Mechanisms of Action
Adaptogen
A class of herbs and compounds that may help the body resist and adapt to physical and mental stress.
Adaptogens are a pharmacological concept describing natural substances that increase the body's resistance to stress while normalizing physiological functions. The term was coined by Soviet scientist Nikolai Lazarev in 1947. To qualify as an adaptogen, a substance must: (1) be non-toxic at normal doses, (2) produce a non-specific state of resistance to stress, and (3) have a normalizing effect regardless of the direction of change. Common adaptogens in supplement research include ashwagandha, rhodiola, holy basil, and reishi mushroom. They primarily act through the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, modulating cortisol release and stress-response pathways. The concept is not universally accepted in Western pharmacology.