Siberian Ginseng (Eleuthero) is a relative of true Ginseng and grows in Siberia, Mongolia and northeastern China. It is used to treat low vitality, aid endurance, improve memory and help manage stress. It is widely used to regulate blood sugar levels, and is taken daily by athletes to build stamina.
Another way that Siberian Ginseng (Eleuthero) reduces stress on the body is to combat harmful toxins. Eleuthero has shown a protective effect in animal studies against chemicals such as ethanol, sodium barbital, tetanus toxoid, and chemotherapeutic agents. Eleuthero also reduces the side effects of radiation exposure. In animal and in vitro studies, Eleuthero has demonstrated effects of radiation protection (Yonezawa et al., 1989) and stress reduction (Takasugi et al., 1985). After the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear disaster, many Russian and Ukrainian citizens were given Eleuthero to counteract the effects of radiation. Eleuthero was also commonly used in Russia in oncology hospital departments to increase the tolerance of the patients to the adverse effects of chemotherapy and radiation therapy (Gvamichava, 1966; Khatiashvili, 1964, 1966; Kupin, 1986a, 1986b).
