Eleuthero-who? This illustrious botanical is a great health solution for almost everyone – from athletes looking to push harder in their workouts, to the stressed-out college student saddled with an intense workload.

Eleuthero – its Latin name is Eleutherococcus senticosus – and it used to be known as “Siberian ginseng” in the Western world – is not actually a “true” ginseng because it does not contain ginsenosides, which are the distinguishing constituents found in true ginseng – American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius) and Asian or Korean ginseng (Panax ginseng). However, eleuthero does contain its own unique compounds, known as eleutherosides, and this botanical boasts an extensive history of traditional use, as well as clinical research dating back to the 1960s.

What is eleuthero?

Eleuthero is a thorny shrub that grows plentifully throughout Russia, as well as China, Korea, and Japan. It grows in coniferous forests underneath the tree canopy, thriving in moderate-to-cold climates, and while it usually grows five feet in height, it is known to reach heights up to 20 feet.1 In Latin, senticosus translates to “full of briers or thorns.” Although its root is typically the part of the plant harvested for therapeutic benefit, evidence indicates that eleuthero berries have also been utilized in folk medicine tradition.1,2

Eleuthero is an adaptogen, the term used for compounds that help the body to adapt to stress and reorient it toward homeostasis – or state of balance. Adaptogens enhance the body’s resilience to stress by moderating a variety of pathways and hormonal responses and are often used to support the full spectrum of stress-related symptoms, such as fatigue, anxiousness, and sleep disturbances.

During World War II, Soviet scientists investigated substances that could improve the stamina of their military. The term “adaptogen,” was coined by Soviet scientist Nikolai Lazarev in 1947.3 Because eleuthero grows prominently in the territories of the former Soviet Union, this botanical was one of the first to be categorized as an adaptogen, 

Although Western herbalism tends to lean on the term “adaptogen," many traditional modalities of healing recognize this distinct class of botanicals that have a tonifying and health-promoting effect on the body, albeit with different names. Although the chemical properties of such plants vary widely, the theme of their ability to promote resistance to outside stressors persists.

In Ayurveda, these botanicals are known as “rasayanas,” or rejuvenating plants; in Malaysian and Indonesian tradition, these botanicals are known as “jamu.”2 And in traditional Chinese medicine these types of plants are often referred to as builders of Qi (pronounced “chi”) – the term used to describe the body’s vital energy.

Eleuthero is historically revered within Chinese traditional medicine as a Qi tonic, known as Ci Wu Jia. The earliest documented use of Ci Wu Jia was reported in the ancient Chinese text, Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing, which is the oldest known Chinese materia medica and was written between 25 and 220 AD.4  

What is eleuthero good for?

Based on longstanding use in folk medicine and cumulative clinical research, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) – the European Union’s equivalent of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration – recognizes that eleuthero benefits individuals who are experiencing fatigue and general feelings of weakness or loss of strength.*2,5

In traditional Chinese medicine, regular use of eleuthero is believed to restore the body’s vital energy and vigor, supporting longevity and overall health. Traditional Chinese medicine also purports that eleuthero root benefits sexual wellness and supports male fertility.6

As an adaptogen, eleuthero has long been known for its potential to support adaptations in response to outside stressors, both physical and mental, thus giving rise to the supposition that it could provide benefit for exercise performance and endurance.* Many Soviet-era athletic coaches included eleuthero in their training protocols because of its reported ergogenic activity.1

Early research on eleuthero benefits

Although much of the early research from the former Soviet Union has been lost due to poor translation and security concerns, a 2021 publication examined and reviewed 46 studies on eleuthero that were published between 1962 and 1986, of which 29 were placebo-controlled trials.2 Eleuthero was consistently found to benefit cognitive function by improving reaction times, as well as improving cardiovascular endurance and recovery following intense exercise.*2

One of the studies analyzed was a 1966 endurance trial conducted on 76 healthy adults who were subjected to various intense physical endeavors, including a six-day hike in sub-zero temperatures that spanned 25 miles, and a biathlon combining Nordic skiing and target shooting.2 Across these physical challenges, the eleuthero group had much quicker recovery times and a greater resistance to the effects of oxygen deficiency.*2

Another placebo-controlled trial conducted in 1981 evaluated the performance of 60 female industrial workers under stress using a variety of measures assessed at baseline, after two weeks, and after four weeks. While improvements were minimal at the two-week mark, after four weeks of supplementation the group receiving eleuthero reported a 44-percent improvement in motor time responses compared to placebo.*2

Recent clinical research on eleuthero benefits

More recent research appears to reinforce what these early trials concluded about potential eleuthero supplement benefits.  For example, a 2010 eight-week, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial found that 800 mg of eleuthero supplementation daily increased endurance capacity and cardiovascular function in college-aged, male cyclists.*7 Specifically, the study reported that the athletes’ cycling time to exhaustion had improved by 23 percent, and their VO2 max increased an average of 12 percent with eleuthero compared to placebo.*7

A 2005 double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial on 45 healthy volunteers examined the efficacy of 30 days of eleuthero supplementation on moderating the stress response in a cognitive challenge known as the Stroop test. 8 Eleuthero use was associated with a reduced heart rate response under stress (40% decrease), and female subjects experienced a reduced systolic blood pressure response.*8 These combined results support the idea that eleuthero can attenuate the stress response.*8

