Origin & tradition
Ci Wujia (刺五加, Eleutherococcus senticosus) strengthens the kidneys and spleen and builds stamina. Used in Chinese medicine for centuries before becoming prominent in Soviet sports and cosmonaut programs.
Eastern tradition · Adaptogen Herb
Acanthopanax (Ci Wujia) 刺五加
Siberian ginseng — a classical TCM adaptogen with decades of Soviet and East Asian research on stress resilience, immune function, and endurance.
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Why longevity buyers care
Key active: Eleutherosides B & E (root bark of Eleutherococcus senticosus).
Eleutherosides B and E modulate the HPA axis and NK/T-cell immune function. Soviet-era studies documented endurance, cognitive, and immune benefits in athletes and military personnel. Modern human trials focus on immune function, fatigue, and exercise performance; mechanistic aging data (oxidative stress, mitochondria) is preclinical.
Effect summary
Studied health outcomes
Editorial summary — This table is curated by hand from published research consensus, not automatically calculated from our trial database. Grades reflect our interpretation of the literature. Treat as a starting point, not a definitive verdict. See the Evidence panel below for the underlying trial and paper counts sourced directly from ClinicalTrials.gov and PubMed.
| Health outcome | Effect | Magnitude | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fatigue / mental endurance | Decreases | Moderate | B |
| Immune function | Increases | Moderate | B |
| Cognitive function under stress | Increases | Minor | C |
| Athletic endurance | Increases | Minor | C |
Grade: A = robust RCTs · B = several RCTs / meta-analysis · C = limited or mixed RCTs · D = observational or early data
Dosage guidance
How Acanthopanax (Ci Wujia) is typically used
- Typical dose
- 300–1,200 mg/day standardized extract
- Form
- capsule (eleutheroside-standardized extract)
- Timing
- morning, with or without food; avoid evenings (mild stimulating effect)
Also called Siberian ginseng or Ci Wu Jia (刺五加). Contains eleutherosides (different from ginsenosides in Panax ginseng). Well-established adaptogen with 40+ years of Soviet sports/military research.
Informational only — not a prescription or personalised medical advice. Consult a qualified clinician before starting any supplement or medication.
Evidence summary
What the research actually says
70Evidence confidence
Human RCT evidence31 randomized controlled trials · 7 meta-analyses / systematic reviews
Human trials on stress/immune/endurance; aging-specific studies preclinical
Eleutherosides B and E modulate the HPA axis and NK/T-cell immune function. Soviet-era studies documented endurance, cognitive, and immune benefits in athletes and military personnel. Modern human trials focus on immune function, fatigue, and exercise performance; mechanistic aging data (oxidative stress, mitochondria) is preclinical.
8registered clinical trials reference this intervention
1selected from 1+ PubMed papers (longevity / aging angle)
Key active: Eleutherosides B & E (root bark of Eleutherococcus senticosus) — a multi-compound botanical extract, so activity is not reducible to a single molecule.
According to PubMed and ClinicalTrials.gov: trial counts from ClinicalTrials.gov, peer-reviewed literature from PubMed. Counts auto-refresh weekly; last checked 2026-06-12. They include trials across many endpoints, not only longevity.
Informational only — not medical advice, a treatment claim, or a substitute for a qualified clinician. Evidence strength varies; we show mixed and null results on purpose.
Evidence collections
Acanthopanax (Ci Wujia) appears in
Compare the evidence
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