Materia Medica

Eleutherococcus senticosus (formerly Acanthopanax senticosus)  Araliaceae.  The comon name is eleuthro, Siberian ginseng and the Chinese name is Ci-Wu-Jia-Pi.

Eleutherococcus has a 2,000-year history of usage in China, being considered a minor tonic and not too important.  There are some chemical differences between Chinese Eleutherococcus and Korean and Russian Eleutherococcus, however, leading to the conclusion that there are therapeutic differences as well.¹ The real interest in it began in the early 1950s with the Russians, who have studied it extensively.  It is l plants of the late twentieth century.²

Eleutherococcus belongs to the some family as ginseng, the ivy family or Araliaceae.  It is spiny-stemmed shrub with numerous stalks coming from the root and growing to a height of nine feet.  It is an abundant plant with dense growth, forming almost impenetrable thickets.  The leaves are long-stalked and palmate, with globular umbrella shaped flowers and black berries.  They are  dioecious and  grow at high altitudes in cool taiga forests in Siberia

The part of the plant used is the root, preferably root bark.  It is available as bulk herb, capsules, tablets and hydroalcoholic extracts.  There is often confusion between the name Siberian ginseng and ginseng, meaning Panax ginseng, be sure you are getting the herb that you actually want.

The mechanisms of action of Eleutherococcus and the significance of the various constituents are not fully understood.  A group of glycosides called eleutherosides are considered to be primarily responsible for its action.  There are chemical similarities to Panax ginseng, but many differences also.  There is also some similarity of action to ginseng such as binding to progestin, mineralcorticoid and gluccorticoid receptors.  Eleutherococcus also binds estrogen receptors.³

In the 1950s, Russian scientists began looking for substances that could improve health and endurance.  They were searching for an economical substitution for Panax, and began researching Eleutherococcus.  Extensive animal studies were performed showing Eleutherococcus increased stamina, and increased resistance to trauma, heat, cold, blood loss, toxins, bacteria and other stressors.  Eleutherococcus also reduced adrenal hypertrophy and adrenal ascorbic acid depletion.  The term adaptogen was coined, and Eleutherococcus was considered the prime adaptogen.  An adaptogen is a substance that effects non-specific resistance in an organism to noxious influences.  The substance must be non-toxic, have a normalizing effect whether the condition is hypo- or hyperfunctional and be non-specific in action, to be classified as an adaptogen.⁴

Numerous human studies on healthy individuals have demonstrated an increased ability to withstand adverse mental and physical working conditions.  It was shown to increase the performance of sailors, explorers, truck driver, pilots, soldiers, athletes and cosmonauts.  Eleutherococcus is widely used in Russia, particularly by athletes of all variety.  It is also used in pathological states, such as heart, kidney and nervous system disorders, to increase immunity and to improve the state of health in general. 

The German E Commission recommends Eleutherococcus “as a tonic for invigoration and fortification in times of fatigue and debility of declining capacity for work and concentration, also during convalecence.”⁵ 

 It is used as a tonic, much like ginseng.  Unlike ginseng, which is considered more for older persons, Eleutherococcus is appropriate for younger people.

considered one the best documented “new” medicina

There have been over 35 constituents isolated from Eleutherococcus.  The group of eleutherosides from A-M are considered the most important constituents, some of them being chemically similar to the ginseng saponins.  There are also phenylporpane derivative glycosides, lignans, polysaccharides, carbohydrates, xanthones, flavones, steroids and at least ten phenolic compounds like isofraxidin.

 The dosage is 2 to 3 grams of root, or the equivalent preparation.  It is generally taken up to three months, with a repeat course after a break.  It is not recommended with high blood pressure.  Rarely reported sided effects are slight languor or drowsiness immediately following ingestion.   Increases the effects of hexobarbital and antibiotics.⁶