Eleutherococcus senticosus, commonly known as Siberian ginseng, has a long history of use in traditional medicine, particularly in Russia, China, and other parts of Asia. It has been used as an adaptogen—a substance believed to help the body resist physical, environmental, and emotional stressors. In traditional herbal medicine, Siberian ginseng is thought to support the adrenal glands, which play a key role in the body’s stress response, by promoting increased energy, endurance, and resistance to stress without over-stimulating the system.

The scientific evidence supporting its efficacy for direct adrenal cortex support is limited but not entirely absent. Some clinical and preclinical studies suggest that Eleutherococcus senticosus may help modulate the stress response and improve parameters associated with fatigue and stress adaptation, possibly by influencing the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. However, these studies are generally small, and many do not specifically measure adrenal cortex function or cortisol production. Most of the available research focuses on its general adaptogenic and anti-fatigue effects rather than on direct adrenal support.

Overall, the use of Eleutherococcus senticosus to support the adrenal cortex is grounded primarily in traditional use, with moderate (but not robust) supporting evidence from scientific studies related to stress and fatigue management.