It’s easy to get caught up in a busy schedule of activities and tasks, especially this summer after being apart for so long. As we begin to come into community collectively, each in our own way, we will need our plant-based allies to help alleviate the stress this season brings.
Don’t worry, one of our favorite forest friends is here to help us keep cool: the adaptogenic herb Eleuthero (Eleutherococcus senticosus).
Botanical description
Eleuthero, a perennial member of the Araliacea family, grows in the Russian taiga (forest) and the northern regions of China, Japan and Korea. In its deciduous habitat it is an understorey woody shrub whose roots are unbroken. They connect enormous distances and the shrub can grow up to six meters high!
Along the largely unbranched stems, you will find downward-pointing spines or thorns on younger stems, while older stems become smooth. The leaves are palmately compound with five elliptical leaflets and a serrated edge. They are often attached to the stem with reddish petioles. Flowers are small, multiple and umbellate, and they can be female, male or bisexual. Fruit is a drupe with multiple grains, which appear as black berries.
Other names: Pinyin: Ci Wu Jia, Ussurian Thorny Pepperbush (formerly Siberian Ginseng*)
Parts used: root (outer bark and rhizome)
Phytochemicals: eleutherosides, triterpenoid saponins, phytosterols and polysaccharides
Harvest: autumn
*In another WishGarden Herbs blog we discussed the previous name of Eleuthero (Acanthopanax senticosus, Siberian ginseng) and how ginseng is now reserved for the genus Panax.
New on the scene: Adaptogens
We all face constant daily stressors and need help finding our balance. Adaptogenic herbs are allies of superheroes in our current time. They are revered for their exceptional ability to enhance our body’s ability to adapt to a range of stressors. Specifically, adaptogens like Eleuthero support our endocrine system by normalizing stress hormone levels, improving our energy and endurance, leading to strength in both the mind and physiological functioning. But where does the term ‘adaptogen’ come from?
Near the beginning of the Cold War, in 1948, the term “adaptogen” was coined by Dr. Nikolai Lazarev, a Soviet scientist whose search for the perfect performance tonic led him to Eleuthero. After this discovery, he and another Soviet researcher, Dr. Brekhman, thousands of clinical trials and studies on Eleuthero and other herbal adaptogens in.
At the 1976 Montreal Olympics, the majority of… Russian Olympians used Eleuthero to increase stamina and endurance. It was also included in the space program for all Russian cosmonauts. Fast forward to the 1990s, and Dr. Brekhman had formulated a blend of adaptogens that more than 150 American athletes used during the 1996 Atlanta Olympics.
Whether you’re training for a marathon or just trying to get through a Monday morning at work, Eleuthero has become one of our greatest allies in the fight against stress.
Plant walk with Eleuthero
While I can’t lead you all through the wilderness of the tiaga, we can discover how Eleuthero is germinated in America by hand and heart with two herbal elders.
First, let’s take a drive down an old dirt road to visit a beloved teacher and sacred steward of plants, Joe Hollis, who germinates and manages Eleuthero, along with approximately 500 spp. of other medicinal plants. It has been a labor of love in developing his Paradise Garden (formerly called Mountain gardens) in the Black Mountain forests of western North Carolina. In this short video Joe takes you on a herbal walk to meet Eleuthero.
Then let’s travel north to the rocky coast of Maine to Avena Botanicals to meet the beloved, fun-loving herbalist, gardener, teacher and author Deb Soule. Deb’s biodynamic agricultural and sacred connection to plant vitality has served her community for decades. In this short video, Deb highlights the essence and process of growing Eleuthero on her land.
Energize and de-stress this summer with Eleuthero
As we dive headlong into the hustle and bustle of summer, we look for ways to beat the heat and relax. Luckily, Eleuthero has your back – seriously. This powerful herb can help us get rid of it because it improves our exercise by supporting our heart rate and circulation. When we’re low on energy, Eleuthero is a caffeine-free option to help us reduce fatigue by acting as a deeply nourishing tonic for the kidneys and adrenal glands. It’s the friend who turns the volume up to 11 and turns it down to 5 so you can think clearly and make decisions again. No matter where your stress comes from – emotional, environmental, physical or a combination – seek Eleuthero for adrenal rescue.
Eleuthero pairs well with many other plant-based allies, such as Milky Oats, Tulsi, Skullcap, Motherwort, Peppermint, Borage and Nettles. You’ll also often find it paired with dandelion root and fungus friends as a coffee substitute.
A few of my favorite formulas here at WishGarden have Eleuthero in the mix to help me feel clear and good. Genius Juice Refresh & Focus is my favorite energy boost after a long night of dancing until sunrise. This mix helps me get past the 3-hour slump and is also known to ease breathing at high altitude, making it an ally for friends visiting Colorado from sea level.
When you feel like your adrenal tank is empty, our Deep Stress Adrenal Rescue with Ashwagandha formula is like receiving a nourishing and energizing hug from a dear friend. And not just any friend. The friend who understands you really understands you. The herbs in this blend support me to the core and make it easier to face the ebbs and flows of life with more grace. And that’s an excellent reason to collaborate with plants, don’t you think?
References
- Eleutherococcus senticosus. (2006). Review of alternative medicine: A Journal of Clinical Therapeutic, 11(2), 151-5.
- Bot K, Mills S. (2013). Principles and practice of herbal medicine. Elsevier health. China. (pp. 818-825).
- World Health Organisation. WHO Monographs on Selected Medicinal Plants, Vol. 2: Radix Eleutherococci. World Health Organisation. 2002. Geneva, Switzerland.
- Skenderi G. Herbal Vade Mecum. Rutherford, NJ: Herbacy Press; 2003.
Dawn Amber Miller has apprenticed and studied in the United States of America and has received certifications in traditional and medical herbalism from the Appalachia School of Holistic Herbalism, the Commonwealth Center for Holistic Herbalism, and the Hawthorn Institute. A passionate steward of nature’s sacred realm, she moves with the wildflowers, tending the rituals of wildcrafting with heart and hand. She is currently a Customer Journey Representative at WishGarden Herbs.
For educational purposes only. This information has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease, or to sell any product.
Read further