Interestingly, there appears to be lots of evidence regarding different herbs, and their ability to enhance physical performance.

I’m surprised nobody has mustered up an organic recovery formula, or pre-workout that’s actually quite ‘good’ for you. And marketed as such.  With lots of beefcakes on the packaging.

Ginkgo Biloba
Rhodiola combined with Ginkgo, reduced physical markers of overtraining significantly and enhanced endurance.

Ginkgo Biloba has also be shown to be a powerful antioxidant (Huang et al., 2004; Ilhan et al., 2004) and there are a number of studies, stating that it enhances cognitive functioning, at higher dosages – 240mg or greater in healthy individuals.
Cognitive functioning of course, being of value in most sports.

Ashwagandha
Improved sprinting and vertical jump power and coordination in healthy subjects.

8 weeks supplementation with ashwagandha enhanced Vo2max and time until exhaustion on a treadmill

Rhodiola Rosea
Enhances endurance in young healthy volunteers

surprisingly, there seems to be a lack of research supporting the use of ginseng to enhance exercise performance.

Update – there is some research on Panax Ginseng improving endurance
http://www.nutritionexpress.com/article+index/authors/edmund+r+burke+phd/showarticle.aspx?articleid=91