Ashwagandha for calmer evenings, rhodiola for demanding days, maca for a morning lift, schisandra for a glow routine: adaptogenic plants are the allies of anyone who wants to manage energy and stress with elegance, without excess.
An adaptogenic plant is a plant (root, berry or leaf) traditionally used to help the body adapt better to everyday stress and fatigue. Ashwagandha, rhodiola, maca, schisandra and astragalus are the best-known examples. They are taken as a powder, elixir or capsules, as a regular course.
In this guide, you will discover what the word really covers, which plants to choose according to your goal, how to slip them into your day, which mushroom to pair with them and which brands to choose. Looking for a product straight away? Browse our collection of adaptogenic plants.
In short: seven plants to know (ashwagandha, rhodiola, maca, schisandra, astragalus, mucuna, He Shou Wu). The tonic ones are best taken in the morning, the calming ones in the evening. Start with a single plant, then pair it with a complementary adaptogenic mushroom: it is the simplest way to build a routine that suits you.
What is an adaptogenic plant?
An adaptogenic plant is a plant whose traditional use, notably in Indian Ayurveda and Chinese medicine, is to support the body's ability to adapt to periods of stress. The word “adaptogen” is more recent: it was proposed in the 1940s by the Soviet toxicologist Nikolai Lazarev to describe substances thought to increase non-specific resistance to stress.
On the research side, the momentum is real: a systematic review published in September 2023 in the Journal of Functional Foods, which examined 25 randomised controlled trials covering nine plants (including ashwagandha, rhodiola and maca), places ashwagandha among those with the strongest data on perceived stress, while stressing that the research still needs to be consolidated.
What we take away in real life: an adaptogen is not a jolt. It is a ritual. Its real value lies in consistency: the same cup, the same moment, for several weeks in a row. It is that gesture that devotees enjoy as much as the plant itself.
The 7 adaptogenic plants to know
Here is the overview, before we look at each plant in detail: what it brings to your day and the mushroom that suits it best.
| Plant |
Latin name |
Part used |
Traditional use |
Usual time of day |
| Ashwagandha |
Withania somnifera |
Root |
Relaxation, balance in the face of stress |
Evening |
| Rhodiola |
Rhodiola rosea |
Root |
Mental vitality, energy |
Morning |
| Maca |
Lepidium meyenii |
Root |
Vitality, energy |
Morning |
| Schisandra |
Schisandra chinensis |
Berry |
Five-flavour tonic, glow routine |
Morning or midday |
| Astragalus |
Astragalus membranaceus (most common species) |
Root |
Vitality, seasonal courses |
Morning |
| Mucuna |
Mucuna pruriens |
Seed |
Mood and motivation |
Morning only |
| He Shou Wu |
Polygonum multiflorum |
Root |
Longevity, hair beauty |
Evening |
Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera): the plant of unwinding
Nicknamed “Indian ginseng”, ashwagandha is one of the most emblematic plants of Ayurveda, where it is classed among the rasayanas, plants traditionally associated with vitality. It is now the most studied adaptogenic plant, and the most in demand. It is most often taken in the evening, as a powder in warm plant-based milk or as capsules.
In your daily life: this is the decompression-chamber plant. The one you stir into warm almond milk with a little cinnamon once the laptop is finally closed, to mark the line between the working day and the evening. Many make it a ritual that replaces the third screen or the last glass of the day.
Did you know? Its name comes from Sanskrit: “ashva” means horse and “gandha” smell. The fresh root has a strong smell, described as “horsey”. As for “somnifera”, it means “sleep-bringing” in Latin.
To learn everything, see our complete guide to ashwagandha, or our ashwagandha vs reishi comparison.
Sun Potion: Ashwagandha
Cold-pressed roots from small organic farms in northern India.
Looking for an alternative? For an indulgent format, Plant People's WonderCalm gummies combine ashwagandha and adaptogenic mushrooms.
The evening duo: ashwagandha + reishi. Reishi, nicknamed the mushroom of serenity, is ashwagandha's natural partner: two ingredients traditionally associated with relaxation, for a complete evening ritual. One spoonful of each in a hot drink, and the evening changes pace.
