In this article we will talk about a plant that enjoys equal respect from both official medicine and folk medicine. This natural healer is Eleutherococcus. Useful properties and contraindications for use vary depending on the patient's health, age, gender and some other factors. We will focus on the peculiarities of taking over-the-counter medicines based on Eleutherococcus by women and men. Despite the fact that this plant is considered useful for everyone, there are certain restrictions on its use. We will also tell you what precautions should be taken in order not to be among the deceived buyers who purchased a counterfeit drug.
Botanical description of the plant
Eleutherococcus belongs to the Araliaceae family. In our country, the plant can be found in the Far East, in the Amur region and in the south of Sakhalin.
Of the approximately thirty varieties, only one species has found application in medicine - this is prickly eleutherococcus. Its beneficial properties are well studied and are considered in many respects similar to those of ginseng.
Medicinal eleutherococcus is a thorny shrub with numerous basal branches covered with thin and sharp thorns pointing down. These thorns are present only on young branches. The old ones are smooth gray trunks resembling woody ones.
The leaves are compound - on a long petiole there are several palmately arranged reverse-oval leaflets with small notches along the perimeter. The flower is a basket of yellow and purple pistillate and stamen florets. The fruit is a bunch of black berries, each up to 1 cm in diameter, with five large seeds inside. They ripen in September.
In medicine, the root of a plant such as Eleutherococcus is used. The beneficial properties of berries are poorly expressed, so they are not widely used in medicine.
The most valuable part of the plant
For the preparation of medicines, a perennial underground part, that is, a root, is used. A plant no younger than five years old has the greatest value. Despite the fact that the root system is highly branched, it is easily removed from the ground, as it is located in the upper soil layer. The area over which the rhizomes of one bush are stretched can reach up to 30 square meters. m.
In European countries, Far Eastern Eleutherococcus is well known. Its beneficial properties are valued no less than those of ginseng or
Not on the territory of Siberia and in the foothills of the Caucasus, where the climate is close to the Far East, Eleutherococcus is grown in nurseries. It likes to grow in warm, well-lit, elevated places in moist and warm forests with a predominance of coniferous and broadleaf trees.
In September, the entire Eleutherococcus, which has reached at least a meter height, is dug up. Useful properties and contraindications (berries are not included in our review due to their low pharmacological value) are always considered in terms of the value of the roots and rhizomes of an adult plant. It is on their basis that medicines are prepared.
What explains the very high biological value of a plant such as Eleutherococcus? Its beneficial properties and contraindications are due to the presence of rare anthocyanins, essential oils, resins, gums, pectins and glycosides in the roots. Glycosides, called eleutherosides, are the most essential constituent of the medicinal plant. They stimulate the production of endorphins, and also contribute to the synthesis of enzymes that accelerate the process of burning carbohydrates, preventing them from being deposited in ballast adipose tissue. There are seven eleutherosides in Eleutherococcus, and five of them are classified as lignans. They are responsible for unique antitumor, antihemorrhagic, antimicrobial, stimulant and adaptogenic properties. Eleutherococcus, the beneficial properties of which are sometimes correlated with those of another natural healer from the Araliaceae family, ginseng, unlike the latter, does not contain saponins.
General therapeutic effect
Medicines based on Eleutherococcus act very quickly, but not for too long.
The main focus is on strengthening the resistant functions of the body. With outbreaks of epidemics of influenza and SARS, it is necessary to take Eleutherococcus daily. Medicinal properties and contraindications are usually indicated in the instructions attached to the drug.
Eleutherococcus is unique due to its mild and multidirectional general tonic effect on the entire central nervous system.
As for restrictions, only natural, without the inclusion of additional components, pressed tablet Eleutherococcus has no contraindications by age. The medicinal properties and contraindications of each type of drug should be described in the annotation attached to the drug. This does not depend on whether the drug is multi- or monocomponent. Even if it is classified as a dietary supplement and is sold without a prescription.
After prolonged physical activity, it is very useful to take tablets that are crushed into powder and pressed into Eleutherococcus to improve oxygen metabolism inside the cells. Useful properties and contraindications (tablets can be with and without a shell) are tied to the individual indicators of each individual person. They are directly related to body weight, age, lifestyle, the state of the immune system, the presence of chronic diseases and other aggravating factors.
Men's Health Benefits
With increased physical exertion, accompanied by stress, even quite healthy men should take Eleutherococcus from time to time. Useful properties for men are expressed in the inclusion of adaptive reserves of the body. The plant helps to distribute the stress load evenly in order to prevent complications on individual systems or organs. For men's health, it is strongly recommended to periodically use the beneficial properties. It is advisable to take the tincture immediately before the start of an intense load associated with both mental and physical stress. It is most correct to add a liquid alcohol extract of Eleutherococcus directly to tea. Useful properties will appear very quickly. Thirty drops are enough for one glass of drink. You can pour boiling water over one tablet of the pressed root, let it brew for twenty minutes and drink.
Eleutherococcus helps to overcome chronic fatigue syndrome and, which is important for men, has a positive effect on the functions of the reproductive organs (reduced libido and erectile dysfunction).
Restrictions on use for men
It is not always possible for the representatives of the stronger sex to drink preparations of Eleutherococcus. In this context, let's talk about what other properties Eleutherococcus has. Contraindications relate to those cases when a person takes drugs that intensively affect the central system. This applies to both stimulants and sedatives. With epilepsy, without prior consultation with a doctor, you should also not drink Eleutherococcus. Useful properties and contraindications apply to both tablets and liquid solutions containing this plant.
