8 Herbs, Mushrooms, & Adaptogens Known to Support Mood*
Nearly 1 in 3 adults report feeling emotionally drained on a weekly basis. Emotional fatigue can show up in everyday life, affecting how we perform at work, connect with others, and stay motivated.
The truth is our mood can often be a signal of deeper imbalances in the body. Prolonged stress, poor sleep, elevated cortisol, and low serotonin levels can all influence how we feel emotionally, mentally, and even physically.
We can often help boost our mood or at least support emotional imbalance by adapting lifestyle practices like exercise, breathwork, journaling, and spending time in nature. But sometimes, even the most consistent routines aren't enough.
That’s where a more holistic wellness approach can help. Certain mushrooms, herbs, and naturally occurring compounds called adaptogens can support emotional imbalance and promote a more uplifted mood by supporting calm thinking and helping the body relax.*
In this post, we’ll explore adaptogens and natural compounds that support mood, stress reduction, and mental energy. We’ve also included formulas that feature these ingredients to help you find the ideal supplement to support your mood.*
What Are Adaptogens?
Adaptogens are natural compounds such as mushrooms, herbs, and roots that help the body adapt to physical, emotional, and environmental stressors. For centuries, herbalists and healers have turned to traditional adaptogens like Reishi, Ashwagandha, and Holy Basil to promote mind-body connection and a balanced mood.*
When the body is better equipped to handle stress, improved emotional balance and overall well-being are often the result. This is because, by supporting the body’s stress response and potentially influencing neurotransmitters like serotonin, adaptogens can help create a more stable internal environment and a stronger foundation for a healthier emotional state.*
1. Ashwagandha
Ashwagandha plant with roots, green leaves, and red berries
Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) has become a staple for those looking to add natural mood support to their self-care routines. Native to dry regions of India, the Middle East, and parts of Africa, Ashwagandha is a small shrub with yellow-green flowers and distinct orange-red fruit. Used for more than 3,000 years in traditional Ayurvedic practices, it’s valued for helping the body adapt to physical and emotional stress while supporting calm, vitality, and overall mind-body balance.*
Today, Ashwagandha is one of the most widely studied adaptogens for stress. Modern research continues to explore its role in promoting restful sleep, maintaining mental clarity, and supporting the body’s natural ability to rebalance during challenging times. Its key compounds, known as withanolides, are believed to play a central role in these adaptogenic effects.*
Supplement Featuring Ashwagandha
Host Defense MycoBenefits™ Mood* uses Ashwagandha alongside a handful of other supportive adaptogens to aid mental energy, mood, and calm thinking. It's a multi-ingredient formula that fits seamlessly into a self-care wellness routine and promotes a balanced mood, calm body, and clear mind.*
Woman smiling listening to music with Host Defense MycoBenefits™ Mood* capsules.
Ingredients
- Reishi
- Lion’s Mane
- Ashwagandha
- L-Theanine
- 5-HTP
- Holy Basil
Benefits
- Promotes a calm mind and adaptation to life’s daily stressors.*
- Supports a calm and balanced mood and supports the gut-brain connection.*
- Promotes mental energy, mood and calm thinking, as well as supports adaptation to daily stressors and general wellbeing.*
- Promotes muscle relaxation without drowsiness.*
- Supports mood and REM sleep cycles.*
- Supports cognitive function, balanced mood, and sleep quality*
2. Reishi
Glossy red-brown Reishi mushroom (Ganoderma oregonense) growing on moss-covered tree bark.
