Adaptogen
OverlapAn herbal substance claimed to help the body resist general stress (ashwagandha and rhodiola are common examples) — a wellness and herbal-medicine term, not a pharmacological or psychedelic classification, and the evidence behind specific claims varies widely by herb.
Example: A systematic review and meta-analysis across 12 randomized trials (1,002 participants) found ashwagandha modestly lowered cortisol and anxiety scores versus placebo — but rated the evidence low-certainty, with 93.8% heterogeneity between studies. Rhodiola's human evidence is thinner still: cortisol data for it is sparse and inconsistent, and independent testing has found some commercial products missing the actual herb entirely.
What is an adaptogen?
An herbal substance claimed to help the body resist general stress — ashwagandha and rhodiola are common examples. It's a wellness and herbal-medicine term, not a pharmacological or psychedelic classification, and the evidence behind specific claims varies widely by herb.
Does the clinical evidence support adaptogen claims?
It's mixed and often low-certainty. A systematic review and meta-analysis across 12 randomized trials (1,002 participants) found ashwagandha modestly lowered cortisol and anxiety scores versus placebo — but rated the evidence low-certainty, with 93.8% heterogeneity between studies. Rhodiola's human evidence is thinner still, and independent testing has found some commercial products missing the actual herb entirely.