1) Eleuthero root, Endurance and Energy Metabolism
In 1961 a test was done by A. V. Korobkov (as reported by Brekhman
in 1968) using a group of 30 male and female Olympic athletes. The group
included high-jumpers, sprinters,and decathlon contestants as well as 5
km., 10 km. runners and marathon runners. The extract was taken one hour
before training and 30 min. before sleep. A control group recieved a
placebo. All of the people given the actual extract noted increased
endurance and a willingness to repeat the exercises sooner after
completion. It was found that the control group was less active and
required a greater period of time after the exercises before their
pulses, blood pressures and muscle tone were restored.
Brekhman (1968) also reports on the work of Golovachieva who gave
Eleuthero root to bicycle racers. Afterwards they recieved a
disproportionately large number of winning places and their pulse, blood
pressure and muscle tone was sooner returned to normal.
Brekhman, I. I. : Eleutherococcus. Nauka Pub. House, Leningrad,
U.S.S.R., 1968
A study done on rabbits found that Eleuthero root increased the
glycogen (the form of sugar for energy kept in the body) storage of the
liver by 82% and of the muscles by 32% more than control animals.
Bykhovtzeva, T.L. and Polozhentzeva, M.I. : On the question of the
effect of Eleutherococcus on certain metabolic processes, published in A
summarized review of the study of Eleutherococcus in the Soviet Union.
The Academy of Sciences, Vladivostok, U.S.S.R. 1966
A study done on rats found that Eleuthero root extract enhanced
the muscle restoration of normal glycogen, ATP, creatine phosphate,
lactic and pyruvic acid levels after a two hour stress/swim test.
Brekhman, I.I., and Dardymov, I.V. : Mechanism of
increasing organism resistance under the effect of ginseng and
Eleutherococcus preparations.
Sb Rab Inst Tsitol, 14:82-85, Akad Nauk, U.S.S.R., 1971
2) Eleuthero root, the Nervous System and the Brain
Eleuthero root was shown in humans to produce improved cerebral
cortical functions. Sensorimotor reaction times were shortened and there
was a decrease in mistakes in distinguishing positive from negative
signals. The men were tested by doing proofreading and were found to
have a generally improved quality of work.
Yegorov, I.N. and Baburin, E.F. : The effect of Eleutherococcus on the
work of the Central Nervous System, pp. 167-172 as edited by Brekhman,
I.I., in Eleutherococcus and other adaptogens among the Far Eastern
Plants. Far Eastern Pub. House, Vladivostok, U.S.S.R., 1966
Eleuthero root improved the speed and accuracyof radiotelegraphers
(using morse code). It improved both the speed and the quality of their work.
Using the extract twice a day, the results continued to improve until they
leveled out after several days. It also reportedly improved the nerve conduction
to cortical hearing centers (of the brain) and improved the hearing of those who had hearing
loss due to high noise levels after one month of daily use.
Baburin, E.F., On the effects of of work and the hearing acuity of
radio telegraphers, pp. 179-84 as edited by Brekhman, I.I., in
Eleutherococcus and other adaptogens among the Far Eastern Plants. Far
Eastern Pub. House, Vladivostok, U.S.S.R., 1966
One Russian researcher (Stchichenkov) performed 60 tests to see how
Eleuthero root effected the acuteness and darkness adaptation of
vision. The participants received the extract one hour before testing.
The tests showed a marked increase in the sensitivity to light as well
as increased darkness adaptation abilities. The effect peaked at 8 hrs.
after administration and did not fully subside until 32-48 hrs. after
administration.
Stchichenkov, M. : The influence of liquid extracts from the roots of
ginseng and Eleutherococcus on the darkness adaptation and acuteness of
vision, pp. 241-44 as edited by Oranskaia, A. in Materials to the study
of ginseng and other Far Eastern plants. The Academy of Sciences,
Vladivostok, U.S.S.R., 1963
In 1973 a several year study was completed by Sandler (reported by
Brekhman) which examined the therapeutic value of Eleuthero root upon
human brain injuries. Most of the patients were severe cases. The study
used 124 people, half of whom formed the control group. The test group
recieved Eleuthero root extract one half hour before meals while the
control group recieved a placebo. Eleuthero root administration
resulted in a normalizing effect on brain activity and a higher
functional level of recovery. Among other things Sandler measured an
alleviation of neurodynamic disturbances in the vestibular apparatus and
normalizing effects on cerebral hemodynamics (as measured by
improvements in venous circulation and an increase of tone in cerebral
vessels), cortical neurodynamics (as shown by a proof-reading test),
unconditioned reflex vascularmotor reactions and leucocyte counts.
