Products Featuring This Herb:
Heaven Drops Wild Ginseng
Earth Drops Wild Ginseng
500 Ginsengs Drops
Ginseng Sublime (2 oz) $39.00
Siberian Ginseng
Shou Wu Formulation
Ant Essence Formula
Diamond Mind (100 Caps) $26.00
Will Power
Super Adaptogen

More Information:

Other Common Names
Acanthopanax,
Eleutherococcus, Siberian Ginseng, Manyprickle Acanthopanax Root

Page Number In Radiant Health
111

Pharmaceutical Latin
Acanthopanacis Radicis, Cortex
The dried root of Acanthopanax senticosus (Rupr. et Maxim.) Harms (Fam. Araliaceae)

Pinyin
Ci Wu Ja

Treasures
Qi and Jing

Treasure Rating
*****

Atmospheric Energy
Warm

Taste
Slightly pungent, somewhat bitter and astringent

Organ Meridian Systems
Spleen, Lungs, Kidney, Heart and Liver

Part Used and Form
The whole woody roots of the Acanthopanax plant.

Primary Functions
Adaptogenic. To reinforce qi, to invigorate the function of the spleen and kidney and to calm the nerves

Qualities
According to the Chinese Pharmacopoeia. Acanthopanax is used for: hypofunction of the Spleen and the Kidney marked by general weakness, lassitude, anorexia, aching of the loins and knees; insomnia and dream-disturbed sleep.

The herb has developed a major reputation as a premier supplement for those who require additional physical strength or who suffer as a result of low resistance to the side effects of extreme exertion. It aids in the recovery from hard exercise, as well as from extreme mental exertion. It is now routinely used by people required to engage in high stress, high energy-demanding activities such as high altitude flying, long-distance sailing, working in high or low temperature environments or in deep water. Acanthopanax is used by all Russian cosmonauts. The use of the extract of this herb in these endeavors has been reported to increase physical strength, sharpen concentration, improve various parameters of mental power, increase visual acuity, improve color vision and to promote healing power.

Acanthopanax has been used regularly as a tonic by the people of far northern China for over two thousand years, but was not used widely in the full Chinese system until the latter half of this century when phyto-biologists in the Soviet Union discovered that this herb, which they called Eleutherococcus senticosis, had profound adaptogenic functions, similar to those of ginseng. Acanthopanax has grown enormously in reputation, importance and popularity in the Chinese and Western herbal systems in the last few decades. In fact, Acanthopanax, which is better known in the Western world as Siberian Ginseng, has exploded in usage throughout the world, including Asia. Acanthopanax is now one of the most commonly available, and widely used Chinese tonic herbs on the American market. It is especially popular among athletes or physical workers who require substantial sources of adaptive energy and endurance, such as long distance runners, rock climbers, bicyclists, scuba divers, dancers, tennis players and by others seeking to enhance physical and mental performance, endurance and adaptability.

Acanthopanax is a very powerful adaptogenic agent. It is among the most famous and important adaptogenic herbs in the world. It helps expand the dimensions of work that one can perform, improving work capacity in both the short and long term. Athletes and workers all over the world have found that regular consumption of the extract of this herb provides endurance and the capacity to handle heavy work loads with less strain on the body. Although Acanthopanax is an extremely safe herb that has been clearly demonstrated to have no negative side effects, it has been banned for use by Olympic athletes because it provides an “unfair competitive advantage.” This should not deter other athletes from using it. It contains no steroids or other dangerous chemical agents. Its benefits are derived from its broad spectrum of eleutherosides, chemical agents that help the nervous and endocrine systems to perform at a higher level. These eleutherosides are saponins, which are very similar to the saponins found in Panax Ginseng, Notoginseng and Gynostemma.

Acanthopanax increases respiratory power by improving the ability of the body to absorb and efficiently use oxygen. For this reason, Russian cosmonauts use it during space travel. Mountain climbers who scale peaks where oxygen becomes scarce commonly use Acanthopanax to reduce the stress on the body caused by the adverse conditions, and to absorb oxygen more efficiently. For the same reasons, any one engaged in hard physical activity will benefit from the consumption of Siberian Ginseng. It is a superb athlete’s tonic, especially for athletes who rely on respiratory endurance.

