Eleuthero for Stress
There is no reliable human evidence that eleuthero (Siberian ginseng) reduces stress. The few small trials are inconsistent: the only single-herb study found no benefit, and one trial actually pushed stress hormones in the wrong direction.
Why this grade7-layer evidence engine
We grade eleuthero for stress as Unverified because the clinical record is sparse and unconvincing rather than reassuring. Only three small randomized trials exist. The one trial testing eleuthero on its own (PMID 23740477, n=144, 8 weeks, 120 mg/day) found that fatigue, concentration, and the cortisol awakening response improved over time in every arm, with no advantage over stress-management training alone, so the herb added nothing.
The lone positive signal came from ADAPT-232 (PMID 20374974), a single-dose, industry-funded pilot in just 40 people. That product blends eleuthero with Rhodiola and Schisandra, so any benefit cannot be attributed to eleuthero itself. More troubling, a 2001 trial in endurance athletes (PMID 11798012) found eleuthero raised cortisol by about 31% and cut the testosterone-to-cortisol ratio by 28.7%, moving stress markers the wrong way.
Authorities offer no support. The NIH Office of Dietary Supplements states plainly that no good human evidence backs eleuthero's adaptogenic uses, and warns it may raise blood pressure, bleeding risk, and blood sugar. The FDA addresses only labeling (it cannot be sold as 'Siberian ginseng') and the WHO monograph notes only traditional use. While Cleveland Clinic's general adaptogen explainer says it eases stress, Mayo Clinic, Harvard, and the major psychiatric and psychological societies take no position on it.
Scoring transparency
All scores computed by a 7-layer evidence engine — fully auditable▸View the full decision path (audit trail)
- compute_raw_score — 加權公式: L2×0.30 + L3×0.25 + L5×0.25 + L11×0.10 + L1×0.10 = 0.38
- tier_from_score — 依分數區間映射至 tier letter
- apply_hec_rules — 無高階證據可裁決
- tier_strict_requirement_check — D 級條件未達 (需 E1-E3 negative；實際 E6)
- detect_disputes — 偵測到 0 個 hard + 0 個 soft dispute
- decide_status — 依 tier + dispute 結果決定 status