Stress Signs and Symptoms

    Last Updated: October 13, 2024

    Stress (particularly distress) is excessive stimulation of the body's resources that eventually manifests negative symptoms such as fatigue or depression. Several supplements, such as adaptogens, are thought to reduce the development of stress.

    examine-databaseExamine Database
    3,559 participants in 45 trials

    Examine Database: Stress Signs and Symptoms

    Ashwagandha
    B
    Moderate Improvement
    Rhodiola Rosea
    B
    Small Improvement
    Theanine
    A
    Moderate Improvement
    Kava
    Bacopa Monnieri
    L-Tyrosine
    Phosphatidylserine
    Magnesium
    Spirulina
    Lemon Balm
    Tongkat Ali
    Panax Ginseng (Korean Ginseng)
    Ginkgo Biloba
    Gotu Kola
    Saffron
    Rose Essential Oil
    DHEA
    Fish Oil
    Krill Oil
    Soy Lecithin
    Lavender
    Binaural Beats
    PQQ
    16:8 Intermittent Fasting

    Research FeedRead all studies

    Examine Database References

    1. Bacopa Monnieri - Luke A Downey, James Kean, Fiona Nemeh, Angela Lau, Alex Poll, Rebecca Gregory, Margaret Murray, Johanna Rourke, Brigit Patak, Matthew P Pase, Andrea Zangara, Justine Lomas, Andrew Scholey, Con StoughAn acute, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover study of 320 mg and 640 mg doses of a special extract of Bacopa monnieri (CDRI 08) on sustained cognitive performancePhytother Res.(2013 Sep)
    2. Rhodiola Rosea - D Edwards, A Heufelder, A ZimmermannTherapeutic effects and safety of Rhodiola rosea extract WS® 1375 in subjects with life-stress symptoms--results of an open-label studyPhytother Res.(2012 Aug)
    3. Bacopa Monnieri - Sarah Benson, Luke A Downey, Con Stough, Mark Wetherell, Andrea Zangara, Andrew ScholeyAn acute, double-blind, placebo-controlled cross-over study of 320 mg and 640 mg doses of Bacopa monnieri (CDRI 08) on multitasking stress reactivity and moodPhytother Res.(2014 Apr)
    4. PQQ - Masahiko Nakano, Tetsuro Yamamoto, Hisayoshi Okamura, Akira Tsuda, Yasuyuki KowatariEffects of Oral Supplementation with Pyrroloquinoline Quinone on Stress, Fatigue, and SleepFunctional Foods in Health and Disease.()
    5. Ashwagandha - K Chandrasekhar, Jyoti Kapoor, Sridhar AnishettyA prospective, randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled study of safety and efficacy of a high-concentration full-spectrum extract of ashwagandha root in reducing stress and anxiety in adultsIndian J Psychol Med.(2012 Jul)
    6. L-Tyrosine - Banderet LE, Lieberman HRTreatment with tyrosine, a neurotransmitter precursor, reduces environmental stress in humansBrain Res Bull.(1989 Apr)
    7. Rhodiola Rosea - Schutgens FW, Neogi P, van Wijk EP, van Wijk R, Wikman G, Wiegant FAThe influence of adaptogens on ultraweak biophoton emission: a pilot-experimentPhytother Res.(2009 Aug)
    8. 16:8 Intermittent Fasting - Matthew T Stratton, Grant M Tinsley, Michaela G Alesi, Garrett M Hester, Alex A Olmos, Paul R Serafini, Andrew S Modjeski, Gerald T Mangine, Kelsey King, Shelby N Savage, Austin T Webb, Trisha A VanDusseldorpFour Weeks of Time-Restricted Feeding Combined with Resistance Training Does Not Differentially Influence Measures of Body Composition, Muscle Performance, Resting Energy Expenditure, and Blood BiomarkersNutrients.(2020 Apr 17)
    9. Rose Essential Oil - Fukada M, Kano E, Miyoshi M, Komaki R, Watanabe TEffect of "rose essential oil" inhalation on stress-induced skin-barrier disruption in rats and humansChem Senses.(2012 May)
    10. Lavender - Sayorwan W, Siripornpanich V, Piriyapunyaporn T, Hongratanaworakit T, Kotchabhakdi N, Ruangrungsi NThe effects of lavender oil inhalation on emotional states, autonomic nervous system, and brain electrical activityJ Med Assoc Thai.(2012 Apr)
    11. Tongkat Ali - Shawn M Talbott, Julie A Talbott, Annie George, and Mike PughEffect of Tongkat Ali on stress hormones and psychological mood state in moderately stressed subjectsJISSN.()
    12. Kava - D WheatleyKava and valerian in the treatment of stress-induced insomniaPhytother Res.(2001 Sep)
