Scientific Name: Eleuthero
Other Names: Acanthopanax senticosus, Ci Wu Jia, Devil's Bush, Eleutherococcus senticosus, Russian Root, Shigoka, Siberian Ginseng, Taiga, Thorny Pepperbush, Touch-Me-Not, Wild Pepper

Who is this for?

Uses

NOTE: Eleuthero is the new name for Siberian ginseng in the United States. It is different from both American ginseng and Panax ginseng. They are not interchangeable.

Eleuthero is used widely in eastern Asia as a tonic to enhance overall well-being. Like members of the Panax (true ginseng) family of plants, eleuthero is considered to be an "adaptogen", a substance that may help individuals cope with physical and emotional stress. Overall body stabilizers, adaptogens are believed to have a number of general effects that help protect cells from damage due to environmental conditions. Studies of eleuthero's possible actions in animals and humans do show that it may have some positive effects. For instance, chemicals in eleuthero produced moderate reductions in blood cholesterol levels for individuals in a small clinical study. It also decreased blood sugar in experimental animals. However, the type of eleuthero used to lower both cholesterol and blood sugar was an injectable form not available outside of Asia.

In other animal research, eleuthero may have helped to improve memory and concentration through protective effects on nerve cells. In some studies, eleuthero also increased the amounts of certain neurotransmitters in the brains of laboratory animals. Neurotransmitters are natural body chemicals that carry messages from nerve cells to other cells. Decreased levels of specific neurotransmitters are associated with conditions such as depression and Parkinson's disease.

Eleuthero also appears to boost immune system function slightly by increasing the activity of immune system cells. In laboratory studies, various chemicals found in eleuthero have also shown some antiviral and anticancer properties, but these effects have not been well studied in humans. Although eleuthero is also thought to increase the capability to do physical work, results from several studies on physical performance are inconclusive. Work capacity appeared to increase for some study participants but actually decreased for others. All of eleuthero's possible effects need to be studied further before its use can be recommended.

In clinical studies of both humans and animals, eleuthero has increased heart rate, blood pressure, or both. Because these effects may worsen many types of heart conditions, individuals who have heart disease, including high blood pressure and previous heart attacks, should not take eleuthero without supervision from a healthcare professional.

Even though eleuthero appears to be safe during pregnancy and breast-feeding, some of the other plants commonly mistaken for eleuthero are known to be harmful to developing babies or small children. Because the exact contents of eleuthero products cannot always be guaranteed, young children and pregnant and breast-feeding women should avoid the use of eleuthero.

Precautions

Individuals who use insulin or take oral medications to control diabetes should avoid using large amounts of eleuthero because it can lower blood sugar levels unpredictably, potentially resulting in hypoglycemia (blood sugar that is too low). Indications of low blood sugar include shakiness, sweating, confusion, distorted speech, and loss of muscle control. If not corrected, low blood sugar can lead to unconsciousness and even death.

What side effects should I watch for?

Major Side Effects

Individuals with heart disease who take eleuthero may experience a rapid heartbeat or high blood pressure. Long-term use (more than 2 months) of eleuthero has been associated with muscle spasms due to nerve inflammation. Therefore, taking eleuthero continuously for more than 2 months is not recommended.

Less Severe Side Effects

In studies involving humans, the most commonly reported side effects from eleuthero were:

• Anxiety
• Breast pain
• Drowsiness
• Headache

What interactions should I watch for?

Prescription Drugs

Digoxin is a drug used to increase the force and to decrease the rate at which the heart beats. High digoxin blood levels could cause potentially dangerous changes in heart rhythm. In one reported case, an individual taking eleuthero at the same time as digoxin, developed increased blood levels of digoxin. No serious consequences resulted for the affected individual, and the product being used may have been contaminated with other substances. Individuals who take digoxin should be aware, however, that an interaction is possible between eleuthero and digoxin.

In laboratory studies, eleuthero has been shown to increase the time blood needs to clot. When it is taken with antiplatelet or anticoagulant drugs, the effect of the drug may be increased, resulting in uncontrolled bleeding.

• Antiplatelet agents include clopidogrel and Ticlid
• Anticoagulants include heparin and warfarin

Eleuthero may interfere with insulin and oral drugs for diabetes, such as:

• Actos
• Avandia
• glimepiride
• glipizide
• glyburide
• Glyset
• metformin
• Prandin
• Precose

When eleuthero is taken with prescription drugs that promote sleepiness, the effects of the drug may be exaggerated, resulting in sedation or mental impairment. Prescription drugs that can cause sleepiness include:

• Anticonvulsants such as carbamazepine, phenytoin and valproic acid
• Barbiturates such as phenobarbital
• Benzodiazepines such as alprazolam and diazepam
• Drugs for insomnia such as Lunesta, Rozerem, Sonata, and zolpidem
• Tricyclic antidepressants such as amitriptyline, amoxapine, doxepin and nortriptyline

Because it is broken down by certain enzymes in the liver, eleuthero may possibly interfere with the use of prescription drugs that are processed by the same enzymes. Some of these drugs are:

• Allergy drugs such as fexofenadine
• Antifungal drugs such as itraconazole and ketoconazole
• Cancer drugs such as etoposide, paclitaxel, vinblastine, or vincristine
• cyclobenzaprine (Flexeril)
• Drugs for high cholesterol such as lovastatin
• fluvoxamine
• haloperidol (Haldol)
• Oral contraceptives
• theophylline (Slo-bid, Theo-Dur)

Non-prescription Drugs

Eleuthero can decrease the ability of blood to clot after an injury. Aspirin can also delay clotting, so eleuthero should not be taken at the same time as aspirin.

