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Siberian Ginseng | Biohack your Brain
19 December 2023 | James Kearslake
Table of Contents
Fun Fact
Siberian Ginseng earned its name not only from its place of origin but also due to its remarkable ability to thrive in cold climates. This robust herb can endure harsh Siberian winters, showcasing its resilience and adaptability in the face of challenging conditions.
What is Siberian Ginseng
By the far the most potent and powerful adaptogen we have yet to share with you.
If you want to open your mind up to new streams of thought, speed of processing, creative thinking, and problem solving, Siberian ginseng is your adaptogen.
It isn’t for the faint heated, however.
Siberian Ginseng is an efficacious adaptogen, but one needs to be able to control their mind when taking it.
If you are not ready for the uplift in cognitive processing, mood, and energy, you may experience hyperactivity, be unable to focus, and have struggle sleeping.
Siberian Ginseng is a superpower, but you need to channel its energy effectively.
Scientifically known as Eleutherococcus senticosus, it grows in the mountainous regions of Siberia, Eastern China, Korea, and Japan.
Although it has a similar name to American Ginseng and Panax Ginseng (also known as Asian Ginseng and Korean Ginseng), it is in fact a separate plant species and does not contain ginsenosides.
Siberian Ginseng has been taken for centuries in traditional remedies to build immune defence, improve energy, and boost vitality.
However, it wasn’t until the 1940’s that it was formally studied Dr. Israel I. Brekhman and classified as an adaptogen.
In the following 30 years, the Soviet Union deployed Siberian ginseng as a performance enhancing supplement for Soviet Olympic athletes, and as a beneficial supplement for Soviet astronauts when they went into space.
And today, I use Siberian ginseng in my morning smoothies to enhance my own cognitive functioning, productivity, and activate my state of peak performance.
Selfishly, I fear the day Siberian Ginseng reaches the mass market and we hit supply shortages globally.
However, with the scale at which Siberian Ginseng increases cognitive functioning, processing, and speed, it would be unfair of us not to share the staggering benefits it has for the brain.
Benefits of Siberian Ginseng
Siberian Ginseng has many benefits and how each person responds to it can vary.
However, it’s most notable benefits which most people will experience are its enhanced cognitive functioning, increased energy levels, and an increase in endurance and stamina.
Although, with this increase in energy can come a negative effect to your sleep if not managed properly.
For example, my ex-partner once tried Siberian Ginseng and was sat up until 4am complaining his mind couldn’t ‘stop processing infinite amounts of thoughts and information’.
That was the moment I learned not everyone can handle its increase in cognitive processing.
The benefits Siberian Ginseng offers you include:
1. Enhances Cognitive Function
Siberian Ginseng is a powerhouse for enhancing cognitive function and speed of processing.
It can be taken as a standalone supplement to enhance cognitive processing, achieve cognitive clarity, and improve energy levels mentally and physically.
Studies in 2019 and 2020 showed that Siberian Ginseng enhances cognition, memory, as well as showing a reduction in anxiety biomarkers.
2. Activates a state of Peak Performance
The marked increase in cognition helps the brain move into a space of peak performance, or as sometimes known ‘a state of flow’.
Within just a few hours of taking Siberian Ginseng, users will experience an increase in energy, the speed at which their mind operates, and increase focus and attention.
Chanel the energy wisely into deep work, and you will deliver a greater volume of high quality work than you would normally do so.
3. Increases Energy
In 2001, scientists in Europe ran a study to identify the effect of Siberian Ginseng on various biomarkers in the body.
The study returned various benefits of Siberian Ginseng, including the herb exhibiting ‘anti-fatigue, anti-stress, immuno-enhancing effect, CNS activity, and anti-depressive effects’.
4. Increases Endurance
Siberian Ginseng can significantly enhance endurance capacity and stamina, and benefits the wider cardiovascular functions and energy metabolism.
In a study in 2010, scientists ran a trial to track the increase in endurance capacity of cyclists after an eight week course taking Siberian Ginseng.
In it, scientists identified a marked increase of 23% in endurance capacity by those participants who were given Siberian Ginseng for eight weeks, as well as improved biomarkers for cardiovascular function and energy metabolism.
5. Regulates Blood Sugars
Various studies have demonstrated that Siberian Ginseng is able to lower blood sugar levels when too high, and increase it when they’re too low, demonstrating its ability to regulate blood sugar levels for the body.
This can be beneficial for individuals wanting natural products to help manage weight levels or are wanting to lose weight.
It has also proven beneficial for individuals living with type 2 diabetes, however scientists highlight that Siberian Ginseng is not a substitute for official medication.
6. Regulates Stress and Anxiety
As is the same with all adaptogens, Siberian Ginseng regulates stress levels within the body by modulating the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis and bringing the body back to a state of homeostasis.
This regulation of stress markers reduces feelings of anxiety, worry, and overwhelm, which prevents the further release of cortisol and adrenaline into the system.
7. Improves Sexual Function
Individuals who take Siberian Ginseng often report an increase in sexual energy and performance in the bedroom.
Studies have not been done specifically on its benefits for the reproductive system, although it is considered that Siberian’s Ginseng’s natural boost to energy levels, vitality, and the reduction in stress and anxiety has a resulting effect on sexual desire.
Although, if an individual is looking to increase their libido or natural ways to enhance their erection, we instead recommend they consider any of the following supplements:
8. Supports Immune Defence
Siberian Ginseng is also an antioxidant, which helps maintain a healthy immune system as well as fighting inflammation and oxidative damage in the body and brain.
