Every wellness brand seems to be adding adaptogens to everything these days, from sparkling water to protein powders. But here is the truth: drinking something with a sprinkle of adaptogens once in a while is unlikely to do much for you.
That is because adaptogens do not work like caffeine or sugar, where you feel an immediate effect. Instead, they have a cumulative effect. The more consistently you take them, the more time they have to regulate your body’s stress response, balance cortisol, and support long-term resilience. Think of adaptogens as training your nervous system and endocrine system for endurance, not quick relief.
If you are looking for a more noticeable shift in the moment, you will want to reach for a different category of herbs: nervines.
Adaptogens: Long-Term Stress Support
Adaptogens work by modulating the HPA axis, the communication loop between your brain and your adrenal glands. This loop regulates how your body responds to stress and how quickly it returns to baseline. By supporting this process, adaptogens help with:
- Building stress resilience over time
- Reducing fatigue from chronic stress
- Supporting hormone balance related to cortisol and energy regulation
Some well-known adaptogens include:
- Holy Basil (Tulsi) – Supports cortisol balance and mental clarity
- Ashwagandha – Restores energy and supports restful sleep
- Eleuthero – Increases endurance and resilience to fatigue
To get results, these herbs should be taken consistently, such as in daily tea, tincture, or capsule form over weeks to months.
Nervines: Quick Relief for Stress and Anxiety
Nervines are herbs that directly support the nervous system. Unlike adaptogens, they are usually fast-acting, with effects that can be felt in 20 to 40 minutes when taken as tea and even faster as tinctures. Nervines help with:
- Calming racing thoughts
- Soothing muscle tension
- Supporting sleep
- Easing anxiety-related stomach upset
Some powerful nervines include:
- Chamomile – Calms the mind and soothes digestion
- Lemon Balm – Gently uplifts mood and reduces nervous tension
- Skullcap – Relieves circular thinking, stress headaches, and panic
- Kava – Eases social anxiety and physical tension
- Milky Oat Tops – Nourish and restore the nervous system over time
My herbal tea blend Weightless combines nervines like skullcap, lemon balm, and holy basil to provide both fast-acting support for anxious moments and gentle stress regulation. This makes it a great choice if you want something that works quickly while also contributing to your longer-term nervous system health.
How to Know What You Need
If your stress feels like a long-term grind, with low energy, poor sleep quality, or feeling wired but tired, adaptogens may be the best fit, as long as you take them consistently.
If your stress feels acute, such as racing thoughts before a meeting, stomach churning with worry, or tension in your shoulders, nervines are often the fastest way to find relief.
Many people benefit from combining the two. Taking adaptogens daily for long-term resilience while keeping nervines on hand for stressful moments can create a balanced approach to managing both everyday stress and deeper patterns of fatigue or burnout.
Want to learn more? Check out our recent blog post: Best Herbs for Stress and Anxiety
Final Thoughts
Both adaptogens and nervines are powerful allies for supporting the nervous system and stress response, but they serve different purposes. Adaptogens build long-term resilience, while nervines help you in the moment. Used together, they can create a balanced approach to managing anxiety, tension, and stress, and herbal blends like Weightless make it simple to combine these benefits in a single tea.
Always consult a healthcare provider if you are taking medication, pregnant, nursing, or managing a medical condition before using herbs in therapeutic doses.