Adaptogens: When “Energizing” Herbs Calm You Instead

Dear Land Loved..

I recently learned that for me, taking ginseng causes me to become VERY lethargic and it basically lasted the whole day (instead of energized like I hear many experience). I looked into it a bit and apparently that’s what happens to some people because it’s an adaptogen and therefore helps our bodies regulate, energizing us when we’re sluggish and calming when the body is hyped up. This is crazy and fascinating to me! And also frustrating. Now I feel wary about taking in other adaptogenic food or herbs. Do you have any advice about when to ingest something that is an adaptogen?

I hear you. Let’s dive in…

This is such a fascinating question! It actually brings up quite a few other questions for me. I’ll do my best to respond, though it’s always a bit of a challenge without being able to fully know your experience — ah, the limitations of advice columns!

Adaptogens are truly remarkable plants. I like to think of them as having the unique ability to give the body exactly what it needs — which can look very different from person to person. For example, a plant that can both lower and raise blood pressure would be considered an adaptogen.

That said, I want to start by noting something that comes up often when working with plants: our human tendency to confuse correlation with causation. Now, it’s absolutely possible that Ginseng caused the lethargy you experienced. But since it sounds like you only tried it once (and I can’t ask you the thousand questions I’d love to!), I want to gently mention that sometimes when we’re trying something new, we’re hyper-aware of any change to and may attribute it directly to that thing — even if it’s just a coinciding event. It’s like how every time the sun rises, the birds start singing — but the birds don’t cause the sunrise.

My first question when someone works with a new plant is always: How did you prepare it, and how much did you consume? Understanding the preparation and dosage is key. When an effect feels strong or unexpected, sometimes the answer is simply to take less. For instance, just 1–3 drops of Skullcap tincture can ease a mild headache — but a full dropperfull can make someone very sleepy!

My next question would be: Why did you choose Ginseng as a plant ally? Were you looking to support your overall well-being, or were you hoping for a boost of energy?

If your intention was to support your body more generally, perhaps try lowering the dose and see if the lethargy lessens or feels more manageable. You might even view the fatigue as Ginseng’s way of communicating that your body needs rest — a gentle reminder to nourish and slow down.

If, on the other hand, you were taking Ginseng specifically for more energy, then I’d say you’ve received a valuable lesson. Sometimes, when we reach for energy, our bodies are really asking for rest. Life is cyclical — we need those quieter, slower phases to truly recharge, even though modern life rarely gives us permission for that. As we move into the darker, more restorative months, it’s especially important to create that space for ourselves.

As for working with adaptogenic plants in general, my best advice is to listen deeply to your body. It has immense wisdom, and even when the message feels inconvenient (like unexpected tiredness), it’s trying to tell you something important. Personally, I’m most drawn to nourishing herbs — the ones that build energy from the ground up.

Nettle leaf is a wonderful example. Nettle gently supports the kidneys and adrenals, replenishing the body with essential vitamins and minerals. Unlike caffeine, Nettle doesn’t stimulate; it nourishes, allowing natural energy to arise over time.

I know I always sing the praises of nourishing herbal infusions, but that’s because they’re truly the best place to begin working with herbs. I’d be so curious to see what might happen if you drank nourishing infusions daily for three months — and then revisited Ginseng.

Here’s a link to my PDF on how to make infusions. If you decide to try this experiment, please write back and let me know how it goes!

With love,

Vanessa 🖤