Siberian Ginseng

 GENERAL

Siberian Ginseng is the name given to the dried underground growing root of the plant Eleutherococcus senticosus. "Senticosus" means "thorny" and refers to the plant's stem, which is abundantly armed with thorns. Eleutherococcus senticosus is a perennial shrub that grows mostly in the understory of conifer forests. The distribution area includes central and northern China, Korea, Japan and far eastern areas of Russia.

It is often called "Siberian ginseng", but it is definitely not a ginseng species and also differs in terms of ingredients. In Russia, Siberian Ginseng is also called Svobodnoyagodnik, and in China, Ci-wu-jia. Folklorically, Siberian Ginseng is used in Russia to strengthen the cardiovascular, immune, nervous, and endocrine systems, while in China it is used in traditional Chinese medicine to increase vitality and against respiratory infections (see Grosso et al. 2016: 203). Furthermore, Siberian Ginseng is also used in TCM as a tonic, against fatigue, and to invigorate qi (see Wang et al. 2019: 2). The taste of the alcoholic extract of Siberian Ginseng is described as bitter and slightly burning (see Hänsel et al. 1999: 811).

MEDICINE OF THE OCCIDENTAL TRADITION

Siberian Ginseng is also used in traditional European medicine and is also used there, for example, in "modernized" tinctures against stress and as a tonic for body, mind and soul. Traditional European Medicine is often associated with healers such as Hildegard von Bingen or Paracelsus, among others.

Paracelsus (Theophrast Bombast von Hohenheim) is considered one of the most important physicians and medical reformers of Western medicine. His medical science is considered to be a mixture of folk medical knowledge, his own empirical knowledge, ancient medical philosophy, old pagan knowledge and knowledge of the herbalist women of his time (see Rippe et al. 2006: 14f). Paracelsus was strongly influenced by ancient Greece. The Greek physician Empedocles developed the system of the 4 elements (fire, earth, water, air). From his ideas Polybos in turn developed the humoral doctrine (4 humors doctrine). This teaching is based on the fact that the warm, the cold, the moist and the dry in the body of a person must be in balance to achieve a state of health. Equally important were the writings of the physician Galenos, to whom the doctrine of temperaments (sanguine, choleric, phlegmatic, melancholic) goes back. For over 2000 years, the ancient elemental theory remained the dominant system of thought in the Occident, with the humoral theory and the ideas of Galenos shaping medicine into modern times. The standard work on herbalism at the time of Paracelsus was Dioscorides' "de materia medica libri quinque", which describes the theory of healing according to aspects of the theory of humoral teaching. Paracelsus seems to have been one of the first to criticize the concept of humoral theory (cf. Rippe et al. 2006: 24f).

For Paracelsus, man consisted of all the building blocks of the universe, therefore everything was also interrelated with humans and humans are therefore also images of the cosmos (cf. Rippe et al. 2006: 41). He considered astrology as one of the pillars of the healing art, and attached great importance to it. Rippe writes that one must compare the essence of the planetary force with the forces in nature. Which plant is to be assigned to which planetary force is shown, for example, in the signature (essence, form, color, scent, taste, etc.) of a plant. For example, the defensive nature of the stinging nettle is associated with Mars, the god of war (see Rippe et al. 2006: 107). Siberian Ginseng, with its defensible thorns, is also associated with Mars in TEM. Among other things, poisonous plants or plants that have a pungent, burning taste are also associated with the planet Mars. In TEM, Mars plants give energy, strengthen the immune system and are used against states of exhaustion and lack of strength (see Prentner 2017: 29).

IN RUSSIA

Eleutherococcus senticosus appears to have been first collected by Porphyrii Yevdokimovich Kirilov in Russia between 1830-1841 and later identified by, among others, the botanist Carl Maximowicz. The researcher Israel Itskovich Brekhman was the first to claim that Eleutherococcus senticosus had properties similar to ginseng (see Davydov et al. 2000: 351). He was apparently the first in Siberia to conduct studies on Eleutherococcus senticosus in the 1950s and 1960s. Studies in Germany, Japan, and China also followed in the 1970s and 1980s (see Davydov et al. 2000: 357). According to Davydov et al., the antioxidant effect of various ingredients of Siberian Ginseng could be clearly established (see Davydov et al. 2000: 374). However, Davydov et al. criticize the way in which the studies were conducted at that time, but are of the opinion that Siberian Ginseng as an adaptogen has potential to act against various types of complaints.

ADAPTOGENS

Adaptogens are plants that generally counteract stress and strengthen the body's resistance to external stressors. The term "adaptogen" goes back, among others, to the researcher Israel Itskovich Brekhman. According to Brekhman, adaptogens have 4 main characteristics: Adaptogens must not harm the body, and must not cause additional stress to the organism. Also, adaptogens are not active in a specific context, but have a broad therapeutic spectrum of action. Thus, adaptogens exhibit a non-specific effect. Furthermore, adaptogens have a normalizing and stabilizing effect (See Davydov et al. 2000: 353).

