Adaptogens For Stress: How Ashwagandha Supports Calm & Reduces Stress

Quick Health Scoop:

• While we can’t avoid all stressors, there are certain things we can do to help increase our ability to respond to stressful situations well, such as adding adaptogens to our daily routine.
• Adaptogens are plant and mushroom compounds that help your body handle the effects of ongoing stress over time.
• Adaptogens may be taken in the form of capsules, tinctures, or dried powders added to food, tea, or taken as a supplement.
• Two of the most popular adaptogens for stress are ashwagandha and reishi mushroom, and when combined in a clinically studied blend, they help reduce stress while supporting calm, relaxation and a healthy mood.^†

Stress affects all of us, whether it’s related to factors like work, relationships, or adjusting to daylight savings time. It can impact our mental performance and overall health. While some stress levels can be short-lived and manageable, other stressors can stick around and disrupt everyday life.

Regardless, having ways to calm down under stress is essential. This can involve a combination of stress management activities like meditation, exercise, and aromatherapy, but also adding adaptogen supplements to your routine that can help support your health.

In this article, we’ll cover what adaptogens are, highlight two of the most popular adaptogens for stress, and show how stress relief supplements, like Nature Made^® Ashwagandha + Reishi Mushroom Capsules, can support your daily wellness routine.^†

What Are Adaptogens and How Do They Work?

If you’ve been wondering how to reduce stress, have you considered adaptogens? Adaptogens are compounds found in certain plants and mushrooms that help the body better respond to and manage stressors over time.

They are thought to help increase your resilience to stress, resulting in fewer negative responses as a result. In other words, adaptogens help our body handle and adapt to stressors.^[1][2]†

While adaptogens have always existed in nature and have long been used in traditional medicine, the term “adaptogen” was introduced in 1947.^[3] The understanding and use of them have only grown since.

While research on modern uses of adaptogens is ongoing, some studies have found that they may be beneficial for things like supporting your stress response.^†

Adaptogens, such as ashwagandha, are still being studied on how they work in the body. Some researchers report that adaptogens act upon the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (which plays a key role in helping your body adapt to stress) as well as some stress hormones like cortisol.^[1]

This is part of why adaptogen supplements have become a popular option for those looking to support a healthy stress response — including supplements to reduce cortisol, like ashwagandha, which has been clinically studied for its effects on cortisol and perceived stress.^†

Are adaptogens safe to use?

Adaptogens continue to be studied today and are considered safe when taken as directed and subject to caution statements on the label.^[1] If you are pregnant, nursing, or taking medications, consult with your physician before use.

However, it’s always best to speak to your healthcare provider before adding a new supplement or product to your routine, to make sure it’s safe and appropriate for you.

What Is Ashwagandha and How Does It Help with Stress?

Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) is one of the most well-studied adaptogens for stress available today — and for good reason. Here’s a closer look at what makes it stand out.^†

Ashwagandha for Stress Relief

Ashwagandha, sometimes called Indian Winter Cherry, is an evergreen shrub native to Africa, India, and parts of the Middle East. Long revered in Ayurvedic medicine as an herb supporting stress resilience, this adaptogen is recognized today through clinical studies for its ability to help reduce stress.^†

One way to add ashwagandha to your routine is with Nature Made Ashwagandha Capsules, which contain 125 mg of root and leaf extract per capsule, or our Ashwagandha 300 mg Gummies. Both supplements include ashwagandha to help reduce stress.^†

For a combo of stress relief and sleep support, our Magnesium + Ashwagandha Capsules help relax your body with a daily dose of magnesium, plus clinically studied Sensoril^® ashwagandha to reduce stress and cortisol levels, and support sleep quality with continued use.^†

For those looking for a clinically studied adaptogen blend, Nature Made Ashwagandha + Reishi Mushroom Capsules provide 600 mg of KSM-66^® Ashwagandha, clinically studied to help reduce stress and cortisol, combined with 400 mg of reishi mushroom extract per 2-capsule serving. In as little as 6 weeks, people who took this blend felt noticeably less stressed.^†

How Ashwagandha and Reishi Mushroom Work Together

Reishi mushroom (Ganoderma lingzhi) is one of the most recognized adaptogenic mushrooms, used for centuries in traditional practices across Asia. Today it’s commonly found in dietary supplements as capsules, powders and extracts.

Ashwagandha and reishi mushroom have been clinically studied as a blend to help reduce stress while supporting calm, relaxation and a healthy mood. Ashwagandha and reishi mushroom work as adaptogens, helping your body adapt to stressors over time.^†

Nature Made Ashwagandha + Reishi Mushroom Capsules feature this clinically studied blend — 600 mg KSM-66^® ashwagandha and 400 mg reishi mushroom fruiting body extract (standardized to 35% beta-glucans) per 2-capsule serving. Key benefits include:

• Helps reduce stress and supports calm and relaxation^†
• Helps reduce cortisol, the stress hormone^†
• Helps support a positive mood^†
• Non habit-forming

Other Adaptogens to Consider

Looking for adaptogens to add to your wellness routine? Below is a list of adaptogens that you may be interested in exploring:

• Rhodiola rosea
• Holy Basil
• Cordyceps
• Astragalus
• Licorice root
• Eleuthero root
• Goji berry

What Are Different Forms of Adaptogen Supplements?

Different forms of adaptogen supplements include dried powdered adaptogenic plants, along with adaptogenic mushrooms. These can be found in supplemental capsules or powders and adaptogenic tinctures, which are liquid forms of plant extracts.

There is no standard dosage for adaptogens as this depends on the type of plant you’re using and how you’re taking it. The best way to know what dosage to take is to read the label and follow the directed amount or speak with your healthcare provider.

If you’re looking for stress relief supplements to support your daily routine, adaptogen supplements like Nature Made Ashwagandha + Reishi Mushroom Capsules offer a clinically studied, non-habit-forming option to help your body manage stress over time. And explore our Ashwagandha Supplements to find the right adaptogen supplement for your unique needs. As with any supplement, consistency is key — and always speak with your healthcare provider before starting something new.^†

KSM-66^® is a registered trademark of Ixoreal Biomed Inc.

SENSORIL^® is protected under U.S. Patent No. 7,318,938 and CA Patent No. 2,508,478, and is a registered trademark of Natreon, Inc.

References:

1. Todorova V, Ivanov K, Delattre C, Nalbantova V, Karcheva-Bahchevanska D, Ivanova S. Plant Adaptogens-History and Future Perspectives. Nutrients. 2021;13(8):2861. Published 2021 Aug 20. doi:10.3390/nu13082861
2. Panossian A. Understanding adaptogenic activity: specificity of the pharmacological action of adaptogens and other phytochemicals. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2017;1401(1):49-64. doi:10.1111/nyas.13399
3. Liao LY, He YF, Li L, et al. A preliminary review of studies on adaptogens: comparison of their bioactivity in TCM with that of ginseng-like herbs used worldwide. Chin Med. 2018;13:57. Published 2018 Nov 16. doi:10.1186/s13020-018-0214-9