Witnessed by: TCM · Western
Siberian ginseng (Eleutherococcus senticosus), of the Araliaceae family. Prickly deciduous shrub with palmate leaves and dark berries; native range: forests of north-eastern China, the Russian Far East, Korea and Japan. Globally recognized as ci wu jia (刺五加) in Chinese, and eleuthero, devil's shrub, touch-me-not in English. The part used is root and rhizome (bark of the root). Woody fibrous root, faintly aromatic and slightly pungent, with a lingering bittersweet warmth.
In this cross-tradition database, we analyze how this substance operates across world medicine systems — tracking its traditional tastes, temperatures, tissue affinities, post-digestive effects, and planetary correspondences across Ayurveda, Unani, and Western herbalism.
SIBERIAN GINSENG
IDENTITY
Name
- Common
- Siberian ginseng
- Scientific name
- Eleutherococcus senticosus (Rupr. & Maxim.) Maxim.
- Family
- Araliaceae
Form
- Part used
- root and rhizome (bark of the root)
PROPERTIES
Nature
Taste
how the plant declares itself on the tongue
- TCM
- pungent · bitter
- Western
- pungent · aromatic
Temperature
- TCM
- warm
- Western
- warm
Affinity
where in the body it travels
Organs / channels
- TCM
- Spleen · Kidney · Heart
- Western
- immune · nervous system · adrenals
PRACTICE
Virtue
Actions
- TCM
- tonifies qi, strengthens the Spleen and Kidney, quiets the shen, and invigorates the blood to unblock the channels
- Western
- adaptogen, immunomodulant, tonic, anti-fatigue, and mild nervine and circulatory stimulant
Cautions
Contraindications: acute infection with high fever, uncontrolled hypertension, and excess-heat patterns
Toxicity: low; occasional mild insomnia, irritability or raised blood pressure at high dose
Interactions
- Western
- cardiac glycosides: reported elevation of serum digoxin on monitoring · antidiabetic agents: additive blood-glucose lowering · immunosuppressants: immunostimulant action may oppose therapy
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