PHARMACOLOGY

Over 50 constituents have been identified in Siberian Ginseng. These include lignans such as eleutheroside B4, eleutheroside D, and eleutheroside E and E1. They also include phenylpropane derivatives such as eleutheroside B, sinapyl alcohol, coniferyl alcohol, coniferyl alcohol 4-O-glycoside, caffeic acid, chlorogenic acid and 1,5-dicaffeoylquinic acid. Furthermore, coumarins such as eleutheroside B1 were also found. Also, various sugars such as monosaccharides, galactose, eleutheroside C, glycose, sucrose, maltose and polysaccharides are among the ingredients. Aussderm also contains triterpene saponins of up to about 0.1%, which include protoprimulagenin A glycosides and eleutherosides I, K, L, and M (see Leutnant 2018: 173).

EFFECT

The effect of Siberian Ginseng is described in the literature as stimulant, adaptogen, anabolic and immunostimulant. The stimulating and stress-reducing effect is attributed to liriodendrine but also to syringine, with the polysaccharides being assigned the immunostimulating effect. Siberian Ginseng is thus used, among other things, for feelings of fatigue and weakness, declining performance and concentration, and as a tonic to strengthen and invigorate (see Hänsel et al. 1999: 813).

According to Prentner (2017), the effect of Siberian Ginseng is tonic, strengthening and invigorating. There is supposed to be an improvement of the blood picture, acceleration of the regeneration rate of the cells, improvement of the performance, increase of the T-cells, increase of the beta-endorphin blood level and an improvement of the adaptability of the body to external and internal circumstances. In addition, Siberian Ginseng is said to have immunostimulating/modulating, stress-reducing, anabolic and adaptogenic effects. Furthermore, it is not only used for stress and strain, but also for sports and depression (see Prentner 2017: 312).

According to Grosso et al. (2016), an anti-depressive effect was confirmed in an animal study. Another study concludes a neuroprotective effect and a potential application in Parkinson's disease (see Grosso et al. 2016: 204f).

In a more recent study, the ingestion of a Siberian Ginseng extract was found to improve endurance, cardiac function, and oxygen uptake, in men engaged in recreational sports (cf. Kuo et al. 2010: 109).

Another study from 2004 investigated the effect of Siberian Ginseng extract in chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). An extract corresponding to a dose of approximately 2-4 grams of taiga root daily was administered. The results were inconclusive, but there appeared to be a slight improvement for those with less severe CFS. Therefore, it was suggested to investigate this in further studies (see Hartz et al. 2004: 59).

SAFETY & TOXICITY

The literature recommends a dose of no more than 1-4 grams of ground Siberian Ginseng and less than 1 gram of extract per day. In general, Siberian Ginseng seems to be well tolerated and is considered to have few side effects. Nevertheless, excessive doses could result in skin rash, headache, diarrhea, hypertension, insomnia, and anxiety (see Grosso et al. 2016: 205). Siberian Ginseng should not be used during pregnancy, lactation, in cases of hypertension or heart problems (see Hänsel et al. 1999: 813; Leutnant 2018: 176).

PREPARATIONS

Root infusion:

Boil 1 teaspoon of Siberian Ginseng Root (about 3-4 grams) with a cup of water, cover and steep for about 10 minutes. Half a glass twice a day for a maximum of 3 months, then take a break for 8 weeks.

Liquor with Siberian Ginseng leaves:

Pour 0.5 liters of brandy over a handful of fresh leaves and let this steep for 2-3 weeks. As a tonic, add 1 shot of it to hot tea.

Immune strengthening elixir

Add 20 grams of dried Siberian Ginseng root and 30 grams of dried roseroot to 1 liter of port wine and steep for about 4 weeks, then strain. Take a liqueur glass (20ml) of this 2x daily before meals (see Lieutenant 2018: 179ff).

NOTE:

No claim is made as to the accuracy of the data in terms of dose, preparations, etc. Also, this is not an exhaustive presentation of information on Siberian Ginseng, but rather a brief summary of data that appear relevant.

Sources:

Davydov, Marina et al. (2000): Eleutherococcus senticosus (Rupr. & Maxim.) Maxim. (Araliaceae) as an adaptogen: a closer look. In: Journal of Ethnopharmacology 72: 345-393.

Grosso, Clara et al. (2016): Herbal Medicine in Depression. Traditional Medicine to Innovative Drug Delivery. Switzerland: Springer International Publishing.

Hartz, A. J. et al. (2004): Randomized controlled trial of Siberian ginseng for chronic fatigue. In: Psychological Medicine 34: 51-61.

Hänsel, Rudolf et al. (1999): Pharmakognosie-Phytopharmazie. Berlin Heidelberg: Springer-Verlag.

Kuo, Jip et al. (2010): The Effect of Eight Weeks of Supplementation with Eleutherococcus senticosus on Endurance Capacity and Metabolism in Human. In: Chinese Journal of Physiology 53 (2): 105-111.

Leutnant, Natalia (2018): Ginseng, Taigawurzel, Rosenwurz. Adaptogene – Wunderheilpflanzen für die heutige Zeit. Aarua und München: AT-Verlag.

Prentner, Angelika (2017): Heilpflanzen der Traditionellen Europäischen Medizin. Wirkung und Anwendung nach häufigen Indikationen. Deutschland: Springer-Verlag GmbH.

Rippe, Olaf et al. (2006): Die Kräuterkunde des Paracelsus. Therapie mit Heilpflanzen nach abendländischer Tradition. Baden und München: AT-Verlag.

Wang, Yan-Hong et al. (2019): The Chemical Characterization of Eleutherococcus senticosus and Ci-wu-jia tea Using UHPLC-UV-QTOF/MS. In: International Journal of Molecular Sciences 20 (475): 1-13.