Botanical Index No. 933

Siberian Ginseng

eleutherococcus senticosus

Medicinal Actions

Eleutheranes A-G immunostimulant, Anticatarrhic, Antidote, Antiischemic, Antileukemic, Antistress, Antitumor, Antiviral, Cardioprotective, Cerebrotonic, Circulostimulant, Diuretic, Estrogenic, Gonadotropic, Hypoglycemic, Immunostimulant, Insulinogenic, Leukocytotic, Lymphocytogenic, Memorigenic, Nephrotonic, Neurotonic, Radioprotective, Serotoninergic, Splenotonic, Stimulant, Tonic

Primary Conditions Treated

Impeding hypertrophy of the adrenals and thyroid glands Impeding atrophy of the adrenals and thyroid glands Hypoglycemic activity in people with hyperglycemia Hyperglycemic activity in those with hypoglycemia Normalizing action in both leukocytosis and leukopenia Liquid extracts increase lymphocyte count especially T lymphocytes ADD Adrenopathy Altitude Sickness Alzheimer’s Anorexia Arrhythmia Aperitif Arthrosis Atherosclerosis Backache Bitter Bronchosis Cachexia Cancer stomach Cardiopathy CFS Cold Convalescence Cramp Debility Depression Diabetes Dysuria Edema Fatigue Fibromyalgia Flu Gastrosis Glaucoma Heart Hemiplegia High Blood Pressure Hip HIV Hypercholesterolemia Hyperglycemia Hypotension Impotence Immunodepression Infection Inflammation Insomnia Leukemia Leukopenia Longevity Lupus Mental and Physical Dysfunction Myopia Nephrosis Nervousness Neurasthenia Pain Plumosus Radiation Rheumatism Sore Throat Stress Swelling Thyroid Tranquilizer Trauma Tumor Vasodilator Virus Water Retention

General Dosage

Commission E suggests limiting use to only 1–3 months. Use should be restricted to 3 months.. 250–500 mg herb 1–2 ×/day; 0.6–3 g root/day for 1 month; 4.5–27 g root; 2–3 g root; 1–4 g root/day; 1–2 tsp fresh root; 0.5–1 g dry root; 1 g dry root:5 ml alcohol/5 ml water; 2–8 ml root extract; 2–16 ml alcoholic root extract 1–3 ×/day up to 60 days; 0.5–6 ml alcoholic root extract 1–3 ×/day up to 35 days; 1–2 droppers herb tincture 2–3 ×/day.

Safety & Contraindications

t during pregnancy. Limit children’s use to two weeks, then take a one week break”. Lininger et al. report rare transient diarrhea and insomnia when taken too close to bedtime. Extracts — 33% ethanolic extract LD50 = >20 ml/kg orl dog, LD50 = 23 ml/kg orl mus, LD50 = 14,500 mg/kg orl mus. Powdered root LD50 = 31,000 mg/kg orl mus, aqueous extract LD50 = 3000 mg/kg orl mus. Class 1. “Hazards and/or side effects not known for proper therapeutic dosages”. Commission E reports contraindications for high blood pressure. “No known side effects or drug-drug interactions”. Though generally regarded as safe by non-FDA types, use is not recommended “for patients in febrile states, hypertonic crisis, or myocardial infarction”. CAN cautions against use in patients with mastalgia, vaginal bleeding, and insomnia, and suggests it be avoided by patients with hyperkinesis, hysteria, mania, schizophrenia, and by those who are nervous or tense. Should not be taken with stimulants, including coffee, antipsychotic drugs, or during treatment with hormones. May elevate serum levels of digoxin. May enhance effects of antiaggregant and antidiabetic drugs. Russians suggest that users abstain from alcohol, bitter and spicy foods, and sex. In Russia, it is even suggested that healthy people under 40 years should not take ginseng, but that middle-aged people can take small doses on a regular basis. Because of hormonal activity, its use in pregnancy and lactation is to be avoided. Versus, “It can be used during pregnancy and lactation”. And the moms, White and Mavor say, “Many herbalists err on the side of caution and say to avoid it during pregnancy. Limit children’s use to two weeks, then take a one week break”. Commission E suggests limiting use to only 1–3 months. Use should be restricted to 3 months.. Lininger et al. report rare transient diarrhea and insomnia when taken too close to bedtime.

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