Researchers have also seen effects in animal studies; healthy mice given eleuthero exhibited enhanced cognitive function.9,11

Furthermore, a 2020 clinical trial reported that a combination of eleuthero with the botanical Drynaria appeared to improve cognition in healthy adults compared to placebo.*9

In addition to the potential eleuthero benefits highlighted above, animal and human clinical studies have found that eleuthero might also support a healthy immune response through multiple pathways, including the increased production of white blood cells, such as natural killer (NK) and T-helper cells.*10,11

Eleuthero is rich in a variety of plant compounds, including polysaccharides, triterpenoids, and vitamins, such as vitamin E and beta carotene.11 Eleuthero contains several antioxidant compounds that are, at least in part, responsible for some of the botanical’s health-supporting effects.1 The polysaccharides in eleuthero, for example, have a beneficial effect on blood sugar in animal studies, although human clinical research has yet to elucidate this activity.11

Adding an eleuthero supplement to your daily regimen

Adaptogens such as eleuthero appear to be most effective when taken with consistency, because their benefits are generally observed over time versus with single doses. Therefore, it is often recommended to take eleuthero for a maximum of 6-8 weeks, followed by a two-week pause, before continuing supplementation.5,12

A health professional can determine the appropriate daily eleuthero usage for you, but most studies on adults have utilized 2-4 mL of a liquid eleuthero extract or 200-400 mg of dried herb once or twice daily. And although eleuthero appears to be well tolerated, it is generally recommended to begin supplementation with a low dose and increase as needed. 

Because eleuthero nourishes the adrenal glands, it if usually recommended to take it in the morning and at noon to align with the body’s natural circadian rhythm.11 

The takeaway

Given the substantial clinical research on eleuthero and its rich history, consider supporting your health and vitality with this illustrious botanical. Although Thorne doesn’t feature a stand-alone eleuthero supplement, you can find eleuthero in Thorne’s Emotion Balance Support, Stress Balance, and Daily Greens Plus, where it is synergistically paired with other botanicals and nutrients.

And to help you identify how well your body is managing the stress in your life, check out Thorne’s at-home Stress Test, which measures your salivary cortisol level at four different times during the day, as well as DHEA, a precursor to reproductive hormones like estrogen and testosterone that can be altered by chronic stress.

Reference

  1. Davydov M, Krikorian AD. Eleutherococcus senticosus (Rupr. & Maxim.) Maxim. (Araliaceae) as an adaptogen: a closer look. J Ethnopharmacol 2000;72(3):345-393. doi:10.1016/s0378-8741(00)00181-1
  2. Gerontakos S, Taylor A, Avdeeva AY, et al. Findings of Russian literature on the clinical application of Eleutherococcus senticosus (Rupr. & Maxim.): a narrative review. J Ethnopharmacol 2021;278:114274. doi:10.1016/j.jep.2021.114274
  3. Todorova V, Ivanov K, Delattre C, et al. Plant adaptogens history and future perspectives. Nutrients 2021;13(8):2861. doi:10.3390/nu13082861
  4. Zhao Z, Guo P, Brand E. A concise classification of bencao (materia medica). Chin Med 2018;13:18. doi:10.1186/s13020-018-0176-y
  5. European Medicine Agency. Eleutherococcus root. Herbal medicine: summary for the public. 2016.  https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/medicines/herbal/eleutherococci-radix [Accessed Nov. 17, 2020]
  6. Opuwari CS. Chapter 5.4.3 Herbal medicines (Eleutherococcus senticosus, Astragalus membranaceus) used to treat andrological problems: Asia and Indian subcontinent. Herbal Medicine in Andrology 2021; 113-121. Academic Press. ISBN 9780128155653. 
  7. Kuo J, Chen KW, Cheng IS, et al. The effect of eight weeks of supplementation with Eleutherococcus senticosus on endurance capacity and metabolism in human. Chin J Physiol 2010;53(2):105-111. doi:10.4077/cjp.2010.amk018
  8. Facchinetti F, Neri I, Tarabusi M. Eleutherococcus senticosus reduces cardiovascular response in healthy subjects: a randomized, placebo-controlled trial. Stress Health 2002;18:11-17.
  9. Tohda C, Matsui M, Inada Y, et al. Combined treatment with two water extracts of Eleutherococcus senticosus leaf and rhizome of Drynaria fortunei enhances cognitive function: a placebo-controlled, randomized, double-blind study in healthy adults. Nutrients 2020;12(2):303. doi:10.3390/nu12020303
  10. Bohn B, Nebe CT, Birr C. Flow-cytometric studies with Eleutherococcus senticosus extract as an immunomodulatory agent. Arzneimittelforschung 1987;37:1193-1196
  11. Marciano M, Vizniak N. Evidence informed botanical medicine: herbs, nutrition, constituents & pharmacology, actions, clinical indications, critical thinking, NPLEX review, and more. Professional Health Systems. 2020.
  12. Panossian A, Wikman G. Evidence-based efficacy of adaptogens in fatigue, and molecular mechanisms related to their stress-protective activity. Current Clinical Pharmacology 2009;4(3):198-219.