Siberian Ginseng Monograph PDF

HERBALPEDIA GINSENG, SIBERIAN History: Siberian ginseng owes its origins as a tonic to a Russian physician, I.I. Brekman, who...

HERBALPEDIA GINSENG, SIBERIAN History: Siberian ginseng owes its origins as a tonic to a Russian physician, I.I. Brekman, who was searching for plants that improve human performance in the 1950s. He studied ginseng, but it was too expensive for the Soviets to consider giving to millions of workers. So Brekman turned to eleuthero, a plant that grew in abundance in Russia. He did no controlled clinical studies, but he did try eleuthero on thousands of workers. In many studies, he found that it countered fatigue, improved performance, and strengthened immunity to disease. Constituents: Eleutherosides, Phenylpropanoids, lignans, coumarins, sugars, Eleutherococcus senticosus polysaccharides, triterpenoid saponins, glycans [el-ew-ther-oh-KOK-us sen-tih-KOH-sus] Action: adaptogenic, tonic, stimulant, protects Family: Araliaceae the immune system Names: eleuthero root, taiga root, ci-wu-jia, Energetics: acrid, sweet, bitter wu-jia-pi (Chinese) Organs/Meridians Affected: kidney, liver Description: A deciduous, hardy shrub, growing to 10 feet with spiky stalks and Medicinal Uses: There has been much compound leaves of five leaflets each. It has research into Siberian ginseng in Russia since small greenish white flowers and a round black the 1950s, although the exact method by which berry. The epidermis of the root is used in it stimulates stamina and resistance to stress is medicine, it is sold in brown, rolled fragments. not yet understood. Siberian ginseng seems to Not a true ginseng but it contains similar active have a general tonic effect on the body, in chemicals and studies show it has similar particular on the adrenal glands, helping the effects. body to withstand heat, cold, infection, other physical stresses and radiation. It has even Cultivation: Siberian ginseng is native to been given to astronauts to counter the effects eastern Russia, China, Korea and Japan. It can of weightlessness. Athletes have experienced be grown from seed, but it is a difficult plant to as much as a 9% improvement in stamina when germinate. The root is lifted in autumn and taking Siberian ginseng. Siberian ginseng is dried. given to improve mental resilience, for example, during exams, and to reduce the effects of physical stress, for example during athletic training. Siberian ginseng is most 15 more minutes. Strain and add honey if effective in the treatment of prolonged desired. Drink one cup twice a day, morning exhaustion and debility, resulting from and early evening. Drink 6 days a week, taking overwork and long-term stress. The herb also a break on the 7th day. Continue for at least 10- stimulates immune resistance and can be taken 12 weeks. in convalescence to aid recovery from chronic Immune Support for compromised Immune illness. As a general tonic, Siberian ginseng Systems helps both to prevent infection and to maintain 2 parts astragalus root well-being. It is also used in treatments for 1 part codonopsis root impotence. Eleuthero root happens to be anti- 1 part ligustrum berries yeast and immune supportive. For acute yeast 2 parts Siberian ginseng root infections, take 10-15 capsules per day or 3-5 1 part saw palmetto berries as a long-term preventative. Eleuthero may 1 part licorice root also protect the liver and lower blood pressure ½ part prickly ash bark and triglyceride levels. Place 12 tablespoons of the herbs in 2 quarts of cool water and steep overnight. Simmer the TCM: Tonifies blood; nourishes semen- mixture for 30-40 minutes the following essence; tonifies kidney-energy morning. Do not bother to strain off the Indications: deficient kidney-energy and liver- herbs—let them continue to steep throughout energy the day. Drink 2-3 cups per day for many Dosage: decoction 5-10 rams in two doses, on months. Add 10-20 drops of Siberian ginseng an empty stomach tincture to the tea. This combination of herbs Contraindications: males with the condition of can also be made into a tincture which adults empty yin with flaring fire should abstain from can take 25-50 drops, two to four times per day using this herb or use it very sparingly and children 5-10 drops, two to four times per Incompatible: Scrophularia oldhami day for several months.. Do not take during active stages of any infection, cold or flu. Remedies: Decoction: Take 35 ml twice a day as a general Recipes: tonic Chi Balls Tincture: During busy periods, take ½ tsp with 2 cups tahini or almond butter water 3 times a day 2 tsp Siberian ginseng (powdered) Capsules: Make with powder and for long-term 1 tsp spirulina stress take a 1 g capsule daily 2 tsp bee pollen granules Tablets: a convenient way of taking Siberian 1 tsp flaxseed oil ginseng. Use before exams or other stressful 1 ½ cups honey events. ½ cup raisins Herbal Formula for Males to improve ½ cup crushed almonds Conception: Mix first seven ingredients in a bowl. 1 oz muira puama bark Roll into little balls or logs. Drop them in a 3 oz Panax ginseng root bowl of crushed almonds and roll until 2 oz Siberian ginseng root completely covered. Place on wax paper and 2 oz damiana chill until ready to eat. Makes about 20 balls. 6 oz spearmint or peppermint herb Make a standard decoction using ½ oz Toxicity: Not given to children, or taken for of the bark/root plants blend in a pint of cold longer than three weeks at a time. water; cover, bring to a boil, and simmer for 30 Contraindicated with caffeine. minutes. Turn off the heat, add ½ oz of the mixture of the last 2 herbs, cover, and steep for References: A Handbook of Chinese Healing Herbs, Daniel Reid, Barnes and Noble, 1995; ISBN: 0-7607- 1907-1 The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants, Anderew Chevallier, Dorling Kindersley, 1996; ISBN: 0-7894-1067-2 Herbal Remedies for Women, Amanda McQuade Crawford, Prima, 1997; ISBN: 0- 7615-0980-1 The Roots of Healing, Deb Soule, Citadel Press, 1996; ISBN: 0-8065-1578-3 Sources: Wood Violet Herb Farm, www.woodvioletherbfarm.com plants HERBALPEDIA™ is brought to you by The Herb Growing & Marketing Network, PO Box 245, Silver Spring, PA 17575-0245; 717- 393-3295; FAX: 717-393-9261; email: [email protected] URL: http://www.herbalpedia.com Editor: Maureen Rogers. Copyright 2006. All rights reserved. Material herein is derived from journals, textbooks, etc. THGMN cannot be held responsible for the validity of the information contained in any reference noted herein, for the misuse of information or any adverse effects by use of any stated material presented.