Acanthopanax helps regulate functions so that optimum physiological efficiency is achieved. Used regularly, the energy of the whole body will increase. This herb has been shown to reduce the activation of the adrenal cortex in response to stress, which means that it helps to prevent excessive stress reactions, which can in term damage other components of the endocrine and nervous systems and result in exhaustion. In clinical trials in which Acanthopanax was administered to healthy human subjects, results showed that Acanthopanax increases the ability of humans to withstand a wide range of adverse physical and mental conditions, such as exercise, increase in workload, noise, heat, motion and decompression. It was also shown in the same studies to improve athletic performance and the quality of work under stressful conditions.

Besides being characterized as a tonic herb, Acanthopanax is in fact also regarded as a mild, but significant “stimulant.” This stimulating action refers to the pharmacological ability of Acanthopanax to increase the work capacity of a person after a single dose of the preparation. This is in some contrast to its tonic action, which refers to its ability to increase work capacity after prolonged or continuous use of the substance. Work capacity is increased as a result of taking a tonic, not just during the time period when the substance is being used, but for a sustained period of time afterwards. Acanthopanax has the rare ability to both increase immediate energy and long-term energy, and is thus known as a “stimulating tonic.” It increases the general tone of the body, while adjusting and normalizing arterial blood pressure and blood sugar levels. It does not possess the negative side effects, depressing qualities or addictive potential of most other pharmacological and biological stimulants such as coffee, guarana, amphetamines, or cocaine, etc. It is the safest and healthiest known stimulant.

In addition to this, Acanthopanax has been shown to improve mental alertness and work output. Numerous studies have demonstrated that Acanthopanax has the ability to enhance sensorial perception, improving visual acuity and night vision, heightening auditory awareness, all while protecting the eyes and hearing apparatus from damage due to excess stimulation. In addition, considerable research and clinical evidence has demonstrated that Acanthopanax is a powerful immune modulator. It helps to build resistance to infectious disease and can prevent auto immune reactions. Studies have shown that Acanthopanax is especially useful in reducing the incidence of influenza in groups of people who consume it regularly.

All this adds up to one of the most useful and powerful health supplements known to mankind. In an era when workloads are intense, stress is ubiquitous and competition is the name of the game, Acanthopanax is the perfect adaptogenic substance to make part of your daily regimen. Those who use high quality Acanthopanax quickly discover that it is one of the great tools in natures herbal arsenal. It provides an abundance of both quick and long-term energy that results in an improved ability to handle stress, and further results in the improvement of one’s capacities, both physically and mentally.

Scientific Data
Radix Acanthopanax contains glycosides including resin glycosides and phenolic glycosides. Five primary glycosides, which are called eleutherosides, have been isolated from the root. Many others of lesser quantity have been isolated.

Experiments have demonstrated that this herb exerts control functions over excitatory and inhibitory control mechanisms of the central nervous system. Numerous experiments have shown that this herb improves both the excitatory control mechanism and the inhibitory control mechanism. Its central excitatory, or stimulant, action has been reported to be quite similar pharmacologically to that of Panax Ginseng.

Extensive work has been conducted in the former Soviet Union as well as in China on the herb’s capacity to regulate the body reaction to non-specific stimuli. Both the root extract and the total eleutherosides have shown significant anti-fatigue activity. Eleutherosides have been shown to have a stronger anti-fatigue effect than ginsenosides (the glycosides present in Panax Ginseng). The stimulant and anti-fatigue actions of Acanthopanax have been proven in both animals and in humans For example, animals subjected to extreme exertion were tested after one hours rest to determine their oxygen deficit. Those that had been given Acanthopanax root showed that the oxygen deficit had been absolutely abolished, whereas those of the control group, tested under the same conditions, still had an oxygen deficit 62% higher than normal. Also, laboratory animals fed this herb had significantly increased tolerance to oxygen deprivation, as compared to animals not provided the herb. The herb is very widely used by humans to prevent altitude sickness, a disorder associated with oxygen deficiency. It is commonly used by mountain climbers.