Siberian Ginseng can Affect Sleep
Articles online state that Siberian Ginseng can promote sleep and even tackle insomnia.
If you look further into the articles, no scholarly articles or journals are published to evidence this claim.
We are here to tell you that Siberian Ginseng might in fact induce insomnia, not relieve you of it.
However, we can also help prevent that from happening for you.
Siberian Ginseng is a powerful adaptogen for increasing energy, and you will experience a rapid uplift in energy levels, mood, and cognitive processing speed within a few hours of taking it.
Therefore, its critical your dosing of Siberian Ginseng, the time you take it, and what you eat around it are all planned in advanced and strictly adhered to.
For example, should you have a coffee at 4pm, followed by a protein shake with Siberian blend, you are likely to be sat up until the early hours of the morning experiencing waves of uncontrollable cognition that you only wish you were experiencing at the start of your day.
Similarly, if you start your day with coffee and Siberian blend shake on an empty stomach, you are likely to experience an overwhelm in energy that could leave you jittery, shaky, and unable to focus.
Siberian Ginseng can adversely affect your sleep, but it can also enhance your productivity without affecting your healthy sleep patterns. It depends entirely how you take it.
If you want help building an adaptogen stack that includes Siberian Ginseng but you want to avoid the energy overwhelm and potential changes to your sleep patterns, we can help you.
Email us at hello@wearehumans.digital and we will schedule a consultation with you to develop your tailored adaptogen stack.
Consultations £50
Alternatives to Siberian Ginseng
If you don’t feel ready for the challenge of channelling the Siberian Ginseng energy, or you’re already a high energy, and perhaps highly anxious person, you can consider other primary adaptogens that offer similar but less intense uplifts in energy, mood, and cognitive performance.
These alternatives include:
- Rhodiola Rosea – for general feelings of wellbeing, joy, and cognitive clarity
- Ashwagandha – for a more subtle improvement to wellbeing, and regeneration of cellular communication and synaptic processing
- Astragalus Root – similar to ashwagandha in that its benefits are more subtle, it increases energy levels, combats fatigue, and it has powerful benefits for the immune defence response, inflammation, and heart and kidney function
- Holy Basil (Tulsi) – not one for elevating cognition to a state of peak performance, but it does have neuroprotective properties meaning it preserves the health of the brain and neural network. It does, however, help calm the system and reduce levels of stress, which helps create clearer thinking, decision making, and problem solving
You can also consider Nootropics which do not fall within the adaptogen family, but promote natural processes within the brain which enhance cognition and mood, you can consider these options:
Potential Risks with Siberian Ginseng
All adaptogens are considered safe for consumption, however each adaptogen has different benefits which means risks can vary between each person.
As we’ve made clear throughout the article, Siberian Ginseng’s strength its ability to enhance cognition and increase energy, but this is what poses its greatest risk for those of a more nervous disposition.
Below are potential risks you need to consider before taking Siberian Ginseng:
- Hyperactivity, Anxiety, or Energy Overwhelm – Individuals who already experience elevated energy levels, have a nervous disposition, or live with ADHD may become overwhelmed by the increase in energy from Siberian Ginseng. People unable to control the levels of increased energy may become shaky, jittery, and unable to think clearly or focus. It may also trigger feelings of anxiety within people if they’re already dealings with stress or anxiety.
- Elevated Blood Pressure – Similar to the increase in energy levels, Siberian Ginseng can increase blood pressure. For those suffering with hypertension they need to consider if Siberian Ginseng is right for them. A more calming adaptogen like Holy Basil may be a better option for anyone dealing with high blood pressure, stress, or anxiety. Nervines, or nerve tonics, are also beneficial herbs which reduce stress and calm the central nervous system. A recommend nervine to calm the system and prevent elevated blood pressure is lemon balm.
- Insomnia – As found above under the section Siberian Ginseng can Affect Sleep, it can adversely affect people’s sleep patterns and even cause insomnia if you are not correctly dosing the supplement. When and how you take Siberian Ginseng, and your wider nutrition plan, all play a role in how your body responds to Siberian Ginseng. If Siberian Ginseng is affecting your sleep, stop taking it immediately. You can contact us on hello@wearehumans.digital and we will schedule a consultation to build a tailored adaptogen stack for you, which helps you achieve elevated cognition and energy levels without interrupting your sleep patterns. Consultations £50
- Digestive Issues – In some cases, Siberian Ginseng can cause digestive discomfort, again usually as a result of not dosing correctly. Make sure you’re eating a full meal before consuming Siberian Ginseng.
Final Thoughts
It’s clear from the article that we are enthused fans of Siberian Ginseng and rate it highly amongst all adaptogens and nootropic supplements.
Having been taking it for over 10 years, and tried many other adaptogens, we are of the opinion there really isn’t a more beneficial adaptogen for achieving your individual state of peak performance.
However, our warning about it activating an overwhelming level of energy is real, and needs to be heard.
If you are considering trying Siberian Ginseng, please ensure you’re consider safe dosing and eating full meals around it.
Siberian Ginseng really is your superpower, but you have to respect what its truly capable of.
Mange it well, and you will find yourself hitting peak performance within days.
Who is James Kearslake?
Having been biohacking my mind and body long before it became fashionable, I’ve always lived by the benefits of nature’s resources to improve cognitive and physiological performance. Using my years of experience, products, and wellness practices, I’m now helping others elevate their cognitive performance to help build the life they want. I save you the time I’ve spent learning, so you can focus your time on building.
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