Uses: Fatigue, poor energy levels, lack of stamina, exhaustion from long endured stress

There are thirty or so related species of deciduous, often prickly, shrubs and trees belong to this genus. The plants occur in southern and eastern Asia and are a common part of that landscape. E. senticosus, Siberian ginseng, is from north-eastern Asia. The plant is fully hardy but is seldom seen in Western herb gardens. Oddly, it does not appear in traditional Russian medicine, but was researched by the Russian scientists Brekham and Dardymov from 1960. They were studying adaptogenic herbs and in their research happened unto this underused member of the ginseng family. Since then it has been widely publicised and marketed as a ginseng.

The name ‘ginseng’ is really a general term applied to various preparations from the roots of plants belonging to the family Araliaceae (ivy family). The plant was first discovered in 1955 when the two scientists travelled from St Petersburg to the Ussuri region of Russia. The plant was designated the genus name of eleuthero , meaning “free-berried shrub”, and the species name of senticosus , which means thorny in Latin.

The main active constituents of Siberian ginseng are a group of compounds called eleutherosides. There are 13 specific eleutherosides designated by the letters A to M. Siberian ginseng should be used primarily as a prophylactic agent (a preventative treatment) rather than as a remedial preparation. The record-breaking performances of Russian athletes have been attributed by some to the use of Siberian ginseng to raise the fatigue threshold and thereby enable athletes to undergo more vigorous training schedules than would otherwise be possible.

The key use of Siberian ginseng is as an adaptogenic since it increases the body’s resistance to stress and builds up general vitality. The term adaptogen was first coined in 1958 to describe the action of a substance which increased non-specific resistance to an organism to adverse influences such as infection and stress. The therapeutic use of Siberian ginseng include Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS), resistance to both mental and physical stress, combating fatigue and stimulant and regulating the immune system.

Perhaps the most popular use of Siberian ginseng is in the alleviation of symptoms of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS). This often debilitating illness is characterised not only by fatigue but alongside other symptoms such as frequent sore throats, musculoskeletal pain and low grade fever. Sufferers also commonly experience depression.

Siberian ginseng is best given as a standardised extract of the dried root containing 1% eleutheroside E and taken three times a day. Exhaustion should begin to subside within one month. No side effects were observed in Russian studies. Though a recently discovered plant, Siberian ginseng has been well studied and the reports are that if fatigue is a problem, Siberian ginseng may be the answer.

Practitioners’ Advice
Siberian ginseng and its vitality stimulating constituents have a wide field of use. It can be used when a person is recovering from an illness to get the healing process moving on along. It can be used by those who are going through a bad patch and need a little support getting through the troubled water. It can be used by people laid low by chronic illness, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Post Viral Syndrome, and HIV/and Aids as examples. Like all of the ginseng family members, this is vitality in a capsule or a tincture bottle. If you need a dose of vitality, you know who you are!

When the Chinese Buddhist monks made their way to Japan, they came bearing more than the word of Buddha. They brought knowledge of Ukogi. In Mainland China, it had been used in Traditional Chinese Medicine for a long time when the monks came to Japan. In China, Ukogi is mentioned as health stimulating tonic used to treat debility, or being run down. It appears in the oldest Chinese herbal, “ Shinnou honzoukyou ” or Divine Husbandman ‘ s Classic of the Materia Medica. The text was written by the Divine Husbandman one thousand five hundred years ago! Another Chinese medicine classic, “ Meiibetsuroku ” , written in 500AD, mentions it as both a male and female aphrodisiac. In yet another Chinese classic herbal, “ Honsoukoumoku ”( 1590AD) tells a rather telling tale. The book states that men who drank Ukogi liquor found themselves unable to get out of bed due to an insatiable appetite for sex. The same amorous gentlemen were said to live for three hundred years. Lurking in legend, many a truth can be found, as is the case with Ukogi.