Acanthopanax has been shown to exert a powerful protective action against numerous injuries that result from radiation, both chronic and acute. It doubled the survival time of animals exposed to lethal doses of irradiation, and when combined with antibiotics, tripled the survival period. It protects the erythrocytes from damage due to irradiation.

Laboratory experiments have demonstrated that Acanthopanax has marked detoxicant action, protecting animals against various poisons.

The antistress action of Acanthopanax has been studied in great depth. This herb has been found to be capable of altering the stress response mechanism in such a way as to prevent severe pathology associated with the mechanism. Laboratory results have demonstrated reduction in adrenal hypertrophy, maintenance of vitamin C content in the adrenal glands, prevention of atrophy of the thymus gland and reduction of gastric bleeding---all signs of stress syndrome progression. This antistress action has been proven to be due to the activities of eleutherosides E and B. Acanthopanax also prolonged the resistance to stress. Laboratory animals were subjected to extreme stress, resulting in exhaustion. Those given Acanthopanax did not experience cholesterol reduction, and shrinkage or weight loss of the thymus, spleen, liver, kidneys and heart. The animals which did not receive the herb did experience significant cholesterol reduction and shrinkage of the vital organs associated with severe exhaustion resulting from the extreme stress.

Acanthopanax prevents damage to various endocrine glands. In laboratory animals, it prevented adrenal hyperplasia due to ACTH, and reduced adrenal atrophy due to the administration of cortisone. Similarly, it prevented thyroid enlargement due to the administration of thyroxin, and prevented thyroid atrophy due to administration of methylthiouracil, a drug that normally causes atrophy of the thyroid. And again, it lowered blood glucose to normal in drug induced hyperglycemic animals while increasing the blood glucose in insulin-induced hypoglycemic animals.

Acanthopanax has been found to exert a stimulant action on the endocrine functions of the gonads and adrenals of laboratory animals, resulting in significant increases in mating activity.

The remarkable normalizing ability of Acanthopanax was again demonstrated when it was shown to regulate the red and white blood cells and blood pressure. Cobalt nitrate is known to cause an increase in erythrocytes (red blood cells). Acanthopanax normalized the red blood cell count in cases of increased erythrocyte as a result of cobalt nitrate. Phenylhydrazine decreases erythrocyte count. Acanthopanax normalized erythrocyte counts in the case of the increase due to phenylhydrazine. Similarly, Acanthopanax normalized blood pressure in laboratory animals, whether the blood pressure was high or low to start with. This regulatory effect of Acanthopanax has been observed clinically in humans. Therefor Acanthopanax is used clinically in China, Korea, Russia and Japan to regulate blood pressure. After profuse bleeding, Acanthopanax promoted the recovery of hemoglobin and stimulated antibody production. Blood pressure in either hypertensive or hypotensive patients generally normalizes after oral administration of Acanthopanax, according to numerous clinical reports.

Acanthopanax has been shown to promote antibody formation and to protect the immune system, in particular to prevent leukopenia (depressed white blood cell count) due to various cytotoxins. When the herb, as well as its polysaccharides, were administered to tumor-bearing mice, the average number of splenic macrophages was markedly increased, as was the splenic weight of the animals. Oral administration of Acanthopanax provided prophylactic and therapeutic actions against Ehrlich ascites carcinoma and sarcoma 180. It has also been shown to reduce the transplantation rate of other forms of experimental cancer in laboratory animals. The herb consistently inhibited induced tumors in laboratory animals. For example, the extract of the root, when added to drinking water, inhibited the metastasis of SSK sarcoma and Walker carcinoma in rats.

The extract of the root as well as the eleutherosides isolated from the root have been found to have gonadotrophic action. When the root extract or total glycosides (as well as certain specific eleutherosides) were administered to young male mice, the RNA content increased as did the weight of the prostate gland and testicles and total body weight. The eleutherosides prevented testicular and prostatic atrophy in castrated laboratory animals. Acanthopanax effected females similarly. It promoted early maturity and increased body weight in female mice and increased the number of eggs laid by hens, as well as increasing the total nitrogen and protein contents of the fallopian tubes.

It has been demonstrated that Acanthopanax has anabolic action which can result in an increase in lean body weight. Acanthopanax, however, differs from the steroid anabolic hormones. It does not have a masculinizing effect.