Anima Mundi: Reishi
Rhodiola (Rhodiola rosea): the root for demanding days
It grows at altitude, in the cold regions of Northern Europe and Siberia, and its root is traditionally used to support mental vitality. Rhodiola is one of the nine plants examined in the 2023 review cited above. It is taken in the morning, as it is traditionally considered stimulating.
In your daily life: this is the plant for packed mornings: presentation day, deadline week, back-to-back meetings. It slips into your morning coffee or tea, never late in the day, and is adopted above all by people looking for a more elegant way to start the day than a third espresso.
Did you know? It is also called “golden root”, “rose root” or “arctic root”. It grows on cliffs and mountains in cold regions.
Find the details in our guide to rhodiola.
London Nootropics: Flow Coffee
An adaptogen coffee that combines wild rhodiola from the Altai (Siberia) with a double 8:1 lion's mane extract standardised to 25% beta-glucans, in a box of 12 sachets, according to the brand. The morning ritual for busy working days.
The morning duo: rhodiola + lion's mane. Lion's mane is the mushroom for days that call for focus, and it teams up with rhodiola: Flow Coffee already brings them together in a single cup. Prefer to build your own dosages? Add lion's mane capsules to your routine.
Kiki Health: Lion's Mane capsules
Maca (Lepidium meyenii): the root of the high plateaus
Cultivated for more than 2,000 years in the Peruvian Andes, at over 3,500 metres above sea level, maca is a root with a naturally sweet flavour, somewhere between caramel and malt, that slips easily into smoothies, lattes and baking. It is traditionally associated with vitality, and is best taken in the morning.
In your daily life: it is the most indulgent of the adaptogenic plants, and therefore the easiest to adopt. A spoonful in porridge, a smoothie bowl, Sunday pancakes or your morning latte, and the routine settles in effortlessly. If you dislike supplements that taste like supplements, start with this one.
Did you know? Maca grows in four main colours: cream-yellow, red, purple and black. Cream is the most widespread because it is the mildest, while black has a flavour that is both sweet and slightly bitter. Hence the appeal of the blend of all four types offered by Kiki Health.
Our article on maca tells you everything.
Kiki Health: Maca powder
A blend of the four types of maca (purple, black, yellow and red) in powder form, in a 100 g pot, according to the brand. A gentle price point for discovering this root.
The smoothie duo: maca + cordyceps. Cordyceps is the mushroom traditionally associated with energy and effort. Paired with maca, it makes a morning or pre-workout smoothie: two powders from the same brand, in the same shaker.
Kiki Health: Cordyceps powder
The SuperKure tip: adaptogenic plants are chosen according to the time of day. For a balanced routine, keep the most tonic ones (rhodiola, maca) for the morning and the most calming ones (ashwagandha) for the evening, and avoid combining more than two at the start.
Schisandra (Schisandra chinensis): the five-flavour berry
In traditional Chinese medicine, schisandra is the berry that brings together the five flavours (sour, sweet, salty, bitter and pungent), hence its name. It is traditionally considered a tonic plant, and is much loved by fans of “beauty from within” routines.
In your daily life: this is the beauty-routine plant. A rosy elixir in an iced tea or sparkling water at 11 am, and the gesture becomes as pleasurable as a skincare ritual. It is the plant for those who like their supplement to look like something from the bathroom shelf.
Did you know? In Chinese it is called “wuweizi”, literally “five-flavour berry”. In Korea, its berries are used to make omija-cha, a traditional infusion.
Anima Mundi: Schisandra Rose Elixir
An elixir that combines schisandra berry with rose, in a 118 ml bottle (24 servings), to pour into a latte, sparkling water or tea.
The glow duo: schisandra + chaga. Chaga, the mushroom of birch forests, is often chosen for “beauty from within” routines. Same brand, same universe: a chaga latte in the morning, a schisandra elixir in the afternoon.
Anima Mundi: Chaga
Astragalus: the root of seasonal courses
Used for centuries in traditional Chinese medicine, astragalus (most often Astragalus membranaceus) is a root associated with seasonal courses, in autumn and spring, as well as everyday vitality.
