Now we have another term to add to the lexicon of dubious health claims – the “adaptogen”. The most common definition out there is similar to this one by Dr. Hunnes from UCLA Health: “The claim is that adaptogens reduce our body’s reaction to stress and help us adapt to stressors better.”
How do they allegedly do that? Well – “Experts believe that adaptogens interact with the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, which initiates your body’s stress response and plays a big role in keeping your body in balance.” The evidence for this is virtually non-existent, which is why it is stated as a “belief”. Other proposed mechanisms include boosting the immune system, reducing oxidative stress, and balancing the body (such as balancing hormones). These are familiar vague claims already part of the snake oil canon.
Even researchers who promote herbal remedies have found the term frustrating vague:
“The term “adaptogen,” which has not been well defined scientifically, undermines the need for increased inquiry and research into the many promising effects of this herb.”
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One of the hallmarks of good science is that it uses precise terminology and definitions. Words are the place-keepers for our ideas, and we literally cannot think precisely without precise language. Vague words betray vague and sloppy thinking. When it comes to the supplement industry, and the alternative medicine industry more broadly, vague terminology is not a bug, it’s a feature.