Reishi (Ganoderma lucidum) is a beneficial mushroom with a glossy, red-brown fruitbody, often found growing on oaks and other hardwoods. Known for its wide range of health-supporting properties, it’s especially recognized for promoting immune function and helping the body adapt to stress. Among mushrooms, it’s often considered a gold standard for stress support.*
For those seeking grounded calm in the face of modern stressors, Reishi offers ideal support. Its adaptogenic qualities may assist the body’s ability to adjust during periods of fatigue, tension, or overstimulation, making it one of the most trusted natural options for supporting mood and navigating everyday stress.*
Supplement Featuring Reishi
You’ll find Reishi throughout the Host Defense line, featured in multiple blends and offered on its own. The CordyChi® formula, a synergistic blend of Reishi and Cordyceps to promote sustained energy and a calm, balanced response to daily demands.*
Bottle of Host Defense Cordychi® capsules on a wooden bathtub tray beside candles and bath items.
Ingredients
- Reishi
- Cordyceps
Benefits
- Enhances the body’s ability to adapt to stress.*
- Supports a balanced immune response.*
- Promotes cardiovascular health.*
- Supports energy, stamina, and healthy respiration.*
- Supports increased oxygen uptake.*
3. Lemon Balm
Fresh Lemon Balm leaves with textured green surfaces.
As a fragrant, citrusy herb from the mint family, Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis) has earned a strong reputation for supporting calm and clarity. Its historical roots trace back to traditional European herbalism, where it has long been used as a gentle, supportive herb for easing nervous tension and encouraging relaxation. Naturally occurring compounds in Lemon Balm, such as rosmarinic acid and soothing essential oils—are believed to promote a clear, steady state of mind.*
Modern studies also suggest beneficial herbs may support healthy GABA activity, which creates the foundation to support a balance mood and calming the mind.*
4. Holy Basil
Blooming Holy Basil plant with green leaves and purple flower spikes.
Holy Basil (Ocimum tenuiflorum), also known as Tulsi or "The Queen of Herbs," is a cherished plant in Ayurvedic tradition, celebrated for its broad wellness-supporting potential. Traditionally grown in India and throughout Southeast Asia, it carries a peppery scent and warming energy. Often steeped into calming teas or used in reflective rituals, Holy Basil offers a grounded sense of support for navigating daily stressors.*
Recognized as an adaptogenic herb, Holy Basil is used to aid the body’s response to mental and physical challenges, as well as cognitive function. Its naturally occurring compounds, including eugenol and ursolic acid, are studied for their ability to support balance in times of occasional stress.*
Holy Basil is also featured in our multi-ingredient MycoBenefits™ Mood*, is a great way to lighten the load and lift your mood.*
5. L-Theanine
Sourced naturally from green tea leaves, L-Theanine is an amino acid known for promoting a calm yet attentive state of mind. Often described as “relaxed focus,” it’s especially well-suited for activities like creative brainstorming, meditation, or intentional journaling. Although it’s not an herb or a mushroom, L-Theanine has earned its place among adaptogen-adjacent compounds for its unique ability to soothe the mind and promote gentle muscle relaxation.*
Unlike many calming agents that work by dulling the senses, L-Theanine takes a more nuanced approach. Studies suggest it supports alpha brain wave activity, the same patterns often seen during meditative states, while also encouraging the production of neurotransmitters like GABA and serotonin. This helps foster a clear, composed mindset that feels supported, not suppressed.*
Supplement Featuring L-Theanine
L-Theanine’s can be found in our MycoBenefits™ Mood* capsules, it is also a great addition to MycoBenefits™ Sleep* formula. In this case it helps ease your mood and mental tension before bed, supporting a smooth transition into rest.*
Woman peacefully resting with a bottle of Host Defense MycoBenefits™ Sleep* capsules.
