Stress supplements have a credibility problem. One shelf promises calm in a capsule. Another promises “adrenal support,” “cortisol balance,” or “ancient resilience.” Some of those claims are based on real pharmacology and early clinical research. Some are marketing dressed in a lab coat. Adaptogens sit right in the middle of that tension. Herbs such as ashwagandha, rhodiola, ginseng, and holy basil have long histories of traditional use, and a growing number of studies have t