Eleuthero is a woody, shrub-like plant in the ivy family that is native to Asia. Although this herb is better known as Siberian ginseng, use of the word “ginseng” in the U.S. is now limited to the Panax genus so the term is no longer accurate (or legal for marketing purposes). Eleuthero is thought to act as an adaptogen, a class of herbs that supposedly boost the body's resistance to stress. Proponents claim that eleuthero can also help with these health conditions:*
- Alzheimer's disease*
- Arthritis*
- Atherosclerosis*
- Bronchitis*
- Chronic fatigue syndrome*
- Colds*
- Diabetes*
- Fibromyalgia*
- Flu*
- High blood pressure*
- Insomnia*
- Kidney disease*
- Rheumatoid arthritis*
In addition, eleuthero is sometimes used to improve athletic performance, boost the immune system, and ease the side effects of chemotherapy.*