In your daily life: this is the calendar plant. You bring it out as the new season begins, when the days get shorter, just as you bring out the knitwear: a seasonal ritual, to stir into a broth, porridge or hot drink for several weeks.
Sun Potion: Astragalus
A 10:1 cold extract of roots harvested in the wild in the Di Tao region of China, in a 60 g pot, according to the brand.
The seasonal duo: astragalus + maitake. Maitake is one of the most prized mushrooms in cooking, and it lends itself well to autumn courses. Together they make the back-to-season duo.
Kiki Health: Maitake powder
Mucuna (Mucuna pruriens): the morning plant
Mucuna, or velvet bean, is a legume used in the Ayurvedic tradition. It naturally contains L-DOPA, a compound to be handled with care: take it only in the morning, and ask your doctor for advice if you are on any treatment (notably antidepressants or dopaminergic treatment). Our article covers its use in detail: Mucuna, dopamine and mood.
In your daily life: this is the plant for mornings when it is hard to get going. It is taken on an empty stomach or at breakfast, never in the afternoon, and dosed sparingly. It is the most “technical” plant on the list: you discover it with the instructions, not by instinct.
Did you know? Its Latin name, “pruriens”, means “itching”. The hairs covering the fresh pods cause intense itching on contact: don't worry, the powders sold as supplements are made from the seeds.
Sun Potion: Mucuna Pruriens
A cold extract of organic mucuna grown in India, standardised to 15% L-DOPA, in a 100 g pot, according to the brand. Anima Mundi also offers its mucuna powder.
The studious-morning duo: mucuna + lion's mane. Lion's mane is traditionally associated with focus. For a working morning, one follows the other, but start with mucuna alone: add the mushroom once you have got to know the plant well.
Anima Mundi: Lion's Mane
He Shou Wu (Polygonum multiflorum): the longevity root
In Chinese medicine, He Shou Wu is a root traditionally associated with longevity and hair beauty. It is the plant that inspired our first-hand account of He Shou Wu.
Anima Mundi: He Shou Wu
Semi-wild roots from Yunnan, China.
Plants and mushrooms: the duos that work
Plant and mushroom do not compete: they complement each other, by time of day and by texture. Here are the pairings we recommend most often, starting with a single duo.
| Your moment |
The plant |
The mushroom |
The ritual |
| Evening unwind |
Ashwagandha |
Reishi |
Hot milk or golden milk, one hour before bed |
| Focused morning |
Rhodiola |
Lion's mane |
In your morning coffee or tea |
| Smoothie or workout |
Maca |
Cordyceps |
Two powders in the same shaker |
| Glow routine |
Schisandra |
Chaga |
Latte in the morning, elixir in the afternoon |
| Back-to-season course |
Astragalus |
Maitake |
A course of several weeks, in autumn |
| Studious morning |
Mucuna |
Lion's mane |
Mucuna on its own first, then the mushroom |
Want to know more about the mushrooms in these duos? Our guide to adaptogenic mushrooms covers reishi, lion's mane, cordyceps and chaga in detail.
A typical day with adaptogenic plants
-
7:30 am: maca in your porridge or smoothie, with a little cordyceps if you like.
-
9 am: adaptogen coffee (rhodiola and lion's mane) to tackle the day's files.
-
3 pm: schisandra elixir in sparkling water, for the beauty break.
-
9 pm: hot milk with ashwagandha and reishi, screens off.
Rest assured: nobody needs to do it all. Choose a single moment, stick to it for a few weeks, then add the next.
How to choose your adaptogenic plants: the 5 criteria
Two ashwagandha powders can have very different compositions. Here are the five points to check.
| Criterion |
What to look at |
Why it matters |
| Part of the plant |
Root, berry or seed, specified by the brand |
Composition varies from one part of the plant to another |
| Extract or powder |
Extraction ratio (for example 10:1) or cold-pressed root powder |
An extract is more concentrated, a powder more raw |
| Standardisation |
Stated content of active compounds (for example 15% L-DOPA for mucuna) |
Lets you compare two products and dose with confidence |
| Cultivation and origin |
Organic certification, origin and harvest specified |
Traceability and quality of the raw material |
| Format |
Powder, elixir, capsules, gummies |
The best form is the one you will take regularly |
Which adaptogenic plant should you choose for your goal?
