Siberian ginseng, or Eleutherococcus senticosus, is an herb available as a dietary supplement in most pharmacies and health food stores. Although Siberian ginseng is distantly related to Asian and American ginseng, the herb has different active components, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center, or UMMC. It is one of the most studied and best-documented botanicals in herbal medicine and has been used for at least 2,000 years for a variety of conditions.
Immune Functioning
The UMMC states that most research on Siberian ginseng has focused on the herb's immune-boosting properties, primarily on its use in the prevention and treatment of viral infections. Siberian ginseng may help reduce the length and severity of colds and flu when taken within 72 hours of symptom development. The herb may also reduce the severity, frequency and length of herpes outbreaks, and healthy people supplementing with Siberian ginseng show an increase in the number of T4 lymphocytes, immune cells that decrease during HIV and AIDS, according to the University of Michigan Health System.
Mental and Physical Fatigue
Some studies report that taking Siberian ginseng improves the use of oxygen by the muscles during exercise, according to the University of Michigan Health System, which means you can exercise for longer periods without muscle fatigue and can recover more quickly after activity. The University of Michigan Health System states that Siberian ginseng may also be beneficial for patients with chronic fatigue syndrome because the herb helps support the body's hormonal stress system and adrenal function. Siberian ginseng may also promote mental alertness, increase memory and improve mood and concentration.
Other Uses
Supplementation with Siberian ginseng reduces LDL, or "bad" cholesterol, levels in postmenopausal women, according to Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. The herb also appears to have a neuroprotective effect and may lower blood glucose levels in patients with diabetes.
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