Women's Health Benefits
Pregnant women, as well as breastfeeding, can take any medication only after the appropriate verdict of the doctor. The same can be said about Eleutherococcus. It is difficult to overestimate the beneficial properties for women during the rehabilitation period after suffering an infectious disease. Arterial hypotension, neurasthenia, asthenia and convalescence after a somatic disease are indications for the use of Eleutherococcus preparations. It is possible to use tablets, alcohol-containing tinctures and extracts, as well as syrups.
With hypotension, it is very good to drink Eleutherococcus regularly. Useful properties and contraindications (in tablets or in the form of a liquid emulsion, it does not matter) apply only to cases of individual intolerance. All preparations with this plant gently and quickly raise blood pressure, calm the nervous system and stimulate mental activity.
With increased emotional stress and after severe stress, which led to a critical decrease in blood pressure, it is recommended to immediately take a medicine containing eleutherococcus.
Many women do not feel well during the premenstrual period. They experience sensations consistent with chronic fatigue syndromes and seasonal depression. This is due to the specific hormonal changes that occur in every woman of reproductive age every month. You can significantly affect your well-being by including a multivitamin syrup or tablets with Eleutherococcus in your daily diet.
During menopause, it is also very useful to occasionally drink a course of Elutherococcus.
Restrictions on use for women
Well known speed, which is famous for Eleutherococcus. Useful properties and contraindications are most often detected when trying to combine it with other drugs. Equally important are the individual characteristics of the organism. Eleutherococcus should not be combined with barbiturates. Double action on the central nervous system of potent drugs can lead to unpredictable consequences.
During pregnancy and lactation, the alcohol-containing form of Eleutherococcus should be excluded. As for tablets, capsules and water-based syrups, their use is possible only after consulting a doctor.
As unpleasant consequences of an overdose, there may be an allergic reaction in the form of an itchy rash and redness on the skin, as well as slight diarrhea.
Release form
Eleutherococcus is available as liquid extracts and suspensions, as well as solid pills (tablets and dragees) and powder capsules.
Alcohol tincture is whole or crushed roots, infused with 40% ethyl alcohol. The proportion is 1:1. Both fresh and dried roots are taken as the main raw material. There may be sediment. Shaking is required before use. Store alcohol tincture in a dry, dark and cool place. Best of all - in the refrigerator, in the compartment for medicines. Alcohol tincture can retain its beneficial qualities for up to five years.
Eleutherococcus syrup is usually supplemented with ascorbic acid or rosehip extract. It is made in the form of a thick sweet syrup in water with sugar or a sweetener. 250 ml glass bottle. The storage method is similar to the alcohol extract, but not more than 12 months from the date of manufacture. Open syrup should be consumed within one month.
Capsules - gelatin flasks filled with dry powder from dried and crushed roots and rhizomes of Eleutherococcus and ascorbic acid. The mass of one capsule is 250 or 500 mg.
Tablets are produced in the shell and without it. Uncoated tablets are compressed powder from the dried roots of Eleutherococcus. They are used to make decoctions. Tablets in the form of a dragee with a shell are enriched with an extract from wild rose and other medicinal plants with the addition of vitamin concentrates.
Mode of application
Eleutherococcus preparations are taken orally only. The course of therapy for both women and men, in order to avoid addiction, should not exceed one month.
Multivitamin coated and dragee tablets are taken one at a time 20-30 minutes before meals.
Uncoated tablets can be swallowed with a glass of warm boiled water, or you can pour boiling water over it, insist in a warm place for 20 minutes and drink immediately or throughout the day. You can not drink milk and carbonated water.
Preparation of Eleutherococcus tincture at home
Alcohol tincture of Eleutherococcus can be prepared at home. To do this, you need to take three hundred grams of dry or 150 grams of fresh roots with rhizomes, cut into small pieces and pour one liter of ethyl alcohol or vodka. Insist in a dark place for two weeks. Stir or shake daily. After this period, the tincture is ready for use.
Daily intake is no more than 15-20 mg. For course therapy, it is recommended to drink half a teaspoon of the extract daily, for a month, three times a day.
Contraindications
Eleutherococcus preparations are biologically active supplements to the normal diet and are sold in pharmacies without a prescription, but you need to know in which cases you should refrain from taking medicines containing this plant. In this material, we have already mentioned some cases. This applies to pregnant and lactating women. It is contraindicated to combine preparations of Eleutherococcus with tranquilizers and barbiturates, and with taking antiepileptic drugs. You should not drink Eleutherococcus at night - you risk not falling asleep. With hypertension, it is also not recommended to drink it because of its ability to quickly increase blood pressure. And in general, with functional disorders of the cardiovascular and central nervous systems, self-activity with such a potent herbal medicine is fraught with serious problems. Therefore, with arrhythmia, myocardial infarction, stroke, arterial hypertension, Eleutherococcus will have to be forgotten.
With oncology, the plant described in the article cannot be taken, but to prevent the occurrence of neoplasms, it is even recommended to drink it in several courses throughout the year.
I must say that Eleutherococcus, like any herbal medicine, can provoke an allergic reaction. Moreover, an allergy to it does not manifest itself immediately. Visible symptoms occur after several days of regular use. In this case, this drug will have to be abandoned.
Another observation of phytotherapists concerns all herbal bioactive supplements. In one out of twenty cases, a reaction is possible that is directly opposite to the expected one, that is, instead of increasing the tone and improving the state of health, you can get a headache and a deterioration in general well-being.
Proper packaging is a sign of a conscientious manufacturer
To protect yourself from all possible risks, purchase medicines containing Eleutherococcus only in pharmacies or from official representatives, carefully study the accompanying documents. Each package must be supplied with instructions. A conscientious manufacturer of dietary supplements and drugs always reports the full chemical composition of their product, indications and contraindications for its use, method of use, possible side effects, etc. Pay special attention to the composition of the drug, its date of manufacture and expiration date, and also make sure that details of the manufacturer.
