Herbs and mushrooms fall into the adaptogen category when they help the body adapt to stressful situations and protect against stress-induced dysfunction. Adaptogenic herbs have been most commonly used in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and Ayurveda.
In order to be considered an adaptogen, the plant or mushroom must meet certain criteria:
Non-toxic in medicinal doses
Works through the HPA axis (aka the hypothalamic-pituitary adrenal axis) which controls the body’s reactions to stress and other processes.
Must work on a cellular level to help support the cells’ ability to respond to stress.