Adaptogens and Pregnancy: What You Need to Know

The most recent full-year estimate from Guttmacher reports that 5,359,550 pregnancies occurred in the United States in 2020.(1) Using NHANES data (1999–2014), Jun et al. report that 64.4% of pregnant women used a prenatal supplement.(2)

Adaptogens are herbs and natural substances that help the body adapt to stress and maintain internal balance. Pregnancy is associated with stress. But that doesn't mean adaptogens are safe as supplements for pregnant women.

If you are pregnant (or breastfeeding) and want to know whether adaptogens like rhodiola, ashwagandha and ginseng are safe to use, and which ones you should avoid, then here's your answer:

Modern science generally recommends avoiding adaptogens during pregnancy.

Why the caution? Several adaptogens can influence hormones, the stress axis (HPA), blood pressure, or uterine muscle activity -- systems that need careful balance in pregnancy. In this article, we'll touch on some of the adaptogens linked to pregnancy. But the quick answer: It's best to avoid adaptogens altogether during pregnancy to protect baby and mother.

Adaptogens and Pregnancy: An Introduction

Adaptogens are a class of botanicals (and some adaptogen mushrooms) traditionally used to help the body adapt to physical and emotional stress, promoting steadier energy, mood, and performance.

Adaptogens are considered normalizing. They tend to modulate (keep in normal range), rather than simply increase or decrease, key physiological systems involved in stress. Adaptogens exert a natural and beneficial process on overall wellness -- but keep in mind that doesn't mean they are suitable for use during pregnancy.

Common adaptogens work to help with:

• Stress-busting, fatigue reducing: Improvements in perceived stress, energy, and burnout measures in several randomized trials and reviews. Read more: stim-free energy formulas
• Metabolic support: Modest assistance with blood sugar balance, appetite/craving, or weight-management behaviors in specific contexts.
• Cognition under stress: Better attention, vigilance, and mental endurance during demanding tasks or sleep restriction (varies by herb and dose). Find out more about brain-boosting nootropics
• Mood & sleep: Reduced anxiety symptoms and improved sleep quality have been reported for certain adaptogens.
• Exercise performance: Small but meaningful benefits for perceived exertion, recovery, and (in some cases) endurance capacity in stressful situations. Explore adaptogen herbs for athletes
• Immune function: Top adaptogens for immune system performance help to reinforce our defenses in several way.
• Inflammation modulation: Some adaptogens regulate the immune response to support more balanced inflammation.

Check out our List of Adaptogens article

How Adaptogen Activities May Affect Pregnancy

Pregnancy is a highly regulated state that requires a delicate balance. Many adaptogens act on pathways that are crucial during gestation, which is why most experts advise caution or avoidance. Key mechanisms include:

• HPA-axis modulation (cortisol levels): Adaptogens can help with moderating hormones related to stress (like cortisol). While good for stress in non-pregnant adults, anything affecting how much cortisol is released may affect fetal development and maternal function.
• Neurotransmitter effects: Influences on neurotransmitters GABA, dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine can change arousal, mood, and sleep -- systems that also modulate appetite, blood pressure spikes, and uterine tone.
• Endocrine interactions: Some adaptogens touch thyroid hormone and sex-hormone pathways or binding proteins; hormone shifts in pregnancy are tightly choreographed and sensitive to disruption.
• Immune modulation: Adaptogens can shift innate/adaptive responses; pregnancy already features a finely tuned immune state to support fetal tolerance. Discover ultramodern immune support supplements
• Metabolic actions: Effects on insulin sensitivity, glucose handling, and AMPK signaling can alter maternal–fetal energy balance.
• Vascular effects: Impacts on blood pressure, heart rate, or nitric-oxide pathways may conflict with pregnancy’s cardiovascular demands.
• Uterine smooth muscle: Certain botanicals may affect uterine muscle function, potentially raising concerns about contractions or labor timing.

Key Takeaway: Adaptogens can be valuable for stress and performance in non-pregnant adults, but their multi-system actions overlap with critical pregnancy pathways. Because high-quality pregnancy safety studies on adaptogens are limited, it is best to avoid adaptogens during pregnancy.

