Israel I. Brekhman



NOVEMBER 1921 - JULY 1994



Israel Brekhman was born in southern Russia in 1921. He entered the Naval Medical Academy at the beginning of the 'Great Patriotic War' (World War II) and graduated in 1945 specializing in pharmacology.


Dr Brekhman spent his days in class and his nights on the front, defending St. Petersburg during the German siege, while his wife carried bread and soup across the ice to the soldiers on the front lines.


Upon graduation as a medical doctor in 1945, Dr. Brekhman was assigned to the Russian Far East where he worked under his mentor and life-long friend, Dr. Nikolai Lazarev. It was Dr. Lazarev who initially defined the characteristics of Adaptogens and subsequently challenged Brekhman to further that research. Brekhman set his mission to find the components of plants that contributed to the healthful properties of Adaptogens.




Dr. Brekhman authored many books exalting Adaptogens and their benefits. His first publication, "A New Medicinal Plant of the Family of Araliaceae - - The Spiny Eleutherococcus", was published in 1960. His research lead to the approval of the monograph by the Pharmacological Committee of the Ministry of Health of the USSR for clinical use.


Brekhman earned 40 patents including 21 international patents. He published 22 monographs, several hundred scientific articles and many books. The work today being done on Adaptogens is largely based on the cornerstone of research initiated by Dr. Brekhman and his loving wife, Margaret Grenivich-Brekhman.


Dr. Brekhman worked at the Far East Science Center of the USSR in Vladivostok. Beginning in 1956, he conducted research on potentially useful Adaptogens to help improve human health and well-being.


​



May 1983 ~ Victor Lomakin, a first secretary of Prymorsky Regional committee of CPSU (Communist Party of the Soviet Union), presents Dr. Brekhman an award for great contribution in research of natural resources, development of productive forces of the Far East, and training of scientific manpower.



In 1985, The Russian Parliament bestowed it highest civilian honor on Brekhman, the Order of Lenin, as well as the Lenin Medal for Valiant Work, and The Certificate of Honor. Brekhman led several international symposia, and was honored as the founder of Valeology (the science of staying well) at the international symposium on Valeology in St. Petersburg, Russia.


Dr. Brekhman and his associates studied the effectiveness of Adaptogenic plants on the basis of daily and seasonal changes in individuals and under different environmental conditions. The scientific group studied 233 plants - their admixtures and their biological actions. Dr. Brekhman devised four elaborate computer programs to classify the plants and herbs as to biological and toxic actions, and to study the beneficial effects of the herbs.



Dr. Brekhman identified a nucleus of ten groups of formulations having therapeutic and beneficial properties. Dr. Brekhman and his group are the inventors and holders of 21 international patents relating to his work in developing natural plant substances. The Soviet Union presented Dr. Brekhman with various awards in recognition of his scientific work and achievements. His work and formulations were important and of immense help to the Russian space program and to Russia's world-class athletes.



The Adaptogen formulations increase physical capacity and athletic performance, and restore the natural balance of the cosmonauts' physiology to cope with problems of motion, vertigo, weightless-ness, enforced inactivity and difficulties in space flight.