Adaptogenic

Part of speech: adjective

Definitions

1. Pertaining to natural substances that allegedly aid the body's adaptation to stress and help maintain homeostasis
2. Relating to compounds considered to support resilience in handling both mental and physical stressors
3. Referring to natural ingredients believed to enhance the body's ability to cope with stress while promoting overall balance and well-being

Etymology: "Adaptogenic" is simply "adaptogen" with the adjective-forming suffix "-ic" attached. The base word "adaptogen" was built from "adapt" and the Greek-derived "-gen," meaning something that produces or generates, so an adaptogen is a substance that produces adaptation. The "-ic" ending, from Greek "-ikos" through Latin and French, turns the noun into a description of anything relating to such substances. The term describes plants and preparations believed to help the body cope with stress, whether emotional or physical, by helping it return to balance. Because the word is a plain combination of familiar parts, its meaning follows directly from them: it describes what "adaptogen" describes, expressed as a quality rather than a thing.

Synonyms: stress-relieving, balancing, homeostatic, restorative, therapeutic