Explore Adaptogens

This directory lists ingredients that are called adaptogens in research reviews, in NIH summaries or in marketing. It is not a universally accepted scientific classification. Researchers define "adaptogen" in different ways, and some ingredients here are included because they are widely marketed that way. [1][2] Scientific names were checked against the GBIF checklist on October 22, 2026. [3]

How the list is organized

Search data shows that people look up ingredients by name far more than they search for "adaptogens," so each ingredient has one guide, and the guides are found here. Botanical guides live in Natural Remedies. Mushroom guides live in Mushrooms. Entries in this directory that also appear elsewhere are links, not copies. A dashed label means the guide is in preparation. We link a page only when it has real, sourced content.

Naming and classification notes

• Holy basil (tulsi). The accepted name is Ocimum tenuiflorum. The older name Ocimum sanctum is a synonym. [3]
• Amla. The accepted name is Phyllanthus emblica. Emblica officinalis is a synonym. [3] Whether amla fits the adaptogen definition is a classification question.
• Asian ginseng. NIH names it Panax ginseng. Red ginseng and white ginseng are the same plant prepared in two ways. [4] American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius) is a different species. [3]
• Eleuthero. Often called "Siberian ginseng," but Eleutherococcus senticosus belongs to a different genus than Panax. [3]
• Astragalus. NIH calls it an adaptogen and uses the name Astragalus membranaceus. [5] In the GBIF checklist, Astragalus mongholicus is the accepted species and A. membranaceus does not match as a species, so product labels vary. [3]
• Licorice root. NIH lists Glycyrrhiza glabra, G. uralensis and G. inflata. Many "licorice" products sold in the US do not contain actual licorice, and anise oil, which smells and tastes similar, is often used instead. [6]
• Mushrooms. Reishi, cordyceps, lion's mane and chaga have their guides in Mushrooms. Not all of them are generally classed as adaptogens.

About the PubMed counts

The counts below each ingredient come from a text search of PubMed (NCBI E-utilities) for the scientific and common names plus the "randomized controlled trial" publication type. They include studies of extracts, blends and herbal formulas, and a trial can find no effect. A count shows how much human research has been indexed, not whether something works. [7]