Siberian Ginseng & Urinary Calcium

Siberian ginseng, now more often known as eleutherococcus senticosus or simply as eleuthero, has a long history of medicinal use in the China, Korea and Russia. Russian athletes use this herb as an adaptogen, a non-medical term used to describe substances that enhance overall well-being and increase resistance to physical, chemical and biological stress. Siberian ginseng, which differs from Panax ginseng, might have some effect on urinary calcium excretion, but only one animal study has shown this effect. Talk to your doctor about the possible benefits of taking Siberian ginseng.

Uses

Siberian ginseng is used to increase energy output, reduce chronic stress, strengthen the immune system and enhance athletic performance. Like many herbs, most available studies on its effects come from laboratory or animal studies; the herb might not have the same effect in humans. The active ingredients comes mostly from the plant's roots.

Studies

The only available study on the effects of Siberian ginseng on urinary calcium excretion, a Russian animal study published in the March 2002 issue of the "Bulletin of Experimental Biology and Medicine," looked at osteoporosis induced by glucocorticosteroid use. Researchers found that Siberian ginseng reduced urinary calcium excretion in mice with steroid-induced osteoporosis. Siberian's ginseng's effects might come from its ability to bind to glucocorticoid receptors. Siberian ginseng has not been studied as a treatment for any other type of urinary calcium loss.

Causes of Urinary Calcium Loss

Increased calcium loss in the urine often occurs if you absorb too much calcium into the bloodstream or ingest too much calcium or vitamin D, which helps the body absorb calcium. Chronic kidney disease can also cause high urinary calcium loss, medically termed hypercalciuria. A 24-hour urine collection is the only way to assess urinary calcium levels. Doctors consider levels over 300 milligram per day as high, according to MedlinePlus. Siberian ginseng has no known benefit in treating most causes of hypercalciuria.

Risks

Siberian ginseng can interfere with certain prescription medications, most notably digoxin, a medication used to treat heart disease, diabetic medications, blood thinners, sedatives and psychiatric medications such as lithium. Children and pregnant women should not take this supplement. This herb may also have estrogenic effects; women with estrogen-dependent tumors such as breast or uterine cancer should take this supplement only under their doctor's supervision. Ask your doctor before taking Siberian ginseng to treat any medical condition.