Eleuthero Immune Tonic
February 19, 2009
I’m not a big fan in herbal medicines and the like but something recently caught my eye. Eleuthero is the root or stem of a plant from the Aralia family (which also includes ginseng) that grows mostly in China, Siberia, Korea and the north of Japan. It used to be marketed in the US as Siberian Ginseng but this is no longer the case as this is not a technically accurate description. Eleuthero can be used in herbal infusions, concentrated powders or even capsules. It works as a general tonic for the body and is said to alleviate stress and tiredness. It is an immune stimulant, an anti-inflammatory and can increase the quality of athletic performance. There is currently no hard evidence of side effects but it is generally recommended to avoid if you have high blood pressure. Since it may increase alertness, it is also best avoided in the hours before sleep.
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1.
Heidi | February 19, 2009 at 10:47 pm
Great post, If I may add, eleuthero is an “adaptogen” (an agent that helps the body adapt to stress). It is thought to help support adrenal gland function when the body is challenged by stress. Eleuthero has been shown to enhance mental acuity and physical endurance without the letdown that comes with caffeinated products. Research has shown that eleuthero improves the use of oxygen by the exercising muscle. This means that a person is able to maintain aerobic exercise longer and recover from workouts more quickly.
Dr. Heidi Peters
2.
RealClearFit | February 20, 2009 at 12:50 am
Thanks for all your comments! Heidi, that’s really interesting about improving the use of oxygen and the support of the adrenal gland! It really is amazing stuff. To say it’s a steroid, is not correct, but I can see why people might associate them since they are both performance enhancers. Steroids, as taken by bodybuilders, are basically synthetic hormones. Eleuthero has nothing to do with hormones and is natural, not synthetic. That said, it will give you a lift if taken regularly and I think this is key. I’m not so sure you’d see much of a difference if you took it now and again. Rather, it’s affects appear to be cumulative.
3.
Dan | February 19, 2009 at 10:51 pm
I think eleuthero has been used to increase stamina and endurance in soviet oympic athletes, explorers and mountain climbers.
Does the eleuthero plant have thorns? looks like it from the picture.
4.
randy | February 19, 2009 at 10:54 pm
I drink eleuthero tea everyday! I know as a fact that it was distributed to entire cities in Siberia in early winter to prevent colds and flu, and used as a treatment for radiation exposure after the Chernobyl nuclear accident.
5.
David Robson | February 20, 2009 at 12:28 am
I myself drinks loads of eleuthero tea everyday as part of my balanced diet. It’s great stuff, I like it ice cold during training it gives you that extra kick. It really works! I recommend it to my students, especially to boost physical endurance and strength.
David Robson
Personal Trainer & Martial Arts Expert
6.
O'donnell | February 20, 2009 at 12:32 am
i herd eleuthero works like a natural steroid, is this true?
7.
jessfitmaster | February 20, 2009 at 3:00 am
Eleuthero tea is tasty
8.
Andy_Fit | February 20, 2009 at 11:51 am
wow I did not know this! I’m going to buy the tea today, if David Robson takes it, im takin it!!!!
do you have more info on this plant?
9.
RealClearFit | February 20, 2009 at 12:02 pm
This post is getting a lot of attention so I’ll be sure to write more about eleuthero when I get the chance. I myself, have only just started to drink eleuthero tea. It’s real tasty and I’m sure that after some time, I’ll feel a little more energized but only time will tell. I’ll be sure to keep you updated with my own thoughts on it.
10.
ULTIMAMAN | February 20, 2009 at 11:56 am
it wokrs if you drink it everyday in 1 week you can already feel the difference – its like a miracle herb!