Acanthopanax has been found clinically useful for chronic bronchitis, where it has proven antitussive, expectorant, bronchodilatory, anti-asthmatic and antibacterial actions. Its effects on chronic bronchitis has been found to be especially useful for elderly patients. Patients taking daily doses between 8-22 grams (given in three doses) showed a 50% increase in vital capacity, compared to 29% in the control group. The herb also improved the reaction of the pituitary-adrenal system in these patients. The patients became stronger and had a strong recovery rate.

Acanthopanax is highly effective in treating and preventing altitude sickness. One experiment, involving over 200 soldiers in Tibet, resulted in a 97.3% effective rate.

The extract of Radix Acanthopanax is widely used clinically in Asia. It is broadly used as an adjunct in the treatment of chronic diseases, where numerous reports indicate that the herb increases physical strength of patients, especially those who have undergone surgery, severe acute illness and exhaustion. The root extract is commonly used clinically to relieve the symptoms and pain due to rheumatic arthritis. The herb is also used clinically in China during the treatment of diabetes mellitus.

Acanthopanax has been demonstrated to be a remarkably safe substance. No abnormalities resulted from administration of Acanthopanax to mice at 350 g/kg., a very high dosage. When mice were given doses 220 times the clinical dose, they showed no abnormalities after seven days. The animals were able to tolerate administration of the herb extract throughout their life span without toxic reactions. In fact, continuous treatment for six months prolonged their average life span, and did not adversely affect ensuing offspring.

Primary Combinations
Often used alone as a tonic. Combine with:

1. Tang Gui to build qi and blood, yin and yang
2. Morinda Root and Deer Antler to strengthen the Kidney yang
3. Astragalus Root to fortify Wei Qi (defensive energy)
4. Polyrhachis and Ganoderma to improve circulation and preserve one’s youth

Varieties and Grading
There is considerable confusion in the world market as to how to determine true Siberian Ginseng. True Acanthopanax comes either from Soviet Siberia or the northernmost province of China, Heilongjiang, which is a frigid area adjacent to Soviet Siberia. The plant is common in Heilongjiang, but does not grow in any abundance elsewhere in China. It is very difficult to find Acanthopanax root in herb stores in America. The herb itself is the woody root of the above-ground shrub. Because of its woody nature, it takes a large quantity of the root to yield even a small amount extract. Generally, it takes fifty pounds of Acanthopanax root to produce one pound of finished extract powder. For this reason, it is generally found only as a finished product as an extract. Most Acanthopanax is processed in China and sold in America as either concentrated powder in capsules and pills or as liquid concentrates. High quality Acanthopanax roots are large (0.5 ~ 1.5 inches thick). The best extracts are dark in color and are strongly bitter in flavor. Do not get this herb confused with Acanthopanax gracilistylus (Chinese: Wu Jia Pi), which is the root bark of a related species used specifically in Chinese herbalism to treat rheumatism, but which does not have the tonic qualities of Acanthopanax senticosus. This medicinal Acanthopanax is the herb sold at Chinese herb shops in Chinatowns throughout America.

History
Acanthopanax senticosus has been used in China for over 2,000 years. It is believed to have been first described in the Shen Nong Ben Cao where the Spirit Farmer graded it a general herb and described it as being useful for promoting energy and curing rheumatism. Later, Li Shih Chen, in his great Catalog of Medicinal Herbs, upgraded it to a superior herb, indicating the he believed that Acanthopanax has a primarily tonic, anti-aging nature rather than a medicinal effect. He describes it as follows: “Its action is to invigorate physical energy, regulate vigor, strengthen the skeleton and tendons and increase one’s ambition. If administered over a long period of time, it can delay weakness and aging. Indications for its use include sexual debility, overly-frequent urination, lumbago (low-back pain), rheumatic pain in the legs and weakness of vigor and vitality.”

Historically, there has been some confusion as to which species is really the tonic and which are more medicinal. Studies done in the Soviet Union and in China clearly identified the correct species during the 1960’s. Acanthopanax, referred to as Eleutherococcus in Soviet sources, has become one of the most popular and widely respected herbal tonics in the world.