Adaptogens: What Are They & Do They Work?

Adaptogens are all the rage but what is one anyway? Furthermore, what does the science say? A look at approximately 20 studies for answers.
- Links and Sources -
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Adaptogens Definition:

Adaptogens Book Preview:

Apaptogens History:

Vox Adaptogens Article:

Ashwagandha Trial 1:

Ashwagandha Trial 2:

Cortisol and Testosterone Paper:

Ashwagandha Trial 2 - Crossover:

Ashwagandha Trial 3 - Multi Dose:

Ashwagandha Safety:

Ashwagandha Liver Case Series:

Ginseng 2010 Review - Not Enough Evidence:

Ginseng Complex Shape Recall 2019:

Ginseng Dementia Score in Elder Koreans:

Ginseng Reaction Times in Younger Adults:

Ginseng ED Study 1:

Ginseng Review - Glucose, Psychomotor, Pulmonary Benefits:

Cordyceps Anxiety Rat Study:

Cordyceps Natural K Cell Study:

Natural K Cell Nature Study:

Cordyceps Exercise Performance in Elderly:

Tulsi / Holy Basil 24 Study Review:

FDA Doesn't Regulate Herbal Supplement Manufacturing: 

Oxidative Stress and Aging / Disease: 

Intro/Outro Song: Sedução Momentânea by Roulet:

[linoacetyd]

Hey Mic, I was researching about microplastics and their effect on health, I think it could be a nice topic for you to cover, could you please do a video on it?

[carolesea]

Interesting information! I love your channel...been watching it for a few weeks, so there’s lots to catch up on!! Love your style of fast talking and solid facts combined with editorializing when called for. I’m 76 and don’t have any of the typical chronic health problems of most Americans my age. I have always been careful about what I eat. A few months ago I finally went fully vegan, so finding you, Dr. Greger and Collin Campbell have been essential to educating myself and reinforcing my decision. Thanks for proving quality that holds my interest! I plan to contribute.

[KotobukiGirl]

Yes, adrenal fatigue is a very interesting subject.

[Antistylestyleclub]

I need to stop watching these videos because I think I'm living on a placebo effect and I am not ready to lose that too 😁

[geos]

I’m surprised you haven’t done a video on caffeine/coffee yet.

[b.a.mcclucky]

I was taking Ashwaganda every day for about a month for stress and energy and legit saw a huge increase in my sex drive. In fact it was such an increase that it was a problem. I had to start taking it twice a day.



lol jk I had to stop taking it as much, but I am enjoying the slight increase in libido ever since adjusting how much I was taking. I'm a woman in my 40s who has had a hysterotomy.

[williamhartman]

Please do one on adrenal, please, it’s one of the topics that is falsely over understood, everyone is so confident but I thought the whole idea was pretty shakey

[krishnaveganathar]

Humor Helps!!! Bringing humor is crucial because plant based subjects on the environment and nutrition and animal suffering is so devastating and hard to take on. Most people just walk away and tell themselves they don’t care. Because it hurts to care. Humor makes it more accessible.

[_m__]

Reishi genuinely works, speaking from personal experience, though. Helps me relax and feel more at ease.

[kimscheuer]

Yes please, a video on adrenal fatigue would be good!

[skatingsarah]

Mic I would love a video on sensory problems like eyes and ears! I have really bad eye floaters/visual snow/light sensitivity with my eyes and ringing in my ears, and i’ve heard all these weird somatic symptoms are linked to anxiety which I have!

[Matt-jeck]

“The journal of ginseng research”- how is this a legitimate journal?

[jnewmark]

I have been taking a standardized, high quality Ashwaghanda supplement (per my physician) for two years and my cortisol levels have gone down as well as panic attacks. This was measured with saliva tests. Since being on this supplement, I have been able to lower my anxiety medication by half. I think this substance has the most research 🔬 behind it and can be life-changing for those suffering from stress-related illnesses. Also, going vegan 🌱 and eating plant-based has been life altering. Thanks for this wonderful video Mike. Please make sure if you’re going to go on an Ashwaghanda regimen that you choose a high-quality company using standardized ingredients. No fillers or gelatin. This stuff really works!!!!

[charleswright]

Adaptogens have been around for thousands of years in the pharmacopoeia of Eastern medicine. Yes, they work.

[deepakhiranandani]

Thanks. A good video again. Some trivia: in Ashwagandha only the last a is long, or aa. So in Sanskrit, Hindi and other languages of India (from where the herb 'hails') it's pronounced as Ush-wuh-gun-dhaa, or ersh-wer-gern-dhaa. Or one could use the a/A convention, spelling it ashwagandhA. (Ashwa is horse, gandh/gandha ending in a short a means odour, but aa at the end could signify a female gender: many names of men like Lalit, Prem, Suneet, Pushp become women's names as Lalita, Prema, Suneeta, Pushpa all spoken with a long final a, as aa; so ashwagandha could be 'she who has the odour of a horse'.) It's very popular in Ayurveda, etc. and I even ordered some tablets long ago but didn't take it for long... not into herbal supplements, really. A Whole Food Fully Plant Based Diet is more my thing.

Tulsi, toolsee with oo as in book, is very popular to mix in tea, a few leaves crushed up. Also could be part of kadha (kaadhaa) which is a boiled concoction of ginger root, black pepper, and herbs and spices like cinnamon etc.; has become very popular in the pandemic for its believed immunity enhancing effects; many ready powders of kadha are listed on amazon. Also green tea or black tea with tulsi. I find the flavour obtrusive, enjoying my green and black tea plain. Masala tea, or masala chai, could also contain tulsi with other herbs.


Lots of trivia. Thanks for the reminder about ashwagandha. Recently Dr. Clement spoke about it too. I might search for that jar or order a fresh supply, been toying with the idea of taking it for years... now that I'm Old, officially, maybe I should start.

The gin guy was amusing. 🙂🍸

[Buddhist_Gnome]

OMG I LOVE his videos! It's the perfect combination of learning and laughing.

[Telenova.]

Ashwagandha, Schizandra, Astragalus, Maca, Reishi... I love Adaptogens!

[auriusp]

Please make a video about Sulforaphane!

[itswrongtokillanimalsifyou]

I've yet to notice any effect from taking ashwagandha, but I can vouch for a teaspoon of schisandra powder per day as a stress reliever. That and sun salutations (yoga) and I'm all set whatever the situation. FWIW.
What are your personal stress relievers, guys?

[allencrider]

I'm really not fond of adaptogens that don't produce immediate results. I like the idea of something that lowers stress right then and there, and not after taking something for two weeks or so. Stressful situations aren't all-day, every-day and I'm thankful for that!
I drink Hibiscus flower tea, which is a nice antioxidant and anti-hypertensive. I also stopped doing any NSAIDs during long backpacking trips and switched to acetaminophen for pain and bromelain for inflammation. There's studies backing up the use of bromelain for inflammation.