What are Adaptogens

Adaptogens are natural substances likes herbs and mushrooms that can be consumed in a variety of ways and are beneficial in a variety of ways! Learn more about adaptogens of all kinds and how you can incorporate them into your life.

Jump to:

• What are adaptogens?
• Common Adaptogens
• How to Use

What are adaptogens?

Adaptogens are a group of non-toxic natural substances that are said to modulate the body’s response to stressors of all kinds. Physical stressors, chemical and biological.  They are tools to restore balance to bodily functions and bring us ‘back to center’.

I learned about these amazing roots, mushrooms and other foods when reading about ayurvedic medicine. Back then they weren’t readily available on the market. But now with alternative medicine becoming more mainstream you can even find them commonly on restaurant menus.

Common Adaptogens

The first adaptogen to gain western popularity was ashwagandha but there are an entire array of adaptogenic foods.

• Ashwagandha – a plant in the nightshade family.
• Holy Basil (tulsi) – an herb in the mint family.
• Asian Ginseng – a root.
• Siberian Ginseng – a root.
• Cordyceps – a mushroom..
• Maca – herb.
• Rhodiola – a succulent plant.
• Schisandra – a berry.
• Reishi – a mushroom.
• Chaga – a mushroom.
• Rhaponticum – root.
• Mucuna – a bean extract.
• Shiitake – mushroom.

How to Use

The options for consuming adaptogens are actually endless. Bake something sweet or savory with them, blend them up into smoothies, sneak them into soups and salad dressings or make them into teas, tinctures and infusions. Just like anything else, all adaptogens have different flavor profiles and the more you try the more inspired you will be to find different uses.

But I prefer to sneak them into my existing routines . I find some adaptogens like chaga have a deep, dark, earthy almost chocolatey flavor. In the morning I stir a scoop of one of these dark adaptogens into my morning cup of coffee (or right into the french press). Some like mucuna are lighter in color and flavor and have creamy vanilla undertones. These are great for smoothies and ‘golden milk’ also referred to as ‘moon milk‘ or ‘midnight milk’.