Sandler, B.I. : The influence of Eleutherococcus extract on cerebral
circulation in patients with acute cranio-cerebral trauma after
rheoencephalography, pp. 11:109-13 and Sandler, B.I. and Sandler, T.V. :
Influence of Eleutherococcus on ceratin clinico-biochemical indexes in
the blood of patients with acute craniocerebral trauma. 11:114-19. Lek
Sredstva Dal'nego, Vostoka, U.S.S.R. 1972
The preventative administration of Eleuthero root was found to
reduce the pathological effects of cerebral lesions in mice.
Kaplan, E.I. : The prophylactic effect of Eleutherococcus senticosus
in craniocerebral trauma in animals, 7:77-79, Lek Sredstva Dal'nego,
Vostoka, U.S.S.R. 1965
3) Eleuthero root, Hormones and Reproduction
Eleuthero root was found to increase the reproductive capacity of
bulls. It increased their semen production by 28%.
Maxsimov, Y.L. : Eleutherococcus as a vegetable stimulator of the
reproductive functions of horned cattle, pp. 96-102 in Eleutherococcus
in the animal breeding industry. The Academy of Sciences, Vladivostok,
U.S.S.R., 1967
Studies on mink found that Eleuthero root
reduced the number of sterile females and the number of stillborn cubs.
Brekhman, I.I. : Eleutherococc- experimental and clinical data, p. 26,
Foreign Trade Publication No. 28017/2, Moscow, U.S.S.R., 1970
4) Eleuthero root and Immunity
In 1977 Gagarin undertook clinical observations in a Polar region and
gave daily Eleuthero root to one thousand adult workers for five
months. In the area of the test daily temperatures would fall to minus
five degrees Fahrenheit. The result was a 50% reduction in general
sickness and a 40 % reduction in lost days from work over the period of
one year. Gagarin, I. : Prophylaxis of Eleutherococcus on patients in
Zanolajpyaj, 2:128. In Adaptations and Adaptogens. 1977
A study done in 1974-'75 by Gagarin (reported by Wikman in 1981) at the
Volga car factory in Togliatti, Russia involved one thousand, two
hundred drivers. Factors contributing to driver illness included long,
shaking drives coupled with exhaust fumes and extreme changes in
temperature. For each of the two years of the study the drivers were
given two, two month courses of Eleuthero root, one in the spring and
one in the fall (times of particularly higher illness). Compared with
1973, the overall level of illness at the factory rose 20% in 1975, but
the members of the experiment actually had a 20% lower level of illness
than before. Before the experiment there was no difference between the
blood pressures of the the test members and other drivers. In 1975 (the
second year of the test) the number if high blood pressures among the
test members was three and a half times less than the other drivers. 1n
1973 (before the experiment) test members lost 19% of work days to to
influenza, in 1974 it was 4% and in 1975 it was 9%. For non-test members
of the factory the levels of influenza rose rather than lessened in both
1974 and 1975 compared to 1973.
Wikman, G. : K.A. : the healing effect pof combined
Eleutherococcus/antibiotic treatment on experimentally induced chronic
radiation sickness, pp. 26-28, in The use of Russian root in
preventative medicine in industry. Swedish Herbal Institute, Gothenburg,
Sweden, 1981
During the spring in the Russian Maritime Territory the levels of
common cold type ailments rises dramatically. In 1962 Golikov and
Ikonnikov tested 445 young healthy males spending their first year in
the area. By taking Eleuthero root for ten days in the beginning of
March the general illness rate dropped in half, from 22% to 11%. There
was a four-fold decrease in short-term congestion and a complete
elimination of tonsilitis,
which typically increased in the spring.
Golikov, A.P., and Ikonnikov, N. : First trial on the prevention of
some diseases with Eleutherococcus and with other medicinal substances,
pp. 51-52 as edited by Brekhman, I.I., in The symposium on
Eleutheroccocus and ginseng. The Academy of Sciences, Vladivostok,
U.S.S.R., 1962
5) Eleuthero root, Cancer and Radiation Sickness
A study was done in 1964 by Khatnashvili on 75 people with cancers of
the lip and mouth who were to recieve radiation therapy. Thirty eight
recieved Eleuthero root
extract for two weeks while the other thirty seven in the control group
recieved a placebo. The extract was taken one hour before the radiation.
