Eleuthero
Eleuthero is the root of Eleutherococcus senticosus, a thorny shrub from northeast Asia. It is also sold as Siberian ginseng, though it is not a true ginseng.
Also listed as Siberian Ginseng, Ciwujia, Acanthopanax Senticosus, Eleutherococcus Senticosus
Can it help persistent fatigue?
A trial randomized 96 people with unexplained fatigue lasting at least six months; 76 supplied two-month follow-up data. Eleuthero did not outperform placebo overall. A less severely fatigued subgroup improved, but the analysis was not adjusted for multiple comparisons, making it a lead for further research rather than a settled result. 1
The overall trial was negative; possible benefit in moderately fatigued people remains a subgroup finding. 1
Does it add to stress-management training?
A German trial assigned 144 people with stress-related fatigue and reduced working capacity to 120 mg daily root extract, stress-management training, or both. After eight weeks, the combination was not better than training alone on any measured parameter. 2
What is outside this review?
Sports endurance and infection prevention are not assessed here.
Effects by health goal
Open an effect to see the studies behind its rating. Bars show the size of the effect; the letter grades the evidence.
Stress & Mood2 effects
No study is linked to this rating.
Cognition3 effects
No study is linked to this rating.
No study is linked to this rating.
No study is linked to this rating.
Immune Support1 effect
No study is linked to this rating.
Energy1 effect
No study is linked to this rating.
Fitness1 effect
No study is linked to this rating.
Sources
- Randomized controlled trial of Siberian ginseng for chronic fatigue Psychological Medicine, 2004