Herb library · Herb · Eleutherococcus senticosus (Acanthopanax senticosus)
Eleuthero
A shrub of the ginseng family, also called "Siberian ginseng," taken for tiredness and stress. Europe's herbal medicines committee accepts it for tiredness and weakness on the strength of long use, not trials; two controlled trials in people found no clear benefit.
Traditional use
A member of the ginseng family (Araliaceae) but not a true ginseng. The root bark of it and its relatives is an old Chinese market drug (wu-chia-p'i), described in 1911 as used for rheumatism and general weakness and usually taken as a tincture. It is sold today as an adaptogen for stress and stamina, and in the European Union it is a traditional herbal medicine for tiredness and weakness.
What studies show
- Insufficient
Tiredness and weakness: the European Medicines Agency's herbal committee reviewed numerous clinical studies and saw a possible effect, but design shortcomings ruled out firm conclusions; its acceptance rests on long-standing use.
- Limited· shows no benefit
Chronic fatigue: in a 2004 trial of 96 people with long-lasting fatigue, it did no better than placebo overall; a possible effect in people with milder fatigue needs further study.
- Limited· shows no benefit
Stress-related fatigue: in a 2013 trial of 144 people, adding eleuthero to stress-management training made little or no difference.
Be careful of
Cautions
- NoteReported side effects include trouble sleeping, irritability, a fast heartbeat and headaches (EMA).
- AmountThe EMA says it should be used only by adults and adolescents over 12, for no more than 2 months, and that a doctor should be consulted if symptoms last more than 2 weeks.
- InteractionIn a small study in healthy volunteers, a standard eleuthero extract did not change two major drug-processing liver enzymes (CYP2D6 and CYP3A4). That does not rule out other interactions.
- PregnancyThe EMA's conclusions cover adults and adolescents; the sources read here give no safety information for pregnancy or breastfeeding. Talk with your clinician first.
- Ask a clinicianTalk with a clinician or pharmacist before using this if you take prescription medicines, are pregnant or breastfeeding, or are giving it to a child.
From the old books
What herbals and dispensaries of the past printed. History, in their words.
“But, without doubt, the product found upon the market comes from a number of Araliaceous plants, allied to angelica, spikenard, and sarsaparilla.”
Sources
- Eleutherococcus root — Herbal medicine: summary for the public (opens in a new tab) · EMA · read September 25, 2026
- Randomized controlled trial of Siberian ginseng for chronic fatigue (opens in a new tab) · NIH · read September 25, 2026
- No benefit adding eleutherococcus senticosus to stress management training in stress-related fatigue/weakness, impaired work or concentration, a randomized controlled study (opens in a new tab) · NIH · read September 25, 2026
- Siberian ginseng (Eleutheroccus senticosus) effects on CYP2D6 and CYP3A4 activity in normal volunteers (opens in a new tab) · NIH · read September 25, 2026
Reviewed September 25, 2026.