Siberian ginseng tea, also known as Eleutherococcus senticosus and commonly called "Eleuthero," is not considered a true ginseng because it does not belong to the same genus as ginseng, despite belonging to the same botanical family. Eleuthero, indigenous to Siberia, is capable of growing in much colder temperatures than true ginseng and is cheaper to produce. Siberian ginseng tea's medicinal uses come from its root and the tough covering surrounding the root, the root bark.
General Benefits
A 10 year clinical study involving 60,000 workers at Volzksky Automative Factory in Tolyatti, Russia noted Siberian ginseng tea's range of benefits including an ability to combat fatigue. As much as 50 percent improvement was noted in those individuals' overall health during this time, as well as absenteeism being reduced by as much as 80%.
Siberian ginseng may also assist in weight loss and immune system suppor, and may have properties that can reduce stress. Siberian ginseng tea has also been found to improve fertility, have a generalized beneficial effect on your body, being used to combat asthma, cancer, stomach ulcers, headaches, and insomnia as well as attributing to an overall feeling of general well-being.
Reduction in Stress
According to information produced by the Healthy Alternatives website, Siberian ginseng tea contains triterpenoid saponins, which are substances that have a beneficial effect on physiological, psychological and environmental stress. The University of Maryland Medical Center notes that Siberian ginseng tea improves blood circulation and enhances mental and physical prowess, as well as regulates the amount of stress experienced.
Increasing Energy Levels
The University of Maryland Medical Center also notes that Siberian ginseng tea may help in reducing fatigue and muscle pain, and to relieve exhaustion. The UMMC also notes that Siberian ginseng is officially approved in Russia as a commercial drink recognized as improving people's endurance.
Clearing Herpes Simplex Type 2 Infections
Siberian ginseng tea may help with the management of Herpes Simplex Type-2 infections. The University of Maryland Medical Center referred to a double blind research study involving 93 people in which it was noted that drinking 2 g of Siberian ginseng tea daily could clear recurrent herpes simplex infections. There was no effect on HSV-1, the virus responsible for oral herpes infections.
Increasing Immunity
Research carried out by Dr. Bohn and colleagues has been accorded particular relevance to the efficacy of Siberian ginseng tea. This research involved a double-blind study using 10 ml of Siberian ginseng tea given three times a day for four weeks. It was found to increase lymphocytes quite significantly in 50% of the subjects taking part in the study.
Results indicated that T-cells were increased by as much as 78% in people regularly drinking Siberian ginseng tea; with T helper cells increasing by 80%, Cytotoxic T cells increasing by 67% and NK cells increasing by 30%. These reports also indicated that no side effects were experienced by any person being tested.
As a result of the Bohn report, the FDA is currently reviewing the effects of Eleutherococcus senticosus as a potential drug for use in the United States. Meanwhile, a spokesperson for Dr Bohn's team stated: "We conclude from our data that Eleutherococcus senticosus exerts a strong immunomodulatory effect in healthy normal subjects."
Herb Wisdom website, which publishes reports of scientific information available, notes that there have been other reports of improvement in individuals suffering from an array of diseases when regularly drinking Siberian ginseng tea. These illnesses included heart disease, atherosclerosis, diabetes, chronic bronchitis, acute pyelonephritis, both hypertension and hypotension, cancer and various anxiety syndromes.
Reproductive Health
Anecdotal folk wisdom indicates Siberian ginseng tea as particularly effective as an aphrodisiac, although this has not been scientifically substantiated. According to the "Love Potion" website, older men habitually turn to Siberian ginseng tea to improve their love lives. Siberian ginseng tea was also found to be effective in men whose sperm counts were low.
Generalized Feeling of Well-Being
Whether Siberian ginseng tea is simply another in a long line of designer drinks or not, it has become a commercialized product in Russia as the result of approval from the USSR government of 1959, following the results obtained during research studies instigated by the Ministry of Health.
Reports, verified by the University of Maryland's Medical Center, note various profound effects on white blood cell counts, reduction of glucose and cholesterol in the blood, clearing up herpes simplex infections and having a beneficial effect on memory and endurance.
People who regularly drink Siberian ginseng tea have reported enhanced feelings of vitality and a general sense of well-being. Considering the fact that Siberian ginseng tea is considered to be a safe drink with no side effects, further investigation under full scientific criteria may well prove exactly how beneficial this drink is on people's health.
Member Comments