Siberian Ginseng

Eleutherococcus senticosus Origin: East Asia (via Belgium) Improvement status: Cultivated Seeds per packet: ~35 BOTANICAL SAMPLE - NOT GERMINATION TESTED Life cycle: Perennial Also called taiga root, eleuthero, ciwujia, devil's shrub, shigoka, touch-me-not, wild pepper, or kan jang, this plant's many names are an indication of its importance to many peoples. It has a long history of medicinal use, especially in China, Japan, and Siberia (see photo of honey with Siberian ginseng, snapped in a Vladivostock market). While not in the same genus as ginseng, it is in the same plant family (Arialiaceae). The plant itself is a smallish woody shrub with thorny steps and five-lobed compound leaves. Its flowers are pretty white pom-poms, followed by dark purple berries.The roots, leaves, and berries of Siberian ginseng are each loaded with different chemical constituents, leading to the different parts having different medicinal applications. The berries contain diverse polyphenols, including ca