Ginseng, Siberian

A Chinese poem describes the thorny branches covering this shrub as looking like a bony jackal's leg. While that doesn't sound very attractive, the poem goes on to say that daily use will "keep your virgin face younger, and prolong your life for ever and ever." The author claims that Siberian ginseng is worth much more than gold and jewels, and for centuries the Chinese have prized Siberian ginseng to prolong life, enhance health, and stimulate both a healthy appetite and a good memory. But it wasn't until the Soviet Union began testing it in the 1950s that published studies began to support some of these uses.

American and Asian ginsengs are best to alleviate stress, fatigue, convalescence, and diabetes, and Siberian ginseng for stress, fatigue, atherosclerosis, and impaired kidney function. Confusion regarding which ginseng (American, Asian, or Siberian) to use for stress, fatigue, and convalescence stems from the suggestion that active components in one type are superior to those in another type. Such superiority has not been demonstrated. Early Russian studies indicated that Siberian ginseng's positive effects exceed those of Asian ginseng's. These results are supported by empirical reports, but have been challenged by investigators who question the validity of the studies and the quality of the Siberian ginseng preparation. At this time, all three ginsengs are regarded as adaptogens, all three have the same side effects, and despite qualitative differences, each is used for similar treatments. Cost, standardization, and the reputation of the manufacturer may be the deciding points in determining which product to use.

Plant Description

Siberian ginseng is a shrub that grows 3 to 10 feet high. Its leaves are attached to a main stem by long branches. Both the branches and the stem are covered with thorns. Flowers, yellow or violet, grow in umbrella-shaped clusters, and turn into round, black berries in late summer. The root itself is brownish, wrinkled, and twisted.

What's It Made Of?

Siberian ginseng products are made from the root. The root contains a mixture of components, common to many plants but occurring together in Siberian ginseng, called eleutherosides. Among the other ingredients are chemicals called polysaccharides, which have been found to boost the immune system and lower blood sugar levels in laboratory studies using animals.

Available Forms

Siberian ginseng is available in liquid extracts, solid extracts, powders, capsules, and tablets, and as dried or cut root for tea.

How to Take It

One of the many actions of Siberian ginseng is to increase your body's resistance to stress. Not only can it help your body cope with daily stresses, but it may also prevent you from becoming ill. Viruses, bacteria, chemicals, extreme working conditions, noise, and pollution are some of the many types of stressors each of us are exposed to every day. Siberian ginseng may help your body get back to normal after experiencing these. It may also help your body get back to normal after you've been ill.

Siberian ginseng also increases mental and physical performance. If you've been having difficulty concentrating at work, Siberian ginseng may help you stay on task. And if your job requires repeated physical labor, it may help with that, too.

Siberian ginseng has these effects because it is an adaptogen, substances that help the body fight against the effects of just about any kind of stress. Although currently unproven, the effects of stress may be as simple as headaches or colds, or they may also be more serious, such as memory loss, heart disease, cancer, arthritis, and accelerated aging. Do not be surprised if one day your provider recommends Siberian ginseng to you for any of these conditions, or for chronic fatigue syndrome or atherosclerosis. These conditions may be someday be scientifically proven to benefit from Siberian ginseng supplementation.

The recommended dose is 2 to 3 g dried root daily (tea, or in capsules). You can also take a tincture (solution made from herb and alcohol, or herb, alcohol, and water), 5 ml three times daily, or a 33 percent alcohol extract, 2 to 4 ml, one to three times daily. Extracts are considered a little more potent than tinctures. In making tincture, 1 part Siberian ginseng may be used in 5 parts liquid; in making an extract, 1 part herb is used in 1 part liquid. Solid extracts, made from dried, powdered root, are also available. Look for products that contain at least 1 percent eleutheroside F, and take 100 to 200 mg three times daily.

If you are taking Siberian ginseng to increase stamina or resistance to stress, you should take one of the forms recommended above for one month, and then wait two months before taking it again for another month. If you are taking it to help beat a chronic condition, such as fatigue, you can take it for three months, followed by 2-to-3 weeks without taking it. (Be sure to take your dosages before 3 P.M. to avoid insomnia.) You can repeat these cycles if you feel you need to, but you should consult with your health care provider first.

Precautions

The American Herbal Products Association (AHPA) rates Siberian ginseng as a class 1, which means that it is safe when used as directed. However, if you have high blood pressure or are pregnant, you should not use Siberian ginseng.

Possible Interactions

No harmful drug interactions have been reported.

Supporting Research

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