The extract group reported better sleep, better appetite and a renewed
interest in life. A greater normalization of pulse, blood pressure and
respiration was measured and taken as meaning that the radiation had
less harmful effects. While both groups had the tumor eliminated in
about the same time the test group showed tumor softening 3-5 days
eartlier and had their wounds healed up to one month sooner. Complete
lip restoration occured in 24 test members but in only 14 of the
controls. All patients were observed for two years following the
experiment and in the control group there were four recurrances and two
metastases while in the test group not a single recurrance was observed.
Katnashvili, T.M. : Trial of the use of the fluid extract of
Eleutherococcus in the treatment of patients with lip and mouth cancer,
pp. 163-164 in Materials for the conference on problems of medicinal
therapy at the oncology clinic. Leningrad, U.S.S.R., 1964
In 1966 Tzyrlina gave daily Eleuthero root along with the
chemotherapy drug Thio-TEPA to rats who had sarcoma tumors. The two
compounds appeared to have a synergistic effect on preventing new
tumors. While the size of already present tumors did not lessen, the
addition of Eleuthero root clearly decreased the number of metastases
particularly in the lungs.
Tzyrlina, E.V., On the combined effects of Eleutherococcus and
Thio-TEPA on the metastasis of sarcoma tumors in rats, pp. 95-100.
Edited by Brekhman, I.I., in Eleutherococcus and other adaptogens among
the Far Eastern Plants. Far Eastern Pub. House, Vladivostok, U.S.S.R.,
1966
In 1962 Maliugina observed that animals with melanoma and carcinoma
did not have the growth of existing tumors slowed by Eleuthero root.
In other tests however, Eleuthero root did decrease the development of
new sarcomas and carcinomas as shown by a 10%-40% lower rate of
metastases and a 150% to 200% increase in lifespan over controls.
Maliugina, L.L., Mironova, A.I. and Miuller, N.R. . The effects of
Eleutherococcus on the growth of transplanted tumor and on the
development of it's metastasis, pp. 28-30 as edited by Brekhman, I.I.,
in The symposium on Eleutheroccocus and ginseng. The Academy of
Sciences, Vladivostok, U.S.S.R., 1962
In 1962 Maianskii did a study to compare the effects of Eleuthero root together with antibiotics to those of antibiotics alone upon
animals suffering from radiation sickness.
In the combined therapy group the animals weight increased by 20% ,
their leucocyte count was about 15,000, erythrocytes were uneffected,
hemoglobin was 3% higher and reticulocytes first fell then rose to
normal. In the antibiotic only group the leucocyte count was about
13,000, erythrocytes were reduced by 500,000, hemoglobin was 3% lower
and reticulocytes remained at 3% reduction.
Maianskii K.A. : The healing effect of combined
Eleutherococcus/antibiotic treatment on experimentally induced chronic
radiation sickness, pp. 26-28 as edited by Brekhman, I.I., in The
symposium on Eleutheroccocus and ginseng. The Academy of Sciences,
Vladivostok, U.S.S.R., 1962
6) Eleuthero root and Stress
In 1966 Kirillov found that daily Eleuthero root given to rats under
various types of stress normalized the weights of the thyroid and
adrenal glands (usually shrunken by stress) and eliminated any evidence
of stress upon the functions of these glands.
Kirillov, O.I., and Dardymov, I.V. : The effect of Eleutherococcus on
the catabolistic changes caused in young rats by cortisone, thyroidine,
and 6-methylthiouracil, pp. 55-62 as edited by Brekhman, I.I., in
Eleutherococcus and other adaptogens among the Far Eastern Plants. Far
Eastern Pub. House, Vladivostok, U.S.S.R., 1966
In 1966 Trofimova tested rats under stressful conditions and found
that the thymus glands of those recieving Eleuthero root did not
lessen in size or deteriorate in function as a result. Trofimova,
G.A., The effect of Eleutherococcus on the stress reaction under
experimental neurosis in rats, pp. 42-44, as edited by Gutnikova, Z. I.
et al. : A sumerized review of the study of
Eleutherococcus in the Soviet Union. The Academy of Sciences,
Vladivostok, U.S.S.R., 1966
Studies done on animals by Rusin in 1962 showed that Eleuthero root
could reduce the stressing effects of cold temperatures by increasing
the animals general resistance to cold and helping them to maintain a
normal body temperature.
Rusin, I.Y.: Resistance of animals to unfavorable effects increased by
Eleutherococcus, pp. 20-21 as edited by Brekhman, I.I., in The symposium
on Eleutheroccocus and ginseng. The Academy of Sciences, Vladivostok,
U.S.S.R., 1962
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