What is an adaptogen?
An adaptogen is an herb or compound claimed to help the body adapt to stress and restore balance, such as ashwagandha, rhodiola or ginseng.
Think of an adaptogen as a shock absorber for your body: the idea is that it smooths out the bumps of stress rather than stopping the car.
Why it matters for aging
The term was coined by Soviet scientists in the mid-20th century to describe substances that supposedly increased resistance to physical and mental stress. It has since been applied to many herbs from Ayurveda and traditional Chinese medicine.
Because it's a loose label, the evidence varies enormously from one adaptogen to another. Judge each one by its own human trials, not by the category.
A common myth
Adaptogens are proven to make your body resistant to all kinds of stress.
"Adaptogen" is a traditional and marketing term, not a medical category. A few, like ashwagandha, have modest trial evidence for stress; many others are barely tested.
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Updated Nov 9, 2026 · All terms