Siberian ginseng, commonly called eleuthero, is a distant relative of American and Asian ginseng, but it is not the same herb and does not contain the same active ingredients. Siberian ginseng is often used to improve strength and help people cope with stress, but its effectiveness for these uses is unproven. Siberian ginseng does cause side effects and may pose serious risks to those with heart and other conditions. Talk to your doctor before taking Siberian ginseng.
Side Effects
People taking Siberian ginseng rarely experience side effects. But the herb can cause insomnia, diarrhea, nervousness, anxiety, sadness, muscle spasms, sleepiness, vomiting, headache, mental confusion, irregular heartbeat and nosebleed. Some people are allergic to Siberian ginseng.
Heart Issues
Siberian ginseng can increase blood pressure, so you should avoid it if you already have high blood pressure as it could worsen it, according to MedlinePlus. Siberian ginseng can also increase heart rate and cause a pounding or irregular heartbeat. If you have any kind of heart disease, such as coronary artery disease, rheumatic heart disease or a history of heart attack, do not take Siberian ginseng without talking to your doctor first.
Precautions
Because Siberian ginseng can sometimes interfere with sleep, if you have a sleep disorder like insomnia, obstructive sleep apnea or narcolepsy, talk to your doctor before taking Siberian ginseng. If you are pregnant or nursing, there is not enough information about the safety of Siberian ginseng to know whether it is safe or not. Siberian ginseng might make it harder for your body to stop bleeding after an injury, according to the American Cancer Society. If you have a bleeding disorder or are scheduled for surgery, talk to your doctor before taking Siberian ginseng. If you have diabetes, be sure to monitor your blood sugar levels carefully while taking Siberian ginseng, as it may affect blood sugar. Siberian ginseng may also worsen mental conditions like schizophrenia. Siberian ginseng may act like estrogen in the body, so you should avoid it if you have a condition that might be worsened by increasing your estrogen levels, such as uterine fibroids, breast cancer, endometriosis, uterine or ovarian cancer.
Interactions
Siberian ginseng can interact with many common prescription medications in ways that can raise the risk of side effects or alter the effectiveness of your medication. If you are taking any prescription drug, talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking Siberian ginseng. Some of the common drugs that can interact with Siberian ginseng include the heart medication digoxin, drugs that affect blood clotting like blood thinners or aspirin, sedatives, diabetes medications, alcohol, lithium, cholesterol-lowering statins and many others.
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