The sleep-producing effects of over-the-counter products containing diphenhydramine or doxylamine can be enhanced by taking eleuthero at the same time. Diphenhydramine and doxylamine are contained in many non-prescription sleeping pills as well as in some cough and cold products. Therefore caution should be used when taking these medications with eleuthero because excessive drowsiness may result.

Herbal Products

Theoretically, if eleuthero is used with other herbs that affect blood clotting, bleeding may occur. Some of the most common herbal products that might inhibit blood clotting include:

• Danshen
• Devil's Claw
• Garlic
• Ginger
• Ginkgo
• Horse Chestnut
• Panax Ginseng
• Papain
• Red Clover
• Saw Palmetto

Because eleuthero may decrease blood sugar levels, taking it with other blood sugar-lowering herbal products may result in hypoglycemia--blood sugar that is too low. Herbals that may reduce blood sugar include:

• Fenugreek
• Ginger (in high amounts)
• Kudzu
• Panax Ginseng

Eleuthero may cause excessive sedation if taken with other sedating herbs such as:

• Catnip
• Hops
• Kava
• St. John's Wort
• Valerian

Foods

Drinking alcohol at the same time as taking eleuthero may result in increased drowsiness.

A few individuals have reported indigestion or altered taste perception after eating spicy or bitter-tasting foods while taking eleuthero.

Some interactions between herbal products and medications can be more severe than others. The best way for you to avoid harmful interactions is to tell your doctor and/or pharmacist what medications you are currently taking, including any over-the-counter products, vitamins, and herbals. For specific information on how eleuthero interacts with drugs, other herbals, and foods and the severity of those interactions, please use our Drug Interactions Checker to check for possible interactions.

Should I take it?

Among its provisions, the U.S. Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 made illegal the use of the name "ginseng" for any product not derived from a plant of the Panax genus (family). Eleuthero is related to American ginseng and Panax ginseng, but it is not a member of the Panax genus. In the United States, products formerly labeled as "Siberian ginseng" must now use the common name, "eleuthero" or the scientific name "Eleutherococcus senticosus".

Although it was formerly known as Siberian ginseng, eleuthero is not actually a member of the plant family considered to contain the "true" ginsengs. It is, instead, a related shrub about 6 feet to 8 feet tall. Its branches are covered in sharp thorn-like barbs. The leaves of eleuthero may be dried and used as tea. Eleuthero blooms in late summer and then bears very dark red or black fruits the size of marbles. The fruits may be eaten fresh or cooked. While the roots of Panax species resemble carrots or parsnips in texture, the roots of eleuthero are hard and woody. Native to eastern Asia, eleuthero is now grown extensively on farms in China, Korea, Japan, and Russia.

Eleuthero did not come into wide use until the mid-1900s when the world supply of Panax species was extremely low. Russian and Chinese scientists discovered that other species--particularly Eleutherococcus--had medicinal effects that are similar to ginseng's, but could be grown faster. Nearly all the research done on eleuthero has been done in Asia.

Dosage and Administration

Dosing for eleuthero depends on the condition being treated. Individuals who decide to use eleuthero should follow the directions on the package that is purchased. Taking eleuthero continuously for more than 2 months is not recommended.

Eleuthero is available in a number of different oral dosage forms that include liquid extracts and capsules containing dried root powder. Extracts are concentrated liquid preparations usually made by soaking chopped or mashed plant parts in a liquid such as alcohol, and then straining out the solid parts. Many eleuthero products are standardized to contain 0.3% of an active ingredient called eleutheroside E. Standardization by the manufacturer should assure the same amount of this active ingredient in every batch of commercial preparations. Standardization of herbal products is not required by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), so not every product sold in the United States will contain the same amounts of active ingredients. Additionally, the amounts of active chemicals in eleuthero vary greatly according to how the plants are grown, when the roots are harvested, and how they are processed. Several plants that resemble eleuthero grow in the same regions, so eleuthero frequently may be contaminated with material from those different plants.

Summary

Best known as a general tonic to improve overall mental and physical health, eleuthero may produce modest improvements in immune function and memory. It may reduce blood levels of sugar and cholesterol, slightly. However, these and other possible uses need to be investigated more thoroughly before they can be recommended.

Risks

Individuals with heart conditions, pregnant women, small children, and women who are breast-feeding should not take eleuthero. It should be taken with caution by individuals who have diabetes.

Side Effects

Long-term use of eleuthero may result in muscle spasms. Even low or short-term use may cause anxiety, drowsiness, high blood pressure, or rapid heartbeat.

Interactions

Eleuthero may interact in various ways with many drugs, foods, and other herbal products, including:

• Alcohol
• Bitter or spicy foods
• Digoxin
• Drugs and herbals that affect blood clotting
• Drugs and herbals that lower blood sugar
• Sedating prescription, non-prescription, and herbal products

Last Revised October 11, 2007

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Last Revised October 11, 2007

Note: The above information is not intended to replace the advice of your physician, pharmacist, or other healthcare professional. It is not meant to indicate that the use of the product is safe, appropriate, or effective for you.

In general, herbal products are not subject to review or approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). They are not required to be standardized, meaning that the amounts of active ingredients or contaminants they contain may vary between brands or between different batches of the same brand. Not all of the risks, side effects, or interactions associated with the use of herbal products are known because few reliable studies of their use in humans have been done.

This information is provided for your education only. Please share this information with your healthcare provider and be sure that you talk to your doctor and pharmacist about all the prescription and non-prescription medicines you take before you begin to use any herbal product.

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