Title : Insights from elite athletes in Hong Kong about Eleutherococcus senticosus tea
Abstract:
The Asian herb Eleutherococcus senticosus (ES), known as Ciwujia in Chinese, is recognized for its effects on qi (energy) rejuvenation and nourishing circulation (Davydov & Krikorian, 2000). Two preceding randomized, double-blind trials demonstrated elevations in aerobic capacity and endurance exercise duration, in addition to anti-oxidation and anti-fatigue effects (Kuo et al., 2006; Kuo et al., 2007). In prospective studies, 18 college students and 10 school team athletes were orally supplemented with 600 mg of ES or starch (placebo) for 8 weeks. Cycling exhaustion exercise tests were performed at baseline and at the end of the supplementation period. Blood parameters (blood lactic acid, blood-free fatty acid, albumin, glutathione peroxidase, TEAC levels, and TBARS levels) were collected before, during, and after each test. Significant differences across groups (p?0.05) were shown in terms of endurance exercise time (increased by 30%), HRmax (increased by 4%), blood lactic acid (decreased by 18%), and blood-free fatty acid (increased by 20%). In addition, there were antagonistic trends in GPx (p?0.05) and TBARS levels between groups, where the placebo group showed an increase while the ES group showed a decrease. Albumin levels increased in the ES group post-exercise (p?0.05). Therefore, this paper aims to update the perception of ES through oral feedback from athletes regarding endurance capacity, recovery, and sleep quality after consuming ES tea.
The herbal drink has been served at the Elite Corner in The Hong Kong Sports Institute for Hong Kong elite athletes since April 2024. At the Elite Corner, a food kiosk, athletes can obtain nutritious meals to accommodate their daily training regimen. Inspections are executed consistently to uphold herbal quality and safety. Athletes are recommended to consume the drink twice daily before breakfast and dinner (2 × 250 mL). User experiences and feedback have been positive. They conveyed that the drink was aromatic, smooth, and relieving. They also noted improvements in endurance training activities and sleep quality. The safety and validity of durable intake to enhance the flow of qi are confirmed and concluded. In the future, ES tea will be offered at two temperatures (70ºC/ 10ºC) depending on the weather.
