2b. Asian Pacific Journal for Cancer Prevention, 16(11): 4781-4786. doi: 10.7314/APJCP.2015.16.11.4781
Ganora, L. (2009). Herbal Constituents: Foundations of Phytochemistry. Louisville, Colorado: Herbalchem Press. p. 69, 142.
Gladstar, R. (2012). Medicinal Herbs: A Beginner’s Guide. North Adams, MA: Storey Publishing. P. 164, 183.
Griffin, J. (1997). Mother Nature’s Herbal: A Complete Guide for Experiencing the Beauty, Knowledge, & Synergy of Everything that Grows. Woodbury, MN: Llewellyn Publications. P. 141, 145, 156.
Hoffman, David. (2003). Medical Herbalism: The Science and Practice of Herbal Medicine. Rochester, VT: Healing Arts Press. p. 545
Mills, S. & Bone, K. (2010). The Essential Guide to Herbal Safety. Elsevier Limited. P. 64, 76, 101, 108, 434, 578-80.
Pizzorno, J. E. and Murray, M. T. (2013). Textbook of Natural Medicine. St. Louis, MO: Elsevier. P. 727-30, 1300.
Thorne Research Inc. (2006). Eleutherococcus senticosus Monograph. Alternative Medicine Review 11(2)
Weiss, R. F. & Fintelmann, V. (2000) Herbal Medicine. Theime. P. 284, 413.
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