Eleuthero, once called Siberian ginseng, is an Asian shrub that has been
used for centuries in the traditional healing systems of China and
Japan. Although the herb is still referred to by its former name,
eleuthro is only distantly related to the Panax genus of “true” ginsengs
and does not contain ginsenosides. In fact, the plant is a member of the
ivy family.
The herb does contain several active compounds, however, including a
number of antioxidant polyphenols. The root also contains a compound
called syringin that stimulates the production of acetylcholine, which
triggers increased insulin release from the pancreas. For this reason,
use this herb with caution if you take pharmaceutical medications to
lower blood sugar.
