Adaptogens are used as a natural remedy to relieve stress. Here's what we know about the ingredient, found in mushrooms and plants.

• Adaptogens are ingredients found in plants and mushrooms thought to reduce stress.
• Some also claim to promote focus and return the body to a state of balance. 
• They may be helpful, but more research is needed. 

Last year, more than a quarter of Americans reported feeling so stressed that they couldn't function, according to an American Psychological Association report. So it's not surprising that many people are looking for something to help relieve stress.

Enter adaptogens, a trendy new substance that seems to be popping up everywhere, from Bella Hadid's "braincare" seltzer brand Kin Euphorics to focus-enhancing gummies.

Adaptogens are active ingredients in plants or mushrooms that are thought to help with a variety of different issues, including anxiety, fatigue, and stress, according to Cleveland Clinic. They can also be manufactured synthetically.

"The claim is that adaptogens reduce our body's reaction to stress and help us adapt to stressors better," Dr. Dana Ellis Hunnes, a senior dietitian at UCLA, told UCLA Health.

Here's what we know about adaptogens and how they work.

Adaptogens are advertised as natural stress reducers

While many plants and mushrooms that are considered adaptogenic have been used since ancient times, the term "adaptogen" was coined in 1947 by scientist Nikolai Lazarev.

To be considered an adaptogen, a plant-derived product must have three qualities:

• It is non-toxic when taken at normal doses

• It helps the body cope with stress

• It helps the body return to a balanced state

Some of the most popular types of adaptogens include ashwagandha, ginseng, eleuthero, and rhodiola.

However, what constitutes an adaptogen is still somewhat vague and dependent on who you ask, Vox reported.

More research on adaptogens is needed

Despite all of the excitement around adaptogens, there isn't enough research to determine how, or if, they work.

"People need to beware of trendy buzzwords like 'mood-boosting ingredients' as it is more for marketing purposes rather than nutritional reality," dietitian Tai Ibitoye told Insider previously.

For example, rhodiola, an ingredient in some Kin Euphorics drinks, supposedly reduces pain, fatigue, and helps with depression. But not enough evidence exists to know for sure that it actually does any of these things, according to the National Institutes of Health.

A 2021 study published in the journal Nutrients, found that adaptogens may work by affecting multiple systems in your body that regulate stress. But the study also said that more research on adaptogens is needed.

Adaptogens may be more of a band-aid than an actual fix

Adaptogens shouldn't be used in the place of other evidence-based treatment. Even if they make you feel better, they don't fix the root cause of stress.

"Adaptogens and supplements can sometimes be more of a band-aid," Dr. Hunnes told UCLA Health. "Instead, work with your physician to understand the underlying cause of your symptoms or issue."

If you're experiencing frequent stress, you may want to try therapy or meditation, both of which have science-backed benefits.

And even though adaptogens are often advertised as natural, they can interact with other medications you're taking. Like all supplements, adaptogens are largely unregulated by the FDA, which means what you take may differ from what's listed on the label.