Which adaptogenic plant for stress?
Which adaptogenic plant for energy and focus?
Which adaptogenic plant for seasonal courses?
Adaptogenic plants or adaptogenic mushrooms: which to choose?
Both families share the same philosophy, but not the same compounds or the same rituals.
| Criterion |
Adaptogenic plants |
Adaptogenic mushrooms |
| Parts used |
Root, berry, seed |
Fruiting body, sometimes mycelium |
| Signature compounds |
Withanolides (ashwagandha), macamides (maca) |
Beta-glucans, triterpenes |
| Flavour |
Earthy, herbal, sometimes sweet |
Woody, sometimes bitter |
| Examples |
Ashwagandha, rhodiola, maca |
Reishi, lion's mane, cordyceps |
The simplest approach: start with the family that answers your priority, then explore the other. The duos above show how to pair them.
How to take adaptogenic plants
Follow the dosage indicated on the label, which varies according to the extract and its concentration. Here are the most common guidelines.
-
In the morning: rhodiola, maca, astragalus and mucuna (mucuna in the morning only).
-
In the evening: ashwagandha and He Shou Wu.
-
For how long: these products are taken as a regular course.
-
How many at once: start with a single plant, then add a second, without going beyond two at the start.
Frequently asked questions about adaptogenic plants
What is an adaptogenic plant?
An adaptogenic plant is a plant, such as ashwagandha, rhodiola or maca, traditionally used to support the body in the face of stress and fatigue. The term is a wellness concept proposed in the 1940s: it does not correspond to a health claim recognised in Europe.
What is the best adaptogenic plant for stress?
Ashwagandha is the most studied and most widely used plant for calmer evenings. It is not suitable for everyone, however: it is not recommended during pregnancy and breastfeeding, and medical advice is recommended if you are on treatment or have a thyroid disorder.
Can you combine adaptogenic plants and mushrooms?
Yes, many formulas combine both, such as WonderCalm gummies (ashwagandha and mushrooms) or Terraphy Stress. The most common duos are ashwagandha and reishi in the evening, rhodiola and lion's mane in the morning, and maca and cordyceps in a smoothie. If you are starting from scratch, begin with a single plant or a single mushroom, then add a second after a few weeks.
Which adaptogenic plant should you take in the morning, and which in the evening?
The plants traditionally considered tonic (rhodiola, maca, astragalus, mucuna) are best taken in the morning. Ashwagandha is best taken in the evening.
How long does it take to feel the effects of adaptogenic plants?
It varies from person to person. These products are used as a regular course, and brand guidance mentions several weeks of continuous use. They are food supplements: they do not replace a varied diet or medical treatment.
Do adaptogenic plants have official recognition?
Not as such. In Europe, only authorised health claims may be used, and more than 2,000 claims relating to plants remain pending evaluation. Reputable brands therefore speak of traditional use, and check the quality of their raw materials.
Are there precautions to know before starting?
Ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice in case of pregnancy, breastfeeding, ongoing treatment, chronic illness or liver or thyroid disorders. ANSES, the French health and food safety agency, reminds consumers that plant-based supplements can cause side effects and interact with medicines, and encourages people to report any side effect to its nutrivigilance scheme.
Food supplement. Not a substitute for a varied, balanced diet and a healthy lifestyle. Not recommended for pregnant or breastfeeding women without medical advice. Not a substitute for medical treatment. Keep out of reach of children.
Sources and references
France
Adaptogenic Plants: The Complete Guide to Choosing Well
Ashwagandha for calmer evenings, rhodiola for demanding days, maca for a morning lift, schisandra for a glow routine: adaptogenic plants are the allies of anyone who wants to manage energy and stress with elegance, without excess.
