On October 25, 2020, the scientific journal Medicinal Research Reviews published a review entitled “Evolution of the adaptogenic concept from traditional use to medical systems: Pharmacology of stress‐ and aging‐related diseases.”¹ This paper, written by 11 medicinal plant experts, comes at a time when herbal adaptogens are becoming more widely used by proactive health consumers to deal with increasing mental and physical stress.

The concept of adaptogenic herbs was established in the years after World War II in Russia, but has gained acceptance around the world as evidenced by the market success of many adaptogens such as ashwagandha (Withania somnifera), Asian ginseng (Panax ginseng), eleuthero (Eleutherococcus senticosus), and rhodiola (Rhodiola rosea).

The publication is 74-pages long and cites 628 references. Adaptogens are introduced by providing definitions from various authors over 60 years. This is an important aspect of the paper, since…