Eleuthero Root Benefits

Delve into the enriching world of Eleuthero root benefits, a venerable herb with a legacy spanning centuries. Explore its potential to bolster resilience, fortify immunity, and elevate overall wellness.

If you’ve ever looked into adaptogens, you’ve likely seen the eleuthero root. This herb has been around for centuries but has only recently begun to make its way into popular health and wellness products. But what is eleuthero root and how would someone benefit from it? Let’s find out. 

What Is Eleuthero Root?

Eleuthero root, also known as Siberian Ginseng, is a popular herb used in folk medicine. It is often used as a cheaper alternative to Asian Ginseng (True Ginseng) as it acts similarly but is significantly less costly; however, the two are unrelated and are not known to have the same health benefits. (Source) 

Eleuthero is a root from a woody shrub commonly cultivated in Asia and Russia. It is reported to have a robust, bitter flavor and has been used in Traditional Chinese medicine for thousands of years. You can eat every part of the plant including the root, leaves, stems, and fruit, which appear remarkably similar to blueberries or small purple grapes.

Eleuthero is commonly used as an adaptogen to help improve resistance to stress as well as endurance and memory. It has also been used to boost immunity, and as an antimicrobial and chemoprotectant but there is currently no strong research to support these uses. (Source)

You can typically find eleuthero in health and wellness supplements from multivitamins, adaptogens, cold and flu remedies, and even performance-enhancing products.

Eleuthero Root Benefits

There are several potential Eleuthero root benefits however, not many are well supported through research. Eleuthero root is most notably used as an adaptogenic herb to improve the body’s resistance to stress but may also show promise for health benefits in other areas.

Below are some of the known benefits of Eleuthero root, according to the available research.

Stress Management

Eleuthero root is considered an adaptogenic herb however, adaptogen is not a medical term. Adaptogens are substances that are believed to help improve the body’s resistance to stress but their mechanism is not well-known. While it’s widely used for this purpose, studies on humans are limited and show mixed results. (Source)

Many research studies have found that eleuthero root may help to improve resistance to physical and mental stressors likely related to the high antioxidant content and its ability to improve circulation and reduce inflammation. This is also why eleuthero root is believed to be a good herbal supplement to support heart and brain health.

Boost Immunity

Eleuthero root is a rich source of antioxidant compounds that may provide immune-boosting benefits. In fact, Eleuthero root has been used in Traditional Chinese Medicine for centuries to help treat the common cold and flu virus.

It is believed to work particularly well when combined with the medicinal herb Andrographis (Green Chiretta).

One study found that Eleuthero root (Eleutherococcus senticosus) when combined with Andrographis (Andrographis paniculata) significantly reduced symptoms of upper respiratory tract infections and decreased recovery time by over 20%. (Source)

Exercise Performance

Eleuthero root can be found in performance-enhancing supplements for athletes as some research has hypothesized this herb may boost exercise capacity.

Eleuthero root contains potent compounds known as eleutherosides that may help alleviate both physical and mental fatigue, leading to improvements in athletic performance. (Source)

One 8-week study found that supplementing with Eleuthero root enhanced endurance capacity and elevated cardiovascular function in recreationally trained men. (Source)

This increase in endurance and cardiovascular function can likely be attributed to the eleuthero root’s ability to boost blood flow leading to improved oxygen circulation.

Cardiovascular Health

In addition to eleuthero root’s potential involvement in exercise performance and immune function, eleuthero root acts as a stimulant.

Stimulants act to increase blood circulation and heart rate. Over time this could increase blood pressure which may be a concern in those who already have high blood pressure levels but research on this is limited.

One study found that taking Eleuthero root helped reduce the cardiovascular response to stress in healthy individuals and may therefore be a good option for managing stress and providing cardioprotective benefits. (Source)

Enhanced Cognition

The increase in blood flow and oxygen circulation from the eleuthero root is believed to boost mental cognition, improving memory and focus.

One study found that oral administration of eleuthero leaf extract for 17 days demonstrated memory enhancement, particularly object recognition memory. (Source)

Eleuthero Root Side Effects

While the research studies available on eleuthero root health claims are limited and require further studies, this root is believed to be safe when following the recommended dosage. However, the dosage recommendations vary and are not well-studied.

If you are considering taking Eleuthero root, make sure that you are getting the correct ingredient as it can often be confused with true ginseng. While they are within the same family, they have different safety outlines.

If you consume more than the recommended dosage of eleuthero root provided on the product label, you may experience side effects such as anxiety, alterations in mood, irritability, difficulty sleeping, drowsiness, and headache.

Even if consuming the proper dose of eleuthero root, there is a risk for side effects in some individuals including allergic reaction, upset stomach, diarrhea, and headaches. There is also limited research on the safety of using this supplement for longer than 3 months.

Some studies caution against using eleuthero root if you suffer from hypertension however, there is no adequate research to warrant potential side effects with this population.

Eleuthero root, along with other herbal supplements, is not well regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) so always do your research and be sure to purchase from a trusted source. Avoid taking eleuthero root if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. Refrain from using eleuthero root in children as studies on the safety of this are sparse.

If you suffer from any chronic conditions or are taking any medications, speak with your doctor or healthcare provider before taking eleuthero root.

There is currently no recommended dosage for eleuthero root and recommendations will vary by supplement brand. Doses between 1-4 grams have been studied and therefore are likely safe. Using doses higher than 4 grams per day is not recommended.

How To Consume Eleuthero Root

If you are interested in taking eleuthero root, there are several options depending on your preference and what you are using it for. This herb is often available in a variety of forms including teas, whole herbs, tinctures, as well as supplement powders, capsules, and pills.

If you are interested in consuming eleuthero root in its whole form, you can dice up the root and boil it to make tea. You can also use the eleuthero leaf and other parts of the plant to make tea. Because of the strong flavor of eleuthero root, it’s not commonly consumed in food; however, the leaves can be added to foods and the fruit can be enjoyed raw or dried.

Eleuthero root can be found in a variety of supplements however, these are not well-regulated by the FDA. If you are considering an eleuthero supplement, be sure to choose one from a reputable brand that offers third-party testing for quality and purity. Look for products that are free of proprietary blends that can have deceiving marketing. 

Always make sure you are getting eleuthero root (Siberian ginseng) as it can appear similar to other herbal ingredients such as true ginseng (Panax ginseng).

Instead of choosing eleuthero root only, consider a green powder to give you additional health benefits and fill in nutrition gaps such as Human Tonik Supergreen Tonik powder. Supergreen Tonik contains 38 plant-based superfoods, adaptogens, and nutrients for better energy, immunity, focus, and overall health without proprietary blends.

Bottom Line

Eleuthero root, also known as Siberian ginseng, is an herbal ingredient that has been used in Traditional Chinese Medicine for thousands of years. While research on this herb is limited, there are many potential benefits including improving the body’s resistance to stress, boosting immune function, supporting heart and brain health, and boosting exercise performance.

If you are considering taking eleuthero root for these benefits, be sure to speak with your doctor or healthcare provider before taking this herb. While it is considered safe for healthy adults, research remains limited on the benefits and potential long-term implications of consuming this herbal ingredient.

If choosing a supplement, always prioritize trusted brands that offer full ingredient transparency so you always know what and how much of each ingredient you are getting. Always take supplements that are directed on the supplement label and stop use immediately if you experience any side effects.