    13. Ashwagandha - Salve J, Pate S, Debnath K, Langade DAdaptogenic and Anxiolytic Effects of Ashwagandha Root Extract in Healthy Adults: A Double-blind, Randomized, Placebo-controlled Clinical StudyCureus.(2019 Dec 25)
    14. Phosphatidylserine - Ralf Jäger, Martin Purpura, Kurt-Reiner Geiss, Michael Wei, Jochen Baumeister, Francesco Amatulli, Lars Schröder, and Holger HerwegenThe effect of phosphatidylserine on golf performanceJISSN.()
    15. Panax Ginseng (Korean Ginseng) - Pierre-Antoine Mariage, Areg Hovhannisyan, Alexander G PanossianEfficacy of Panax ginseng Meyer Herbal Preparation HRG80 in Preventing and Mitigating Stress-Induced Failure of Cognitive Functions in Healthy Subjects: A Pilot, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Crossover TrialPharmaceuticals (Basel).(2020 Mar 29)
    16. Rhodiola Rosea - Cropley M, Banks AP, Boyle JThe Effects of Rhodiola rosea L. Extract on Anxiety, Stress, Cognition and Other Mood SymptomsPhytother Res.(2015 Dec)
    17. DHEA - Taylor MK, Padilla GA, Stanfill KE, Markham AE, Khosravi JY, Ward MD, Koehler MMEffects of dehydroepiandrosterone supplementation during stressful military training: a randomized, controlled, double-blind field studyStress.(2012 Jan)
    18. Ashwagandha - Choudhary D, Bhattacharyya S, Joshi KBody Weight Management in Adults Under Chronic Stress Through Treatment With Ashwagandha Root Extract: A Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled TrialJ Evid Based Complementary Altern Med.(2017 Jan)
    19. Spirulina - Morgan Johnson, Lauren Hassinger, Joshua Davis, Steven T Devor, Robert A DiSilvestroA randomized, double blind, placebo controlled study of spirulina supplementation on indices of mental and physical fatigue in menInt J Food Sci Nutr.(2016)
    20. Kava - Cropley M, Cave Z, Ellis J, Middleton RWEffect of kava and valerian on human physiological and psychological responses to mental stress assessed under laboratory conditionsPhytother Res.(2002 Feb)
    21. Binaural Beats - Katherine Kelton, Terri L Weaver, Lisa Willoughby, David Kaufman, Anna SantowskiThe Efficacy of Binaural Beats as a Stress-buffering TechniqueAltern Ther Health Med.(2020 Jul 1)
    22. Lemon Balm - Kennedy DO, Little W, Scholey ABAttenuation of laboratory-induced stress in humans after acute administration of Melissa officinalis (Lemon Balm)Psychosom Med.(2004 Jul-Aug)
    23. Theanine - Keiko Unno, Naoki Tanida, Naoto Ishii, Hiroyuki Yamamoto, Kazuaki Iguchi, Minoru Hoshino, Atsushi Takeda, Hayato Ozawa, Tsutomu Ohkubo, Lekh Raj Juneja, Hiroshi YamadaAnti-stress effect of theanine on students during pharmacy practice: positive correlation among salivary α-amylase activity, trait anxiety and subjective stressPharmacol Biochem Behav.(2013 Oct)
    24. Ginkgo Biloba - Jezova D, Duncko R, Lassanova M, Kriska M, Moncek FReduction of rise in blood pressure and cortisol release during stress by Ginkgo biloba extract (EGb 761) in healthy volunteersJ Physiol Pharmacol.(2002 Sep)
    25. Spirulina - Sajjad Moradi, Mehdi Zobeiri, Awat Feizi, Cain C T Clark, Mohammad Hassan EntezariThe effects of spirulina (Arthrospira platensis) supplementation on anthropometric indices, blood pressure, sleep quality, mental health, fatigue status and quality of life in patients with ulcerative colitis: A randomised, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trialInt J Clin Pract.(2021 Jun 9)
    26. Rhodiola Rosea - Ross SMRhodiola rosea (SHR-5), Part I: a proprietary root extract of Rhodiola rosea is found to be effective in the treatment of stress-related fatigueHolist Nurs Pract.(2014 Mar-Apr)
    27. Soy Lecithin - Hellhammer J, Fries E, Buss C, Engert V, Tuch A, Rutenberg D, Hellhammer DEffects of soy lecithin phosphatidic acid and phosphatidylserine complex (PAS) on the endocrine and psychological responses to mental stressStress.(2004 Jun)
    28. Phosphatidylserine - Baumeister J, Barthel T, Geiss KR, Weiss MInfluence of phosphatidylserine on cognitive performance and cortical activity after induced stressNutr Neurosci.(2008 Jun)
