Organic Eleuthero (Siberian Ginseng) Powder

The Life of Eleuthero / Siberian Ginseng

Eleutherococcus senticosus is native to the far east of Siberia, and some related species growing throughout Northern China, Korea, and Japan. It is a deciduous thorny, creeping, shrub that grows slowly ending up around 2m in height and reaching maturity after around 7 years. It prefers shelter from the wind, but a good amount of sun (either partly shaded or full sun). Usually growing in well drained loamy, humus-rich soil, at the foot of the forest, sometimes creating large impenetrable thickets, and can tolerate temperatures of around -15°c if they are sheltered from cold winds.
Eleuthero is imported as due to the cycle and temperature required for optimum growing conditions. Panax Ginseng is currently being grown in Tasmania, but in small amounts due to cost, rotation and yield.

History

Listed in the Chinese Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing (The Divine Husbandman’s Classic of the Materia Medica) over 2000 years ago, Eleuthero has been used extensively in traditional Chinese medicine for 1000's of years. Eleuthero is used in China to support complete health and when someone is suffering from restless sleep and vivid dreams. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, the Eleuthero root is used; to invigorate Qi (chi, life energy, vital energy), to strengthen and nourish the spleen and kidneys, to balance vital energy, boost immunity and relieve stress. It is commonly used an and anti-fatigue tonic herb — a favourite among herbalists
The root is considered pungent and slightly bitter in taste, and energetically warming, linking it to the meridians of the spleen, kidneys and heart.
Sometimes the leaves of various Eleuthero species are added to herbal teas, but the roots are the main part of the plant that are used.

In the traditional medicine of northeastern Asia and far eastern Russia, Eleuthero is called 'shigoka' and used as a tonic. It has also been used in traditional Korean medicine for its qi strengthening qualities.

Especially popular in Russia as an adaptogenic herbal supplement, the term "adaptogen" is said to have came from Soviet scientist, N.V. Lazarev, who, in 1947 coined this term when describing Eleuthero's actions. He stated that an adaptogen increased "non-specific resistance of an organism to adverse influence."
In the 1960’s Soviet scientists were charged with finding ways to cement Soviet superiority, so they started to research a root called Eleuthero that grew in the Siberian forests and they were not disappointed. The soviets began to use Eleuthero to boost various areas of their progression, from use for worker concentration and productivity to strengthen their army. A former Soviet sports nutrition researcher and coach, Dr. Ben Tabachnik, attributes Eleuthero to the Soviet Olympic team domination of the 1988 Olympics, and it was also into space by Soviet astronauts, with them raising a glass of Eleuthero extract in 1967, toasting their orbit achievement! Some of the Soviet research into Eleuthero was filed "classified", as the Soviet scientists wanted to closely guard their newly found secret which was improving their performance in many areas.

It was following Russian researchers began studying it in the 1960's, that Eleuthero began becoming popular in the rest of the world. Also referred to as 'Siberian ginseng' and is often compared with the more familiar Panax ginseng or 'true ginseng' yet they differ substantially and therefore can't be considered interchangeable. So much so that in 2002, the USA prohibited the use of the term “ginseng” for any plant that doesn’t contain Ginsenosides (which are considered the adaptogenic constituents of Panax). And so Siberian Ginseng, is now known as Eleuthero, because although the actions have been shown to be as effective, the root does not contain the Ginsenoside compounds.

Eleuthero is now widely utilised in the western herbalism to support general health and to improve endurance and stamina. It is prescribed for use in France, Germany, and Russia as well.