Best Herbs to Combine With Siberian Ginseng
Herbs That Combine Well With Siberian Ginseng
Siberian ginseng (Eleutherococcus senticosus) has been popular for decades in regions of Eastern Europe and Central Asia for its ability to improve mental and physical performance, as well as immunity. However, like other herbs, it often shines the most when combined with other remedies. Here are some of our favorite remedies to combine with Siberian ginseng, including other adaptogens and stimulants.
Immune-Boosting Herbs
Siberian ginseng has shown beneficial effects in reducing the rate and severity of infections. Newer studies on these properties often combines it with other herbal remedies, such as astragalus and echinacea.
Astragalus
Astragalus (Astragalus membranaceus) is well-known as an immune booster, and may even have anti-aging effects on our DNA. Additionally, it has specific benefits for certain immune cell types that can learn and remember certain infections.
Lab research shows that astragalus increases the strength of dendritic cells and T cells’ responses against microbes and other harmful cells. As this also means more inflammation, it’s best that you use astragalus as a preventive and combine it with herbs that moderate inflammation, such as Siberian ginseng.
Herbal Combinations For Inflammation
The symptoms of infection are often caused by the inflammatory response against it, not the microbes themselves. Chronic inflammation does not necessarily involve an infection, but has many potential origins such as environmental toxins, food intolerances, and genetic disorders.
Familial Mediterranean Fever is one rare, difficult to treat type of chronic inflammation. It triggers episodes of pain and fever despite the lack of any real infection. However, a trial testing Siberian ginseng with andrographis, schisandra berry (Schisandra chinensis), and licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra) may have found an answer. The herbal mixture almost halved the duration, severity, and frequency of inflammatory attacks, while the placebo had little effect.
Echinacea
Echinacea (Echinacea purpurea) is a popular herb in the West for supporting immunity, particularly during flu season. Another clinical study compared a pairing of echinacea and Siberian ginseng to not only a triple combination that included adhatoda, but also a placebo. Here, volunteers with upper respiratory tract infections recovered two days earlier regardless of which herbal combination they took. Instead of needing eight days of treatment, they only required six days.
Brain-Building Remedies
Clinical trials in the old Eastern Bloc found benefits of Siberian ginseng included faster reaction times, fewer errors on standardized tests, and faster reaction times. With larger effects often being seen with higher doses, and study sizes of up to hundreds of people, you can be quite confident in the results.
This doesn’t mean Siberian ginseng couldn’t use a helping hand. Medicinal mushrooms often have deep, regenerative properties on various parts of the body, including lion’s mane (Hericium erinaceus) and reishi (Ganoderma lucidum).
Lion’s Mane
Lion’s mane may increase nerve growth factor (NGF) and other substances that enhance brain cell regeneration and development. We once thought this process was impossible, but new ways to support it are becoming more well-known and well-tested.
One clinical trial on lion’s mane tested it against mild cognitive impairment, the precursor to Alzheimer’s disease. Over the one-year study period, scores for cognition, activities of daily living, and the 30-point Mini Mental State Exam all improved among volunteers using lion’s mane. Sadly, all scores worsened in the placebo group. Lion’s mane also reduced loss of brain tissue and improved the organization of brain cells.
Reishi
Reishi, sometimes called the Mushroom of Immortality, is most well-known for building immunity and energy levels. It could also fight the age-related loss of brain cells through enhancing neuroregeneration.
Similar to lion’s mane, reishi is able to support the development of brain cells and the connections between them. Reishi helps the “children” of your brain’s stem cell pool differentiate into mature cells, and increases their growth. As for everything from stem cells to mature neurons, reishi may protect your nervous system from everyday damage.
Boosting Physical Performance
Siberian ginseng’s popularity as a fatigue fighter has spread across the world. For the best results possible, why not combine it with other natural performance boosters?
Cordyceps
Cordyceps militaris is another medicinal fungus we provide to Canadian customers at Zhi Herbals. Although cordyceps is usually a parasitic fungus that attacks certain caterpillar species, we source it from producers who grow it on organic brown rice.
In a lab study, cordyceps was shown to improve grip strength through enhancing energy production. This included an ability to increase the absorption of sugar into muscle cells, which possibly points to benefits for your metabolic health. It took mice several weeks to show gains in strength, but the effects are worth it.
Guarana
Although Siberian ginseng may help you build stamina in the long-term, stimulants such as guarana could be beneficial for a short-term lift and its complementary benefits.
Guarana is a rich source of caffeine, the world’s most popular stimulant thanks to its fast-acting and usually well-tolerated effects. Better yet, it may increase the production of new mitochondria, enhancing energy production right from the source. A lab study found that it could more than double mitochondria counts in the muscle, possibly giving you improved stamina.
As some research shows that Siberian ginseng’s benefits wear off after a month or two of consistent use, you may benefit from cycling it. During the “off” month, a stimulating herb with different biological effects, such as guarana, can keep you going.
Ready To See For Yourself? Order Organic Siberian Ginseng From Zhi Herbals
Siberian ginseng is a well-loved herbal remedy for immune health and performance. While older research from the Eastern Bloc typically tested it alone, newer clinical trials have used it as part of combination formulas.
If you’d like to try Siberian ginseng or any of the herbs described in this article, Zhi Herbals stocks the best selection in Canada of organic and wildcrafted herbs and mushrooms. Not only do you get to minimize exposure to toxic contaminants, but you can be assured that you’re contributing to the sustainable management of medicinal herbs worldwide.
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References
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