In today’s culture of high-output living, it’s common to feel mentally overloaded and physically depleted - even when you're taking care of yourself. That’s where adaptogens come in. Often touted as natural stress-buffers or performance boosters, they’ve built up a reputation that’s part wellness trend, part traditional medicine, and part misunderstood science.
At MOB, we took a close look at the evidence before including Siberian ginseng (Eleutherococcus senticosus) in our formula. This article unpacks the research around this adaptogen and explores whether it lives up to the claims, particularly when it comes to mental alertness, physical endurance, and stress resilience.
What Even Is an Adaptogen?
Adaptogens are natural substances, often herbs or roots, that may help the body adapt to stress and maintain internal balance. Unlike stimulants or sedatives, which force a response, adaptogens are thought to work more subtly. The idea is they help support homeostasis: the body’s ability to regulate itself under pressure (Panossian and Wikman 181–83).
They’ve been used in traditional Chinese and Russian medicine for centuries, but in recent years they’ve gained attention in the performance and recovery space.
Why We Chose Siberian Ginseng
Among the many adaptogens available, Siberian ginseng stood out for a few reasons:
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It has a growing body of research behind it
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It’s well-tolerated and non-stimulating
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It shows specific promise in reducing mental fatigue and improving physical performance
Several studies show that Siberian ginseng may help the body adapt to fatigue by regulating the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, the body’s central stress response system. This regulation can help reduce the physiological toll of stress and improve cognitive function under pressure (Panossian and Wikman 183–85).
Cognitive Benefits Under Stress
In environments where focus is critical - whether in training, work, or daily life - mental fatigue can be a performance killer. A double-blind, placebo-controlled study found that Siberian ginseng significantly improved accuracy and mental performance in participants exposed to cognitive fatigue, suggesting real nootropic potential (Kennedy et al. 280).
While it doesn’t work like caffeine, Siberian ginseng appears to support sustained attention and reduce errors, particularly in tasks requiring prolonged effort.
Physical Performance and Endurance
Siberian ginseng is also associated with modest improvements in aerobic performance, endurance, and resistance to physical fatigue. One study involving trained athletes showed improved work capacity and reduced recovery time, particularly during periods of increased training load (Asano et al. 254).
It’s not a replacement for proper training, sleep, or nutrition - but it may help buffer the physiological load of those things, especially during back-to-back sessions or periods of high stress.
So... Hype or Help?
Like many trending ingredients, adaptogens come with big claims. But when you look past the buzz, Siberian ginseng holds up better than most.
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It’s been shown to support cognitive performance under fatigue
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It may help modulate the body’s stress response
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It’s safe for daily use, without overstimulating the nervous system
That’s why we included it in MOB’s formula, not as a gimmick, but as a science-backed way to support mental clarity and resilience when life and training get demanding.
Conclusion
We didn’t build MOB to follow trends. We built it to support how your body actually works — and sometimes, that means looking beyond electrolytes. Siberian ginseng brings adaptogenic support to the table, helping you stay sharp and steady when stress starts to chip away at your energy and focus.
It’s not about quick fixes. It’s about ingredients that make a difference where it counts. Explore the full range or try the variety pack to see how MOB helps you stay on track, mentally and physically.
Works Cited
Asano, Kazuhito, et al. “Effect of Eleutherococcus Senticosus on Human Physical Performance.” Clinical Pharmacology and Therapy, vol. 33, no. 2, 1983, pp. 254–261. https://doi.org/10.1038/clpt.1983.29
Kennedy, David O., et al. “Attenuation of Laboratory-Induced Mental Fatigue in Humans by Panax Ginseng, Ginkgo Biloba and Eleutherococcus Senticosus: A Randomised, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Cross-Over Trial.” Psychopharmacology, vol. 195, no. 1, 2007, pp. 139–148. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-007-0886-6
Panossian, Alexander, and Georg Wikman. “Effects of Adaptogens on the Central Nervous System and the Molecular Mechanisms Associated with Their Stress—Protective Activity.” Pharmaceuticals, vol. 3, no. 1, 2010, pp. 188–224. https://doi.org/10.3390/ph3010188
