If you ever come across the term "eleutheromania," it's not a reference to an obsession with eleuthero root. Eleutheromannia actually means "a manic yearning for freedom." So it has nothing to do with this quite impressive herbal remedy.

Eleuthro (Eleutherococcus senticosus or Acanthopanax senticosus), also commonly known as Siberian ginseng, is a small, woody shrub belonging to the Araliaceae plant family. Other common names include Devil's shrub, shigoka, touch-me-not, wild pepper and Kan Jang. Siberian eleuthero is native to the southeastern part of Russia, northern China, Korea and Japan. Eleuthero root and rhizomes (underground stem) are the part of the plant that people use medicinally.

Eleutherosides are the main components of eleuthero that have potential health benefits. There are seven primary eleutherosides in eleuthero, with eleutherosides B and E being the most frequently studied. Siberian ginseng also contains complex polysaccharides, which are a main reason for its ability to boost the immune system.