    29. Ashwagandha - Auddy, B, et alA Standardized Withania Somnifera Extract Significantly Reduces Stress-Related Parameters in Chronically Stressed Humans: A Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled StudyJ Am Nut Assn.()
    30. Ashwagandha - Chengappa KNR, Brar JS, Gannon JM, Schlicht PJAdjunctive Use of a Standardized Extract of Withania somnifera (Ashwagandha) to Treat Symptom Exacerbation in Schizophrenia: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled StudyJ Clin Psychiatry.(2018 Jul 10)
    31. Theanine - Kimura K, Ozeki M, Juneja LR, Ohira HL-Theanine reduces psychological and physiological stress responsesBiol Psychol.(2007 Jan)
    32. L-Tyrosine - Deijen JB, Wientjes CJ, Vullinghs HF, Cloin PA, Langefeld JJTyrosine improves cognitive performance and reduces blood pressure in cadets after one week of a combat training courseBrain Res Bull.(1999 Jan 15)
    33. Saffron - Graham Kell, Amanda Rao, Gavin Beccaria, Paul Clayton, Antonio Manuel Inarejos-García, Marin Prodanovaffron ® a novel saffron extract (Crocus sativus L.) improves mood in healthy adults over 4 weeks in a double-blind, parallel, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trialComplement Ther Med.(2017 Aug)
    34. Gotu Kola - Jana U, Sur TK, Maity LN, Debnath PK, Bhattacharyya DA clinical study on the management of generalized anxiety disorder with Centella asiaticaNepal Med Coll J.(2010 Mar)
    35. Fish Oil - Lucas M, Asselin G, Mérette C, Poulin MJ, Dodin SEthyl-eicosapentaenoic acid for the treatment of psychological distress and depressive symptoms in middle-aged women: a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized clinical trialAm J Clin Nutr.(2009 Feb)
    36. Rhodiola Rosea - Siegfried Kasper, Angelika DienelMulticenter, open-label, exploratory clinical trial with Rhodiola rosea extract in patients suffering from burnout symptomsNeuropsychiatr Dis Treat.(2017 Mar 22)
    37. Rhodiola Rosea - Lekomtseva Y, Zhukova I, Wacker ARhodiola rosea in Subjects with Prolonged or Chronic Fatigue Symptoms: Results of an Open-Label Clinical TrialComplement Med Res.(2017)
    38. Krill Oil - Sampalis F, Bunea R, Pelland MF, Kowalski O, Duguet N, Dupuis SEvaluation of the effects of Neptune Krill Oil on the management of premenstrual syndrome and dysmenorrheaAltern Med Rev.(2003 May)
    39. Magnesium - Noah L, Dye L, Bois De Fer B, Mazur A, Pickering G, Pouteau EEffect of magnesium and vitamin B6 supplementation on mental health and quality of life in stressed healthy adults: Post-hoc analysis of a randomised controlled trial.Stress Health.(2021-Dec)
    40. Magnesium - Macian N, Dualé C, Voute M, Leray V, Courrent M, Bodé P, Giron F, Sonneville S, Bernard L, Joanny F, Menard K, Ducheix G, Pereira B, Pickering GShort-Term Magnesium Therapy Alleviates Moderate Stress in Patients with Fibromyalgia: A Randomized Double-Blind Clinical Trial.Nutrients.(2022-May-17)
    41. Theanine - Williams JL, Everett JM, D'Cunha NM, Sergi D, Georgousopoulou EN, Keegan RJ, McKune AJ, Mellor DD, Anstice N, Naumovski NThe Effects of Green Tea Amino Acid L-Theanine Consumption on the Ability to Manage Stress and Anxiety Levels: a Systematic Review.Plant Foods Hum Nutr.(2020-Mar)
    42. Ashwagandha - Camellia Akhgarjand, Farzaneh Asoudeh, Amir Bagheri, Zahra Kalantar, Zahra Vahabi, Sakineh Shab-Bidar, Hamid Rezvani, Kurosh DjafarianDoes Ashwagandha supplementation have a beneficial effect on the management of anxiety and stress? A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trialsPhytother Res.(2022 Aug 25)
    43. Theanine - Moulin M, Crowley DC, Xiong L, Guthrie N, Lewis EDSafety and Efficacy of AlphaWave(®) L-Theanine Supplementation for 28 Days in Healthy Adults with Moderate Stress: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial.Neurol Ther.(2024 Aug)
    44. Ashwagandha - .(2024-04-26)
    45. Lemon Balm - Habib Haybar, Ahmad Zare Javid, Mohammad Hosein Haghighizadeh, Einollah Valizadeh, Seyede Marjan Mohaghegh, Assieh MohammadzadehThe effects of Melissa officinalis supplementation on depression, anxiety, stress, and sleep disorder in patients with chronic stable anginaClin Nutr ESPEN.(2018 Aug)