Herpes is the common name for a viral infection that causes painful blisters and sore on the mouth or genitals. There is no cure for herpes, Lawrence Corey, M.D., in the 2008 edition of "Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine." Once a person becomes infected, they carry the disease for life, although not all patients experience symptoms. For people who do experience symptoms, Siberian ginseng has attracted interest as a potential treatment. Patients who consider using Siberian ginseng for herpes should start by talking to their health care providers.
Definition
Siberian ginseng is one of the common names for the herb Eleutherococcus senticosus. Eleutherococcus senticosus replaced an earlier botanical name, Acanthopanax senticosus, because Siberian ginseng is only distantly related to the panax species that includes American, Korean and Chinese ginseng. Other common names for Siberian ginseng include eleuthero, ci wu jia, touch-me-not and devil's shrub. It is found in southeastern Russia, northern China, Korea and Japan.
History
Records created by traditional Chinese medicine practitioners show the use of Siberian ginseng dating back 2,000 years ago. In the July-August 2008 edition of "Holistic Nurse Practitioner," nurse practitioner Tracy L. Bleakney, R.N., M.S.N. explains that Russians believed that Siberian ginseng functioned as an adaptogen. An adaptogen, according to Bleakney, is a substance that supports health in healthy people, but also fights diseases, including viral infections like herpes, when they occur. Until recently, according 2010 information from the University of Maryland Medical Center, most scientific research on Siberian ginseng was conducted in Russia.
Significance
A 1995 study published in the "International Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine" reported that 93 people who took 400 mg per day of Siberian ginseng experienced "significant" reductions in the frequency, severity and length of herpes outbreaks. However, there were no untreated patients to provide a comparison and the "International Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine," is not listed by the National Library of Medicine because its studies are not subject to peer review by other experts in the field. As of October 2010, the National Library of Medicine lists just one study on Siberian ginseng and herpes. That study, published in the 2001 edition of "Antiviral Research," concluded that Siberian ginseng had "no effect" on the growth of the herpes virus in test tubes.
Dose
People can purchase Siberian ginseng as the dried, powdered root and stems, as a purified, solid product or an alcohol-based liquid extract. The University of Michigan Health System compares 2 to 3 g of dry powder or 20 to 30 mL of the liquid extract to the 400 mg dose of solid extract used in the "International Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine. MedlinePlus recommends choosing carefully. Many Siberian ginseng products contain "adulterants," where cheaper ingredients such as silk vine are substituted for Siberian ginseng.
Safety
MedlinePlus describes Siberian ginseng as "likely safe" for short-term use in healthy adults. The University of Michigan Health System says a "small number of users" have reported side effects including insomnia and mild, temporary diarrhea. People who take prescription or over-the-counter medications should consult their doctors before taking Siberian ginseng because it interacts with many commonly used drugs including those used to treat allergies, high blood pressure, heart problems, depression and diabetes. Siberian ginseng does not replace conventional medical treatment for herpes or any other condition.
References
- "Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine, 23rd Edition"; Anthony S. Fauci, M.D. et al.; 2008
- "International Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine"; Immunoprotecting Against Herpes Simplex Type II Infection by Eleutherococcus Root Extract; Mark Williams, N.D.; 1995
- "Antiviral Research"; Antiviral Activity of an Extract Derived from the Roots of Eleutherococcus Senticosus; Bernadette Glatthaar-Saalmuller et al.; February 2001
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Siberian Ginseng
- "Holistic Nurse Practitioner"; Deconstructing An Adaptogen: Eleutherococcus Senticosus; Tracy L. Bleakney, R.N., M.S.N.; July-August 2008
- MedlinePlus: Ginseng, Siberian
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