Adaptogens are having a moment. But they've been around a lot longer than the wellness industry.
Adaptogens are herbs and mushrooms traditionally associated with helping the body cope with everyday stress. The term was coined in 1947 by the Soviet pharmacologist Nikolai Lazarev, and today it covers plants like Korean ginseng and bacopa, and functional mushrooms like Lion's Mane, Chaga and Cordyceps.
The word nobody can quite define
Adaptogen is one of those words that gets thrown around in wellness without much explanation. It sounds impressive. It appears on packaging next to words like ancient, natural and powerful. So what does it actually mean?
Lazarev used it to describe a substance that increases the body's “non-specific” resistance to stress. Researchers later set out three criteria for the original definition:
- Non-specific: it was meant to help with a broad range of stresses, not one in particular.
- Normalising: it was meant to help the body back towards balance, rather than pushing it in one direction like a stimulant.
- Innocuous: it had to be safe to take without disturbing normal functioning.
Today, “adaptogen” is a label rather than a scientific category, used for a group of herbs and mushrooms traditionally associated with resilience.
Why people are turning to adaptogens
Most of us aren't short of stress: work pressure, poor sleep, eating on the go, not moving enough. And most of us are trying to manage it with more coffee. Adaptogens appeal because they're the opposite of a quick fix: a daily habit, taken consistently, with a long tradition behind it. Read what stress looks like when it catches up with you.
The goal isn't to eliminate stress. It's to build a routine that helps you handle it.
The adaptogens in GOOD MORNING MOTHERFUNGI® at a glance
| Ingredient | What it is | Traditionally associated with |
|---|---|---|
| Korean ginseng | A root used in East Asia for centuries | Energy, vitality and resilience |
| Bacopa monnieri | A small herb from the Indian subcontinent, used in Ayurvedic practice | Memory and focus |
| Lion's Mane | A white, shaggy mushroom that grows on hardwood trees | Focus and mental clarity |
| Chaga | A dark growth on birch trees in cold climates | Immune health and general wellbeing |
| Cordyceps | A small orange mushroom, now cultivated | Energy and stamina |
Korean ginseng: the energy adaptogen
Korean ginseng (Panax ginseng) comes from Korea, northeastern China and far-eastern Siberia, and its root has been part of traditional East Asian practice for centuries. It's one of the most widely used botanicals in the world, traditionally associated with energy, vitality and resilience to stress.
GOOD MORNING MOTHERFUNGI® contains a concentrated Korean ginseng extract equivalent to 1,000mg per serving: a meaningful amount, not a trace included for the label.
Bacopa monnieri: the memory adaptogen
Bacopa monnieri is a small herb native to the Indian subcontinent. It has been used in Ayurvedic practice for centuries, where it's traditionally associated with memory and focus, and it contains compounds called bacosides.
Bacopa is an ingredient that rewards patience: it's traditionally taken every day over weeks, not as a one-off. That's exactly how we think about GOOD MORNING MOTHERFUNGI® as a whole.
GOOD MORNING MOTHERFUNGI® contains a concentrated bacopa extract equivalent to 1,000mg per serving.
And the mushrooms?
Lion's Mane, Chaga and Cordyceps are often grouped with adaptogens, and each comes from a different tradition: focus, wellbeing, and energy and stamina. See how the three compare.
Why we put them together
The formula isn't random. Each ingredient comes from a different tradition, so together they cover the things most people want from a morning: focus, energy and feeling well. The vitamins do the part we can put on the label: vitamins B2, B3, B5, B6, B9, B12 and C contribute to the reduction of tiredness and fatigue, and B6, B9, B12, C and D to the normal function of the immune system.
How to take adaptogens consistently
Adaptogens are traditionally taken every day, so the habit matters more than any single dose. They're not something you take when you remember.
Which is exactly why GOOD MORNING MOTHERFUNGI® is designed the way it is. One level teaspoon in your coffee, matcha, smoothie, protein shake, overnight oats or yoghurt bowl. Unflavoured. No new routine. No extra step. Just something you do every morning without thinking about it. How to build a caffeine-free morning routine.
That's the whole idea.
Frequently asked questions
Are adaptogens safe? Ginseng and bacopa have been used for centuries. As with any supplement, if you're pregnant, breastfeeding or taking medication, particularly for blood sugar, check with your GP before adding them to your routine.
Can I take adaptogens with coffee? Yes. GOOD MORNING MOTHERFUNGI® is caffeine-free and unflavoured, so it works in coffee, matcha or anything else.
Are mushrooms adaptogens? Functional mushrooms like Lion's Mane, Chaga and Cordyceps are often grouped with adaptogens because of their long traditional use.
When should I take adaptogens? Whenever you'll remember every day. For most people, that's with their morning drink.
Sources
- Panossian A., Wikman G. and Wagner H. (1999). Plant adaptogens III. Earlier and more recent aspects and concepts on their mode of action. Phytomedicine, 6(4), 287–300.
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Asian Ginseng: Usefulness and Safety
- LiverTox, National Library of Medicine: Bacopa monnieri