In ancient China, the variety of Ukogi with five leaflets was especially favored (The number five was regarded as propitious). It was so popular amongst the ancient Chinese, an ode to Ukogi proclaiming its virtues was written in ancient times.

It would be fair to say that since the beginning of time Ukogi has been seen as an esteemed tonic and aphrodisiac in both China and Japan!

The Science of Ukogi
Ukogi has been used for hundreds of years to increase wellness, vitality, and vigor. Like all members of the Ginseng family, Ukogi is rich in a complex combination of chemical compounds. Research reveals these compounds, in a synergistic manner, do exactly what the ancients said the plant could do. They keep people well. The list of compounds it contains includes:
Phenylpropanoids ( 4-methoxysaalicylaldehyde)
Acids ( palmitic acid, linolenic acid)
Glucosides (β-sitosterol, acanthosides, l-savinin. L-sesanien. Syringaresinol)
Tannins
Essential oils (echinopanacene, echinopanacol)
Saponins (eleutherosides)
Polysaccharides

In clinical research, these compounds and indeed the crude drug, have been shown to stimulate several body functions essential to life.

Crude Drug Studies
• The herb has been found to increase adrenal capacity in stressed animals. Fight or flight is improved.
• Animals fed the root bark of Acanthopanax senticosus were able to swim significantly longer than controls; live longer than controls exposed to radiation, either acutely or chronically; live longer than controls exposed to the very toxic carbon tetrachloride; and have decreased rates of spontaneous cancers.
• In animals with high blood sugar either from food intake or cortisone ingestion, the herb lowered plasma blood sugar levels. In animals with low blood sugar from disorders of the islets of Langerhorn, the herb raised blood sugar levels. The implication being that the herb has a regulatory effect on blood sugar levels!
• This herb exerts a tranquilizing effect on central nerve system.
• Ukogi caused a 90% improvement in neurasthenia, a 60-90% improvement of high blood pressure, a 75% improvement in high cholesterol, a 65% improvement in impotence, and a 93% improvement in hypoxia in human subjects. It also increased the life expectancy of stomach cancer patients by 1-4 years.
• Human research conducted between 1972-1974 showed that the roots were effective against bronchitis and heart disease, and had no side effects.

History: A traditional treatment for exhaustion and debility
Science: Contains steroids that increase stamina and endurance
Practitioners’ opinion: Excellent for exhaustion following illness

Korean name: Ogapi / Japan name : Ukoki

Scientific name: Acanthopanax senticosus

Part Used: Root cortex and leaf

Principal Use: Loss of vitality, fatigue, exhaustion

Principal Action: Adaptogen and tonic

History and Traditional Uses of Ukogi
Ukogi is native to Japan, and grows wild in the mountains, fields, and riverside thickets. It is a deciduous shrub with thorny stems and branches reaching four meters in height. There are male and female trees, each bearing unisex flowers which appear in August. A close relative of notorious Panax ginseng, it is seen as a less expensive substitute for its revered relation.

The traditional uses for Ukogi include bronchitis, heart ailments, rheumatism, lumbago, headache, weak heart, abdominal pain, paresis, neuralgia, insomnia, menopausal problems and impotence. It is used to promote bone and muscle growth and strength, to restore vigor, memory, appetite, and to increase longevity. It is seen as being a stimulant to health, gently improving well-being.

In country places where the thorny shrub grows wild, local people use virtually every part of the plant. Country people pick the young shoots and leaves in spring as a tasty seasonal treat. The mature leaves are picked , dried, and used to make a healthy tea. The fresh root bark is soaked in clear liquor to make a vitality boosting cordial. Roots are dug in winter and dried in the sun to be used in health stimulating medicine. There are two different varieties; one with five leaflets and the other with three leaflets. Country people do not distinguish the two varieties and use them interchangeably.

Rinse the herbs with cold running water; then soak it for 30min. Water : Herbs (3L : 100g)
Bring to a boil, lower the hear and simmer for a further 2hours.
Keep refridgerated and take 1cup 3times daily.(hot or cold)

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