Eleuthero Root: 7 Amazing Benefits and Nutrition
What is Eleuthero?
Eleuthero Root. One of the most potent fatigue-fighting herbs on the planet. This plant acts as a brain tonic, energizing our body through kidney, spleen, and heart nourishment. Known as one of the best brain tonics, this plant can improve oxygenation to the brain, improve adrenal fatigue and release or restore energy while providing us with sustainable non-jittery energy throughout our day.
Table of Contents
There are many potential benefits from Eleuthero supplementation, which is best absorbed in tincture form. Some of the main Eleuthero benefits are improved mental alertness, improved energy production in the kidney-adrenal system, anti-aging tonic, reduced inflammation & fatigue, immune system boost, neuroprotective properties, and enhancement in cardiovascular endurance and heart health.
- Two powerful adaptogens similar to Eleuthero, which may boost energy, fight fatigue and balance hormones are Maca Root and Ashwagandha Root.
- Two powerful mushrooms that may act as brain tonics are Lions Mane Mushroom and Cordyceps Mushroom.
How is it Made?
Eleuthero can be acquired from the leaves and woody roots of the Eleutherococcus senticosus plant. In traditional Chinese medicine leaves and roots are boiled and pressed to extract volatile oils. Taking Eleuthero along with astragalus or Schisandra can amplify its effects.
History & Origin
Eleutherococcus senticosus a woody shrub in the Araliaceae family native to Northeastern Asia. Native to Japan, South and North Korea also, this plant has been used as a dietary supplement and cosmetics. Eleuthero is part of traditional Chinese medicine and used as an adaptogen, which acts as a stimulant. Known also as Siberian Ginseng, Eleuthero helps us release more energy and adapt to stress.
Eleuthero Benefits
1. Reduces Fatigue, Increases Energy
Eleuthero is known to have fatigue-fighting properties and produce lightness when we happen to feel lethargic, exhausted, heavy, or fatigued. It is an adrenal gland tonic, that helps in releasing chi energy. When fatigue shows up, whether through physical or mental exhaustion, it acts on our CNS through serotonin causing internal conditions that prevent further exhaustion. Eleuthero can balance that.
Eleuthero can extend the time to exhaustion, thus improving one’s physical endurance. It was shown to reduce fatigue by accelerating energy changes through B-oxidation facilitation in skeletal muscles. (1)
Anti-fatigue properties of Eleuthero were found to be helpful in preventing physical fatigue while improving recovery time. One of the possible mechanisms that protect muscle tissues and delay exhaustion is the reduction of lactic acid accumulation. (2)
Eleuthero was shown to improve performance in individuals with mild-stress-related fatigue and increase tolerance to mental exhaustion. It was also beneficial in enhancing attention and mental endurance in situations of decreased performance. One of the regulation mechanisms is homeostasis in the HPA axis (Hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis). (3)
2. Neuroprotection, Neuroplasticity, Cognitive performance
Eleuthero can be beneficial for our cognitive process not just as memory and focus, but it can also improve the brain’s ability to adapt or change. This is one of the primal reasons why it helps with transitions like climate change or job change. Adaptogens enable us to cope better with stress.
Shown to act as an AMPK activator which plays role in cellular energy homeostasis and can activate glucose and fatty acid uptake and oxidation when there is low cellular energy. Eleuthero also acts as a BDNF modulator, useful for CNS diseases, which enhances brain’s ability to adapt, also known as neuroplasticity. (4)
This plant can be beneficial and support neuroprotection on isoflurane-induced cognitive dysfunction, (5) plus, it reduced hippocampal neural death in the CA1 region in mice and stimulated spatial memory recovery. (6)
There are also other brain-related and cognition-enhancement effects from eleuthero, research shows. Eleuthero may improve cognition and have beneficial effects in many areas such in mental performance such as improved attention, speed, and accuracy under stressful cognitive tasks in tired individuals. (7)
- By helping to recycle choline more effectively, eleuthero may have the potential to improve its synthesis, thus improving cognitive function. (8)
- Phyto-adaptogens, like Rhodiola, Panax Ginseng, and Eleuthero all have neuroprotective features. They have been shown to protect brain neurons and are proposed for use as therapeutic modulators in neurodegenerative disorders including Parkinson’s disease. (9)
- One of the main neuroprotection nootropics is Eleuthero. Neuroprotection is protection from amyloid plaque, oxidative stress, or other brain-aging factors. The power of eleuthero lies in its ability to reduce inflammation. (10)
3. May Improve Athletic performance
When we exercise, levels of serotonin slowly increase, especially in the mid-brain, suppressing the immune system. That consequently decreases (dopamine) neural activity which extends or increases recovery time.
