[2] Perhaps the best known in the West is the species E. senticosus used as herbal medicine,[3] and commonly known by such English names as Eleuthero or Siberian ginseng.

The European Medicines Agency has concluded that there is insufficient evidence to demonstrate the efficacy of Eleutherococcus for any clinical condition.

[8] But the plant now given the common name wujia in China is specifically E. gracilistylus, and according to one source, the genuine crude drug must come from this species, and C. spinosum is only a substitute.

[9] A 10th century herbology text, Honzō wamyō (本草和名), introduced the Chinese wujia as an herb to be pronounced mu-ko-gi (牟古岐), refers specifically to E. sieboldianus (Japanese name: hime-ukogi).

However, since the plant is deciduous, it requires sweeping in the fall (high maintenance), and the bare hedges fail to protect the homeowner's privacy.