An adaptogenic plant is a plant (root, berry or leaf) traditionally used to help the body adapt better to everyday stress and fatigue. Ashwagandha, rhodiola, maca, schisandra and astragalus are the best-known examples. They are taken as a powder, elixir or capsules, as a regular course.
In this guide, you will discover what the word really covers, which plants to choose according to your goal, how to slip them into your day, which mushroom to pair with them and which brands to choose. Looking for a product straight away? Browse our collection of adaptogenic plants.
What is an adaptogenic plant?
An adaptogenic plant is a plant whose traditional use, notably in Indian Ayurveda and Chinese medicine, is to support the body's ability to adapt to periods of stress. The word “adaptogen” is more recent: it was proposed in the 1940s by the Soviet toxicologist Nikolai Lazarev to describe substances thought to increase non-specific resistance to stress.
On the research side, the momentum is real: a systematic review published in September 2023 in the Journal of Functional Foods, which examined 25 randomised controlled trials covering nine plants (including ashwagandha, rhodiola and maca), places ashwagandha among those with the strongest data on perceived stress, while stressing that the research still needs to be consolidated.
What we take away in real life: an adaptogen is not a jolt. It is a ritual. Its real value lies in consistency: the same cup, the same moment, for several weeks in a row. It is that gesture that devotees enjoy as much as the plant itself.
The 7 adaptogenic plants to know
Here is the overview, before we look at each plant in detail: what it brings to your day and the mushroom that suits it best.
Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera): the plant of unwinding
Nicknamed “Indian ginseng”, ashwagandha is one of the most emblematic plants of Ayurveda, where it is classed among the rasayanas, plants traditionally associated with vitality. It is now the most studied adaptogenic plant, and the most in demand. It is most often taken in the evening, as a powder in warm plant-based milk or as capsules.
In your daily life: this is the decompression-chamber plant. The one you stir into warm almond milk with a little cinnamon once the laptop is finally closed, to mark the line between the working day and the evening. Many make it a ritual that replaces the third screen or the last glass of the day.
Did you know? Its name comes from Sanskrit: “ashva” means horse and “gandha” smell. The fresh root has a strong smell, described as “horsey”. As for “somnifera”, it means “sleep-bringing” in Latin.
To learn everything, see our complete guide to ashwagandha, or our ashwagandha vs reishi comparison.
Sun Potion: Ashwagandha
Cold-pressed roots from small organic farms in northern India.
Looking for an alternative? For an indulgent format, Plant People's WonderCalm gummies combine ashwagandha and adaptogenic mushrooms.
The evening duo: ashwagandha + reishi. Reishi, nicknamed the mushroom of serenity, is ashwagandha's natural partner: two ingredients traditionally associated with relaxation, for a complete evening ritual. One spoonful of each in a hot drink, and the evening changes pace.
Anima Mundi: Reishi
Rhodiola (Rhodiola rosea): the root for demanding days
It grows at altitude, in the cold regions of Northern Europe and Siberia, and its root is traditionally used to support mental vitality. Rhodiola is one of the nine plants examined in the 2023 review cited above. It is taken in the morning, as it is traditionally considered stimulating.
In your daily life: this is the plant for packed mornings: presentation day, deadline week, back-to-back meetings. It slips into your morning coffee or tea, never late in the day, and is adopted above all by people looking for a more elegant way to start the day than a third espresso.
Did you know? It is also called “golden root”, “rose root” or “arctic root”. It grows on cliffs and mountains in cold regions.
Find the details in our guide to rhodiola.
London Nootropics: Flow Coffee
An adaptogen coffee that combines wild rhodiola from the Altai (Siberia) with a double 8:1 lion's mane extract standardised to 25% beta-glucans, in a box of 12 sachets, according to the brand. The morning ritual for busy working days.
The morning duo: rhodiola + lion's mane. Lion's mane is the mushroom for days that call for focus, and it teams up with rhodiola: Flow Coffee already brings them together in a single cup. Prefer to build your own dosages? Add lion's mane capsules to your routine.