Eleuthero has the potential to increase endurance and the time to exhaustion, by acting similar to caffeine, which is by suppressing exercise-induced 5HT synthesis and TPH expression. (10)
There is evidence that supports Eleuthero’s effects in increasing endurance, through increased FFA production, and decreasing glucose levels. It does this by altering the metabolism for sparing glycogen, enabling a more efficient way of producing energy. (11)
It was also shown to shorten recovery time in a mice swimming test, increasing fatty acid B-oxidation in skeletal muscle. (12)
Eleuthero may also improve cardiovascular ability through increasing oxygen metabolism uptake and maximal oxygen pulse. (13)
4. Boosts Memory & Focus
When it comes to memory, it all goes back to how efficiently can we recall the information we are looking for. There are different types of memory, such as spatial, short-term, or long term memory.
There are active ingredients in Eleuthero which are able to penetrate the brain, and those can act to enhance memory function. (14)
The beneficial effects of eleuthero are seen as improved mental performance, increased attention, and mental endurance in situations of decreased performance caused by fatigue. (15)
5. Fights Stress, Depression, and Anxiety
Eleuthero has been shown to help in autonomic nervous activity and might contribute to the anti-stress response. At first, as an adaptogen, it acts in a way that can enable us to adapt to different stressors easier. Second, this plant has been used in treating anxiety, even though there is not enough research, people say they had more energy and experienced a calming sensation.
Mental stress causes physiological changes as autonomic nervous activity changes BDNF expression level. Eleuthero increased hippocampal BDNF signaling. (16) Also shown to regulate autonomic function, eleuthero may contribute to anti-fatigue and anti-stress responses. Improving the recovery time of NK reduction activity and inhibition of corticosterone elevation induced by swimming.
A combination of Lithium and Eleuthero has shown potential in improving symptoms of bipolar disorder. (17)
6. Lower Blood Sugar Levels
One study found that 480mg per day significantly lowered post-meal and fasting levels of blood sugar. The examination was done in patients with type 2 diabetes. There are effects on lipid metabolism, lowering values of total cholesterol and triglycerides, being significant in eleuthero, the so-called Siberian ginseng group. (18)
There is also a potential for anti-diabetic effects of Acankoreagenin from Eleuthero leaves are found. This study demonstrates that Acankoreagenin might offer therapeutic benefits for treating diabetes. (19)
7. May Increase Bone Density
Bone loss is tightly related to estrogen hormone levels. It turns out that Eleuthero may have a potential effect here, in preventing bone loss without influencing estrogen hormones. This can be a more natural alternative for postmenopausal osteoporosis. Rats given eleuthero at a dosage of 100mg, had increased 16.7% bone density in the femur bone, but it’s animal-based research. (20)
Research Limitations
*Studies have some limitations, important to evaluate the validity of their results. Here’s a highlight of some and NOT ALL studies (and limitation), shown in this article, for context.
- Theory-based approach dominantly focused on traditional medicine *not purely evidence-based.
- In-vitro or in vivo research in human cells or animal models *ICR Mice, aged rice, Alzheimer’s disease model in rats.
- Relatively short duration of study *7 days
- Further and larger research is needed to clarify the relationship of Eleuthero, energy expenditure and fatty acid oxidation.
