Adaptogen Chart - Created by Maria Noel Groves at Wintergreen Botanicals (with some borrowing from Michael Moore)

Common Name Latin Name Plant Family Habitat/ Growing Part Used Energy Effects Tendency Brain Body CNS/Mood Thyroid Metabolism Hormones/Sexu Immune Pain/Inflammati Heart Toxins/ GI Effects on Side Effects
al on Detoxification Tissues
Ginseng Panax spp Ginseng/ China/America. Root, Stimulating Warming Energizing Energizing May aggravate May reduce Libido, fertility. Protects against Protects against Protects against Nourishes, May
Asian -P. Aralia Mountain woods, sometimes Adaptogen (Red = most, mania and blood sugar in May increase tumors, viruses high cholesterol. liver toxins strengthens overstimulate or
ginseng (crude difficult to grow, needs leaves (Red = most, then white, anxiety diabetes. weight of May aggravate (chloroform, warm.
white, cured several years to harvest. then white, American = prostate glands, hypertension, amphetamines,
red); American = moderate) seminal vesicles, especially at high etc.), radiation.
American-P. moderate) increase sperm doses.
quinquefolias count. Studied
for erectile
disorder.
Rhodiola Rhodiola rosea Sedum/ Rock Siberia. Alpine and Root Stimulating Aromatic, Improves mental Improves Aids chronic May improve Possible immune Digestive Drying May aggravate
Rose coastal cliffs, difficult to Adaptogen astringent/drying, performance, test synthesis of fatigue weight loss along tonic stimulant, anxiety,
grow. Needs several somewhat taking. Nerve ATP. Appears to syndrome, with astringent. May insomnia, mania,
years to harvest. warming restorative and modulate stress depression. May exercise/diet. upset stomach. bioloar.
protecting. hormone aggravate
production. insomnia, mania.
Questionable in
anxiety.
Eleuthero Eleutherococcu Ginseng/ Siberia, moderately easy Root, maybe Stimulating Somewhat Improves mental Improves May lessen May boost libido Immune- May aggravate May aggravate
(Siberian s senticosus Aralia to grow. Needs several leaves Adaptogen warming performance physical depression and modulating. hypertension at insomnia, high
Ginseng) years to harvest. performance aggravate mania Often used in high doses, blood pressure.
and anxiety convalescence. modulate at
Improved ability modest doses.
to withstand May aggravate
physical and palpitations.
mental stressors.
Codonopsis Codonopsis spp Bellflower China. Easy to grow in Root, Semi-Stimulating Somewhat Weaker Used for fatigue, Immune- Nourishes, May
(Dang Shen, the garden (tender vine). sometimes Adaptogen warming, "ginseng" in convalescence, modulating. strengthens overstimulate.
Poor Man's Harvest after 3 years. leaves nourishing, sweet cancer Often used in
Ginseng) Requires tricky post- convalescence.
harvest processing.
Cordyceps Ophiocordycep Mushroom China. Often cultivated Fruiting body, Semi-Stimulating Somewhat Energizing, Energizing, used May lessen Libido/fertility Immune Stimulant effects Nourishes, May
s sinensis (syn in the lab. Naturally mycellium Adaptogen warming, possible oxytocin for fatigue, depression and herb. May modulating may be noted in strengthens overstimulate.
Cordyceps grows on caterpillars in building synergy libido, athletics aggravate mania improve repro heart Mushroom
sinensis) China. and anxiety system, possible allergies.
oxytocin support
Reishi (Lingzhi Ganoderma Mushroom China/Local. Wood Fruiting body, Balancing Neutral Deep energy, Deep energy, Aids insomnia, Immune Anti- Heart tonic, Protects liver Nourishes, Mushroom
Mushrooom) lucidum, local conk. G. tsuge grows mycellium Adaptogen temperature, longevity, vitality possibly anxiety modulating, inflammatory calms heart shen strengthens allergies.
= G. tsuge wild on hemlock trees. (mycellium bitter, nourishing antioxidant tonic, often used
Not too hard to cultivate. may be in respiratory
weaker) health and cancer

