This is one of those supplements that I don’t think we hear enough about. It is an excellent adaptogen for sports performance, bodybuilding, or simply for fat loss.
Eleuthero regulates the activity of the adrenal cortex in response to stress. It stimulates the immune system, especially during times of strenuous physical exertion and stress, and appears especially beneficial for maintaining a healthy mood and mental alertness. The herb is an adaptogen, it is anticholesterolemic, it is slightly anti-inflammatory, it is an antioxidant, it is a nervous and immune tonic. It is useful when the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis is depleted. Symptoms of this condition include fatigue, stress, neurasthenia, and muscle aches associated with endocrine system hypofunction and adrenal exhaustion indicated by trembling tongue, dark circles under the eyes, and dilated/constricted pupils. Eleuthero can alleviate these symptoms.
Russian athletes use this type of ginseng to improve their endurance, reflexes, coordination, and athletic performance.
It is also believed to help regulate cortisol levels in the body. Cortisol is a hormone that is produced within the body to help cope with stress; Unfortunately, it also destroys the proteins needed to build and maintain muscle while causing the body to store excessive amounts of fat. More recently, cortisol has become known as the “abdominal fat hormone” due to its effect on the body to store more fat in the abdominal area. This supplement is exactly what you need if you want to lose belly fat.
Eleuthero has been shown to improve mental acuity and physical endurance without the letdown that comes with caffeinated products.(1) Research has shown that eleuthero improves oxygen use by exercising muscle.(2) What it does makes it an excellent complement to exercise and lose weight.
Historically, eleuthero was taken continuously for six to eight weeks, followed by a one to two week break before resuming. Be sure to read the bottle for any contraindications that may apply to you.
1. Farnsworth NR, Kinghorn AD, Soejarto DD, Waller DP. Siberian ginseng (Eleutherococcus senticosus): current status as an adaptogen. In Economic and Medicinal Plant Research, vol 1, ed. Wagner H, Hikino HZ, Farnsworth NR. London: Academic Press, 1985, 155-215 [review].
2. Asano K, Takahashi T, Miyashita M, et al. Effect of Eleutherococcus senticosus extract on human work capacity. Medical Plant 1986;37:175-7.
