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You may have heard of the term “adaptogens” from lifestyle influencers to juice bars but what are they exactly?

What are adaptogens?

Adaptogens are herbs or compounds with the unique ability to “adapt” their function to help the body resist stressors of all kinds. While these herbs have been used for centuries in traditional Eastern medicine for healing, the term adaptogen wasn’t coined until the 1950s by a scientist named Lazarev who described compounds from plants that have potential to help the body resist stress. In the modern times, when the average stress level is at an all-time high, adaptogens have gained the spotlight as a potentially effective natural therapy for stress relief and well-being.

How do adaptogens work?

Under certain types of stress, the body secretes hormones and inflammatory cytokines, which can promote the development of anxiety, depression and even panic disorders. Adaptogens can be used to cope with the chronic stress by interacting with the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, which is considered the body’s major hormonal center that produces the stress hormone, cortisol. Adaptogens may tweak hormone production and physiological responses to stress to ensure that your body functions as normally as possible. A good analogy for this is what exercise does for our body. Exercise causes some stress to our body but as we continue to exercise, our body becomes better at adapting with the stress. Similarly, adaptogens “train” the body to handle effects of stress.

What is the difference between adaptogens and nootropics?

Since adaptogens help the body adapt to stressors of different ailments, the best one depends on the specific ailment you are experiencing. One commonly used and effective adaptogen is Panax ginseng root, which can improve the body’s response to stress and improves energy. Translated to English, Panax ginseng means “all-healing man root” and has been demonstrated superior as a regulator of stress compared to other adaptogens. In addition to providing stress relief to healthy humans, ginseng may also be a potential therapy for patients with HPA axis disorders associated with hypersecretion of cortisol, including depression, asthma, hypertension, and post-traumatic stress disorder. However, more human research is needed to determine the efficacy of these herbs in combatting stress.

Nootropics are natural substances that enhance cognitive performance and work to improve mental function by boosting memory, creativity, motivation and attention. Nootropics are different from adaptogens in the sense that adaptogens actions are non-specific with benefits are widespread throughout the body, while nootropics focusing on a particular concern. An example of a nootropic is L-Theanine, an amino acid commonly found in green tea leaves. L-theanine increases GABA, which helps to reduce stress and anxiety, but it also increases dopamine and alpha-brain waves leading to relaxation without sleepiness and with improved focus and attention. Formulations that combine adaptogens with nootropic ingredients may provide synergistic benefit, such as helping ease the effects of stress while synergistically promoting mental alertness and focus through the day.

How should I take adaptogens?

Adaptogens and nootropics in the form of herbs or plants can be taken in the form of capsules or tablets as a dietary supplement, which can be taken once or twice a day. They are also available as a powder to add to foods. However, any supplement may interact with prescription medications, so you should talk to your doctor before adding it to your diet or routine.

While adaptogens are likely safe to take for most people, they can only help alleviate and not treat chronic stress, which may have underlying causes. While supplementing your diet may temporarily improve your lifestyle, getting to the root cause of stress is likely more effective in the long run.

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