Ashwagandha Withania Nightshade India. Grow it as you Root, Relaxing Strengthens vital Deep energy yet Deep energy, Tonifies nervous Mildly boosts Balances Libido/fertility Immune, Anti- Tonifies Nightshade
somnifera would tomatoes. Harvest sometimes Adaptogen with force. Mildly nourishes fried vitality. Often system. thyroid T3 and cortisol, may aid herb. May autoimmune, and inflammatory, digestive system reactions.
in 1+ years. Treat as leaves deep energy warming. nerves used for fatigue- T4. weight loss improve repro respiration useful in many Caution in
annual in cold climates. nervous related system, system tonic. types of pain - hyperthyroid,
Dry first. disorders (lyme, especially sperm. algia, pregnancy.
fibromyalgia, autoimmune
MS).
Maca Lepidium Turnip/ Peru's Andes Mountains. Root Balancing Sweet, Modest energy Modest energy Mildly improves Goitrogenic? Libido/fertility Nutrition Caution in
meyenii Brassica Not possible to cultivate Adaptogen nourishing, mood herb. May hypothyroid.
here. building, nutrient- improve repro Raw powder may
dense system aggravate GI.

Schisandra Schisandra Schisandra China. Relatively easy to Berries Balancing Five flavors: Improves work Improved athletic Normalizes Immune and Reduces Protects liver, Strongly Caution in ulcers,
(Schizandra) chinensis grow, edge of Adaptogen, pungent, sour, performance and performance nervous system, respiration inflammation improves detox stimultes hyperacidity.
woods/garden, several mildly relaxing bitter, salty, memory for anxiety, system tonic. and healing digestive
years until productive. sweet. energy, function
Robust vine. insomnia.
Shatavari Asparagus Asparagus India. Requires warm Root Balancing Moistening, Normalizes Phytoestrogen, Mild immune Anti- Diuretic Moistening, Moistens, Diuretic.
racemosus climate and 2 years of Adaptogen nourishing, improves tonic, possible inflammatory, healing, may nourishes,
growth. building cervical mucous, anti-pathogen, targets repro- fight pathogens strengthens
female repro, anti-tumor urinary-gut
fertility, libido
Gotu Kola Centella Hydrocotyle/ India. Easy to cultivate. Leaves, aerial Relaxing Cooling, watery, Brain tonic, Calming. Useful Anti- Increases May improve Heals gut tissue, Integrity, May inhibit
(Brahmi) asiatica Ginseng or Needs moisture, rich parts, whole Adaptogen slightly peppery, circulation, for fatigue, inflammatory circulation, detoxification aids in ulcers restoration - fertility. Quality
Parsley soil. Prefers warmth and plant green restorative, fibromyalgia. targeting nerves improves Improves wound varies/E.coli;
(debated) indirect sun. Can grow protecting, Decreases vascular tone healing, tissue fresh organic =
in pot/hang. Tender function, anxiety. and collagen best
perennial. memory, ADHD repair.
Holy Basil Ocimum Mint India. Easy to cultivate, Leaves, Relaxing Zen energy, For memory, Used for fatigue, Calming, reduces ? (deceased T4 Balances Protects against Anti- Likely cardio Protects against Enhances Protects, reduces Rare: paradoxical
(Sacred Basil, sanctum (syn O. like culinary basil. flowers, aerial Adaptogen protecting, parasympathic performance anxiety, boosts but not T3 or cortisol, may pathogens, inflammatory, tonic radiation. digestive inflammation anxiety,
Tulsi) - various tenuiflorum), Tender perennial. parts aromatic response, under stress mood T3/T4 ratio rats) lower blood aromatic for modest COX2 function, digestion/reflux
varieties sometimes O. antioxidant sugar, stress respiratory inhibitor inhibiting ulcers overstimulation.
gratissimum cravings Thyroid? Not in
pregnancy.