Kiki Health: Lion's Mane capsules
Maca (Lepidium meyenii): the root of the high plateaus
Cultivated for more than 2,000 years in the Peruvian Andes, at over 3,500 metres above sea level, maca is a root with a naturally sweet flavour, somewhere between caramel and malt, that slips easily into smoothies, lattes and baking. It is traditionally associated with vitality, and is best taken in the morning.
In your daily life: it is the most indulgent of the adaptogenic plants, and therefore the easiest to adopt. A spoonful in porridge, a smoothie bowl, Sunday pancakes or your morning latte, and the routine settles in effortlessly. If you dislike supplements that taste like supplements, start with this one.
Did you know? Maca grows in four main colours: cream-yellow, red, purple and black. Cream is the most widespread because it is the mildest, while black has a flavour that is both sweet and slightly bitter. Hence the appeal of the blend of all four types offered by Kiki Health.
Our article on maca tells you everything.
Kiki Health: Maca powder
A blend of the four types of maca (purple, black, yellow and red) in powder form, in a 100 g pot, according to the brand. A gentle price point for discovering this root.
The smoothie duo: maca + cordyceps. Cordyceps is the mushroom traditionally associated with energy and effort. Paired with maca, it makes a morning or pre-workout smoothie: two powders from the same brand, in the same shaker.
Kiki Health: Cordyceps powder
The SuperKure tip: adaptogenic plants are chosen according to the time of day. For a balanced routine, keep the most tonic ones (rhodiola, maca) for the morning and the most calming ones (ashwagandha) for the evening, and avoid combining more than two at the start.
Schisandra (Schisandra chinensis): the five-flavour berry
In traditional Chinese medicine, schisandra is the berry that brings together the five flavours (sour, sweet, salty, bitter and pungent), hence its name. It is traditionally considered a tonic plant, and is much loved by fans of “beauty from within” routines.
In your daily life: this is the beauty-routine plant. A rosy elixir in an iced tea or sparkling water at 11 am, and the gesture becomes as pleasurable as a skincare ritual. It is the plant for those who like their supplement to look like something from the bathroom shelf.
Did you know? In Chinese it is called “wuweizi”, literally “five-flavour berry”. In Korea, its berries are used to make omija-cha, a traditional infusion.
Anima Mundi: Schisandra Rose Elixir
An elixir that combines schisandra berry with rose, in a 118 ml bottle (24 servings), to pour into a latte, sparkling water or tea.
The glow duo: schisandra + chaga. Chaga, the mushroom of birch forests, is often chosen for “beauty from within” routines. Same brand, same universe: a chaga latte in the morning, a schisandra elixir in the afternoon.
Anima Mundi: Chaga
Astragalus: the root of seasonal courses
Used for centuries in traditional Chinese medicine, astragalus (most often Astragalus membranaceus) is a root associated with seasonal courses, in autumn and spring, as well as everyday vitality.
In your daily life: this is the calendar plant. You bring it out as the new season begins, when the days get shorter, just as you bring out the knitwear: a seasonal ritual, to stir into a broth, porridge or hot drink for several weeks.
Sun Potion: Astragalus
A 10:1 cold extract of roots harvested in the wild in the Di Tao region of China, in a 60 g pot, according to the brand.
The seasonal duo: astragalus + maitake. Maitake is one of the most prized mushrooms in cooking, and it lends itself well to autumn courses. Together they make the back-to-season duo.
Kiki Health: Maitake powder
Mucuna (Mucuna pruriens): the morning plant
Mucuna, or velvet bean, is a legume used in the Ayurvedic tradition. It naturally contains L-DOPA, a compound to be handled with care: take it only in the morning, and ask your doctor for advice if you are on any treatment (notably antidepressants or dopaminergic treatment). Our article covers its use in detail: Mucuna, dopamine and mood.
In your daily life: this is the plant for mornings when it is hard to get going. It is taken on an empty stomach or at breakfast, never in the afternoon, and dosed sparingly. It is the most “technical” plant on the list: you discover it with the instructions, not by instinct.
Did you know? Its Latin name, “pruriens”, means “itching”. The hairs covering the fresh pods cause intense itching on contact: don't worry, the powders sold as supplements are made from the seeds.