- Aged data or data older than 10 years *2010, 2011, 2008, 2007, 1986 etc.
Disclaimer: The content on this Site is for informational purposes only, and it is NOT intended to give or replace medical advice. Make sure you consult your physician, doctor, or health professional before using any supplement, for its dosage, uses, precautions, and interactions.
Uses, side effects, precautions, drug interactions, and dosage
Uses
Drug Interaction
Safety
Precaution and Warning
Eleuthero is known to be used in cardiovascular conditions such as low or high blood pressure and atherosclerosis. It is also used for neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s disease, peripheral neuropathy, and ADHD. Eleuthero has shown a positive effect on respiratory tract infections, flu, colds, and chronic bronchitis. Others use it to treat insomnia, anxiety, bipolar disorder, or improve athletic performance.
There is insufficient evidence for some of its therapeutic effects. As always, before consuming any medicine to treat a disease, you must first consult with your doctor.
There are different drugs that interact with Eleuthero you may need to know about. Anticoagulants, medication for diabetes, alcohol, sedative, and lithium might cause adverse effects in combination with eleuthero, by amplifying or decreasing its effects.
Eleuthero is likely safe for most adults. There is not sufficient research on the long-term usage of this plant though. Some rare side effects can include anxiety, heart rhythm changes, drowsiness, muscle spasms, or increased blood pressure.
Eleuthero is possibly unsafe in pregnancy and breast-feeding women, so to stay safe, always consult with your doctor. In people with bleeding disorders or heart conditioning, they must have a healthcare provider’s supervision.
- There is no standard RDA for eleuthero. Different forms will have different dosages. In powder form, doses of 1-4g per day have been used in trials. There are recommendations to take 300-1,200mg daily, and not to exceed 3-6 grams. For extracts, less than 1g daily is recommended. Usually, tincture, extract forms have 0.7ml as a standard serving size.
- Eleuthero is best taken in the morning to not interrupt the sleeping cycle. You can split the dosage into 2-3 times throughout the day, best taken before or between meals. To see the full benefits of this plant it is best to take it continuously for no more than six weeks than have a break.
conclusion
Eleuthero is one of the most potent Energy-Boosting and Fatigue-Fighting herbs. Classified as an adaptogen, Eleuthero helps us to adapt to stress. Eleuthero is used as a supplement, mostly in tincture, extract forms which are made from the woody roots and leaves of the Eleutherococcus senticosus plant, native to Northeastern Asia. Aside from its energy boosting effect, eleuthero might also improve cognition, neuroplasticity, and athletic performance
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the benefits of eleuthero root?
As an adaptogen, Eleuthero root may come with many potential benefits. The main one is reducing fatigue and boosting energy, hence why it is called adrenal gland tonic. When we are tired there is higher acute inflammation, serotonin secretion and hormonal imbalance. Eleuthero works to balance it out, and renew this energy. In traditional Chinese medicine it is believed it opens the chi-energy channels allowing higher energy flow. Aside from these two, eleuthero may improve athletic performance, brain function, cognitive tasks, improve mood and help to stabilize blood sugar levels.
What is eleuthero root?
Eleuthero root is a powerful adaptogenic herb that is usually used to increase energy and fight fatigue. It works as a hormone-balancer and is believed to acutely reduce inflammation. It is an adrenal gland tonic, usually used in an extract form as a supplement.
Is eleuthero root extract good for energy boost?
One of the most potent uses of eleuthero is fighting fatigue and increasing energy. It seems to balance out our hormones, improve circulation and reduce inflammation.
What are the negative side effects of eleuthero?
Eleuthero, as any other supplement may come with different side effects like anxiety, drowsiness, muscle spasms, heart rhythm changes, and increased blood pressure.
What is eleuthero root extract (ginseng) used for?
Among many of its uses, eleuthero is primarily used to boost energy and fight fatigue. It has also had a positive effect on neurodegenerative diseases, anxiety, athletic performance and respiratory tract infections.