Adaptogens Used in Traditional Herbalism

Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera)

A cornerstone of Ayurveda for 3,000 years, ashwagandha is classified as a Rasayana (rejuvenative) used to restore vitality, ease anxiety, improve sleep, and bolster resilience during convalescence and chronic stress.(3)

Context in Pregnancy. Despite its long traditional use for strength and recovery, modern references advise avoiding ashwagandha in pregnancy. Contemporary fact sheets cite reports of potential abortifacient effects and hormone modulation; as such, ashwagandha is generally not recommended for pregnant people unless specifically prescribed by a clinician who knows the patient’s history.

Panax Ginseng (Asian/Korean Ginseng)

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, Panax ginseng is a premier qi tonic for vitality, longevity, and recovery from depletion. For centuries, it has been used as part of the herbal medicines of China, Korea, and Japan, as well as a modern plant extract, to strengthen stamina, focus, and immune resilience.(4)

Context in Pregnancy. Authoritative summaries urge caution or avoidance in pregnancy, particularly in the first trimester. NCCIH notes that some studies suggest Asian ginseng may be unsafe in pregnancy and that certain ginsenosides have caused birth defects in animal models; a systematic review likewise recommends caution.

Eleuthero (Eleutherococcus senticosus; “Siberian Ginseng”)

Widely used in Russian and Chinese herbal traditions (though not a true ginseng), eleuthero has been employed to combat fatigue, improve work capacity, and enhance stress tolerance in athletes, soldiers, and laborers.(5)

Context in Pregnancy. Evidence in pregnancy is insufficient. Modern monographs state that safety data are lacking and advise against use during pregnancy (often listing it as contraindicated) due to theoretical developmental risks and hemodynamic effects; lactation data are also sparse.

Rhodiola rosea (Golden/Arctic Root)

In Russian, Scandinavian, and Tibetan traditions, rhodiola has been used to enhance stamina, reduce fatigue, and sharpen cognition -- especially in harsh climates and at high altitude. Supplying active ingredients called rosavins and salidrosides, it is considered an adaptogen performance enhancer, prized by athletes for its positive effect on vitality under stress.(6) It also supplies beneficial antioxidant activity.

Context in Pregnancy. Because high-quality pregnancy studies are lacking and immuno/hormonal effects are possible, modern references advise avoiding rhodiola during pregnancy. Some overviews explicitly recommend pregnant and breastfeeding individuals not use it.

Did you know? While not advisable for pregnancy, rhodiola may have a role in women's herbal menopause. It has been investigated as an adaptogen for helping with perimenopause and menopause.

Read more: Bacopa Monnieri brain support

Schisandra chinensis (“Five-Flavor Berry”)

A classic tonic in TCM and used in Russian herbalism, schisandra has been valued for longevity, liver support, endurance, and mental clarity. Traditionally, it has been used to conserve vitality under stress and exertion.(7)

Context in Pregnancy. Modern sources advise avoiding schisandra in pregnancy because its constituents may stimulate uterine contractions (historically even used to promote or prolong labor), potentially leading to increased risk for pregnancy complications.

Summary: Adaptogen Pregnancy Risks

Adaptogens like Ashwagandha, Panax Ginseng, Eleuthero, Rhodiola, and Schisandra each have long histories in traditional medicine, including women's hebal medicine, to boost stamina, reduce stress, fight fatigue, enhance brain function and support the body's ability to maintain resilience.

But are adaptogens safe? Overall, yes, recommended adaptogens may benefit many aspects of health and performance. However, when it comes to pregnancy, the standards are very different. Even though some of these herbs were occasionally referenced in historical contexts for vitality or recovery, modern science has not established their safety during pregnancy.

Adaptogens are best left for before or after pregnancy -- not during. If you are pregnant or planning to conceive, the safest course for optimal pregnancies is to avoid adaptogens altogether and instead work with your healthcare provider to explore evidence-based, pregnancy-safe options for managing stress, energy, and wellness.