Adaptogen
herbs claimed to raise resistance to stress; a traditional rather than pharmacological category.
3 compounds · filter the full catalog by this class
- AshwagandhaBotanical extract
Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) extracts have modest human trial evidence for perceived stress and sleep, although pooled results differ by outcome and trial quality is mixed. KSM-66, a root-only extract standardized to at least 5% withanolides, is used in several well-known trials. Extract names and standardization measures matter: their trial results are not automatically interchangeable.
Human RCTs - Bacopa monnieriBotanical extract
Bacopa monnieri is an Ayurvedic herb used traditionally to support memory. Randomized trials in healthy older adults found better verbal learning and delayed recall after about 12 weeks. A meta-analysis of nine trials found faster attention (Trail B) and choice reaction time. It is slow to act and commonly causes gut side effects.
Human RCTs - Rhodiola roseaAdaptogen
Rhodiola rosea is an Arctic and alpine herb marketed as an adaptogen for stress and fatigue. Some randomized trials report less mental fatigue, but one found it made fatigue worse. Systematic reviews describe the evidence as contradictory and the trials as poorly reported.
Limited / mixed