Sun Potion: Mucuna Pruriens
A cold extract of organic mucuna grown in India, standardised to 15% L-DOPA, in a 100 g pot, according to the brand. Anima Mundi also offers its mucuna powder.
The studious-morning duo: mucuna + lion's mane. Lion's mane is traditionally associated with focus. For a working morning, one follows the other, but start with mucuna alone: add the mushroom once you have got to know the plant well.
Anima Mundi: Lion's Mane
He Shou Wu (Polygonum multiflorum): the longevity root
In Chinese medicine, He Shou Wu is a root traditionally associated with longevity and hair beauty. It is the plant that inspired our first-hand account of He Shou Wu.
Anima Mundi: He Shou Wu
Semi-wild roots from Yunnan, China.
Plants and mushrooms: the duos that work
Plant and mushroom do not compete: they complement each other, by time of day and by texture. Here are the pairings we recommend most often, starting with a single duo.
Want to know more about the mushrooms in these duos? Our guide to adaptogenic mushrooms covers reishi, lion's mane, cordyceps and chaga in detail.
A typical day with adaptogenic plants
Rest assured: nobody needs to do it all. Choose a single moment, stick to it for a few weeks, then add the next.
How to choose your adaptogenic plants: the 5 criteria
Two ashwagandha powders can have very different compositions. Here are the five points to check.
Which adaptogenic plant should you choose for your goal?
Which adaptogenic plant for stress?
Which adaptogenic plant for energy and focus?
Which adaptogenic plant for seasonal courses?
Adaptogenic plants or adaptogenic mushrooms: which to choose?
Both families share the same philosophy, but not the same compounds or the same rituals.
The simplest approach: start with the family that answers your priority, then explore the other. The duos above show how to pair them.
How to take adaptogenic plants
Follow the dosage indicated on the label, which varies according to the extract and its concentration. Here are the most common guidelines.
Frequently asked questions about adaptogenic plants
What is an adaptogenic plant?
An adaptogenic plant is a plant, such as ashwagandha, rhodiola or maca, traditionally used to support the body in the face of stress and fatigue. The term is a wellness concept proposed in the 1940s: it does not correspond to a health claim recognised in Europe.
What is the best adaptogenic plant for stress?
Ashwagandha is the most studied and most widely used plant for calmer evenings. It is not suitable for everyone, however: it is not recommended during pregnancy and breastfeeding, and medical advice is recommended if you are on treatment or have a thyroid disorder.
Can you combine adaptogenic plants and mushrooms?
Yes, many formulas combine both, such as WonderCalm gummies (ashwagandha and mushrooms) or Terraphy Stress. The most common duos are ashwagandha and reishi in the evening, rhodiola and lion's mane in the morning, and maca and cordyceps in a smoothie. If you are starting from scratch, begin with a single plant or a single mushroom, then add a second after a few weeks.
Which adaptogenic plant should you take in the morning, and which in the evening?
The plants traditionally considered tonic (rhodiola, maca, astragalus, mucuna) are best taken in the morning. Ashwagandha is best taken in the evening.
How long does it take to feel the effects of adaptogenic plants?
It varies from person to person. These products are used as a regular course, and brand guidance mentions several weeks of continuous use. They are food supplements: they do not replace a varied diet or medical treatment.
Do adaptogenic plants have official recognition?
Not as such. In Europe, only authorised health claims may be used, and more than 2,000 claims relating to plants remain pending evaluation. Reputable brands therefore speak of traditional use, and check the quality of their raw materials.
Are there precautions to know before starting?
Ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice in case of pregnancy, breastfeeding, ongoing treatment, chronic illness or liver or thyroid disorders. ANSES, the French health and food safety agency, reminds consumers that plant-based supplements can cause side effects and interact with medicines, and encourages people to report any side effect to its nutrivigilance scheme.
Food supplement. Not a substitute for a varied, balanced diet and a healthy lifestyle. Not recommended for pregnant or breastfeeding women without medical advice. Not a substitute for medical treatment. Keep out of reach of children.
Sources and references