Ingredients
- Reishi
- Lion’s Mane
- GABA
- Magnesium Bis-Glycinate
- Passionflower
- Vitamin B6
- L-Theanine
Benefits
- Supports reduction of the ‘fight or flight’ response and healthy sleep cycles.*
- Supports a balanced mood and may improve sleep quality.*
- Supports sleep latency, quality, and efficiency.*
- Contains a highly bioavailable form of magnesium and is gentle on the intestinal system.*
6. Rhodiola
Dried Rhodiola root pieces on a wooden spoon with fresh plant in the background
In the alpine regions of Europe and Asia, Rhodiola Rosea has long grown between the cracks of high-altitude rock, thriving where few plants dare. This perennial plant is known for offering a plethora of supportive properties, especially when it comes helping the body stay steady under stress and promoting a clear, uplifted mindset.*
Traditionally used to support stamina and endurance, Rhodiola is often used by those navigating long days, shifting demands, or high-output routines. While it may not be considered a mood herb in the conventional sense, its ability to support clarity and steadiness makes it a natural fit for those seeking to feel more centered and capable throughout the day.*
Supplement Featuring Rhodiola
Because Rhodiola is well-suited for fast-paced lifestyles, it’s a key ingredient in the MycoBotanicals® Energy* formula. Paired with Cordyceps, Reishi mushroom mycelium, Eleuthero, and more, this formula is designed to support sustained energy and help you move through your day with ease.*
Host Defense MycoBotanicals® Energy* capsules and box displayed on a canoe.
Ingredients
- Cordyceps
- Reishi
- Chaga
- Rhodiola
- Green Tea
- Eleuthero
Benefits
- Supports immediate energy and respiratory function.*
- Supports endurance, adrenal health, and cardiovascular health.*
- Supports reduction of oxidative stress to support recovery after exercise.*
- Supports strength and stamina.*
- Supports metabolism.*
- May combat mild fatigue and weakness.*
7. Lion’s Mane
Few mushrooms are as captivating, or as studied, as Lion’s Mane (Hericium erinaceus). This distinctive fungus features cascading white spines and a snowball-like shape, often found growing on hardwoods. While technically not an adaptogen, Lion's Mane is best known for supporting clarity, memory, and cognitive function. What does that have to do with mood?*
Interestingly, emerging insights suggest Lion’s Mane may help create a more stable foundation for emotional well-being, particularly in those experiencing mental fog or overstimulation. By supporting cognitive clarity and mental energy, Lion’s Mane may help encourage a more centered state of mind, especially during times of mental fatigue.
Supplements Featuring Lion’s Mane
Lion's Mane is a standout ingredient and our top selling mushroom. Found in formulas such as MycoBenefits™ Mood*, MycoBenefits™ Focus*, and BrainPower Stack®. Whether you're seeking calm clarity or uplifted focus, Lion’s Mane is an ideal choice to add to your wellness routine.*
Host Defense Lion’s Mane extract, capsules, and mycelium powder next to a fresh Lion’s Mane mushroom
8. 5-HTP
5-HTP isn’t a mushroom or herb, but a naturally occurring compound that plays a distinct role in supporting mood. Short for 5-Hydroxytryptophan, it’s derived from the seeds of Griffonia simplicifolia, a plant native to the rainforests of West Africa. When we consume foods rich in protein, we also consume tryptophan—an essential amino acid that can then be converted into 5-HTP.
Inside the body, 5-HTP acts as a direct precursor to serotonin, the neurotransmitter often associated with mood, emotional balance, and a general sense of well-being. By supporting serotonin production, 5-HTP may help foster a steadier emotional baseline and a more uplifted state of mind. It’s a supportive option for those who may feel depleted, emotionally stretched, or simply in need of a little extra internal reinforcement.*
You can find 5-HTP in Host Defense MycoBenefits™ Mood*, where it complements beneficial mushroom mycelium and calming botanicals like Lion’s Mane, Ashwagandha, and Holy Basil.
Finding a Formula That Works for You
When it comes to supporting mood in a way that works with your body, there’s rarely a one-size-fits-all solution. Fortunately, nature offers a wide range of powerful options, from adaptogenic herbs to beneficial mushrooms and other supportive compounds.*
Whether you're navigating mental fatigue, looking for calm without sedation, or simply hoping to set a brighter tone for your day, incorporating the right formula into your wellness routine can make a meaningful difference over time. Explore simple, self-care formulas from Host Defense and let us know what you think.