Adaptogens

Adaptogens are dietary supplements made from plants and mushrooms that herbal tradition includes in this group: ashwagandha, rhodiola rosea, schisandra chinensis, maca, and lion’s mane. Here you will find drops with a pipette, capsules, and recipes combining several raw materials in one serving. Below we explain the differences between these forms and what to compare on the label before making a choice.

Drops or capsules

Drops are measured with a pipette, so the serving can be easily reduced or divided into several doses throughout the day. Adaptogenialna Ashwagandha comes in a 50 ml bottle, while Aura Care recipes come in 15 ml bottles, in which the manufacturer states there are about 400 drops. A capsule contains a ready portion and has no taste, but you cannot change its size.

Aura Care Ashwagandha is available in capsules, with a daily portion of 2 capsules, one in the morning and one in the evening, as well as Energy Power+ in a package of 60 capsules. The taste also matters with drops. Adaptogenialna Ashwagandha is available in natural, caramel, vanilla, and mango versions, while Aura Care Ashwagandha Raspberry contains concentrated raspberry juice.

Extract, macerate, and glycerin extract

The form of the raw material determines how to read the numbers on the label. A standardized extract has the content of a selected group of compounds stated. In Adaptogenialna Ashwagandha, the manufacturer declares 9% withanolides, and it also contains piperine from black pepper.

Aura Care uses oil macerates, which are raw materials soaked in oil, and declares them as alcohol-free. The manufacturer does not provide the percentage of compounds here, only the mass of the macerate from each plant in the daily portion, with a standard of DER 1:1. The Raspberry Ashwagandha of the same brand is an extract from the root in a base of glycerin, water, and juice, with 750 mg of extract in the daily portion.

Adaptogens: single raw material or recipe

Just ashwagandha in drops or capsules is a choice for someone who wants a single raw material and one number to compare. Aura Care recipes combine several macerates in one bottle. In drops with ashwagandha and maca, the daily portion contains 360 mg of ashwagandha macerate, 187.5 mg each from rhodiola rosea and schisandra chinensis, and 150 mg from maca.

When comparing two products at once, check the compositions, as ashwagandha appears in many recipes and its total amount increases with each of them. Energy Power+ combines lion’s mane, guarana, and rhodiola rosea with caffeine. Do not consume it with other products that are sources of caffeine.

What to check on the label

Before purchasing, compare several items that differentiate products in this category the most:

• the Latin name of the raw material, for example, Withania somnifera for ashwagandha, as common names can be misleading: maca called Peruvian ginseng is not ginseng
• the amount in the daily portion, not in one drop or capsule: Aura Care Ashwagandha states 700 mg of macerate for 2 capsules
• the form of the raw material, i.e., the percentage of standardization for the extract or the mass of the macerate for oil drops
• caffeine, which in Energy Power+ is about 75 mg in the daily portion
• the shelf life after opening, which for Aura Care drops is 12 months

More about labels can be found in our guide how to read a dietary supplement label.

How to use and for whom

Products in this category are dietary supplements for adults. For drops with ashwagandha and maca, the manufacturer does not recommend them for pregnant women, breastfeeding women, or children. If you are taking medications regularly, consult your doctor first, as the manufacturer excludes combining these drops with sedatives and sleeping pills.

Aura Care drops are placed under the tongue and held for one to two minutes, while capsules are taken with water. You can find cocoa and coffee with adaptogens in the subcategories Cocoa and Coffee, and other preparations in the category Supplements.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between a standardized extract and an oil macerate?

A standardized extract has the content of selected compounds stated, for example, 9% withanolides in Adaptogenialna Ashwagandha. An oil macerate is a raw material soaked in oil, and the manufacturer describes it by the mass of the macerate in the daily portion. These two numbers cannot be directly compared, as they measure different things.

How long does a 15 ml bottle last?

The manufacturer states that there are about 400 drops in a 15 ml bottle. In drops with ashwagandha and maca, the portion is 2-5 drops three times a day, with a maximum of 15 drops per day, so the supply depends on how many drops you take. The portion for each recipe is stated on its label, so check it with the selected product.

Do drops with adaptogens contain alcohol?

Aura Care macerates are made in oil, meaning the raw material is soaked in it, and the manufacturer declares them as alcohol-free. The Raspberry Ashwagandha of this brand has a base of glycerin, water, and juice, and its daily portion is 32 drops, with 16 drops in the morning and evening. This declaration applies to Aura Care macerates, so check the label for other drops.

Can adaptogens be given to children?

Products in this category are dietary supplements for adults. For drops with ashwagandha and maca, the manufacturer does not recommend use in children, as well as during pregnancy and breastfeeding. When such preparations make sense for children and when they do not, we describe in the text adaptogens for children.

Can I combine adaptogens with coffee?

First, check if the selected product contains caffeine. Energy Power+ has about 75 mg of caffeine in the daily portion, of which 50 mg comes from guarana extract, and the manufacturer advises against combining it with other sources of caffeine. A package of 60 capsules lasts for 30 days.