A Hidden Problem: Adaptogens Everywhere

One of the biggest issues I see today is that tonifying herbs — often called adaptogens — are everywhere, and most people don’t realize they’re taking them, or at least they think they are always healthy.

They’re no longer just in herbal formulas. They’re in:

• Specialty drinks and lattes

• “Functional” coffee and tea blends

• Chocolate bars and snacks

• Supplement powders and gummies

• Tasty wellness treats marketed as daily support

Many of these products are designed to be taken every day and are marketed as gentle or supportive. But many adaptogens are tonifying herbs, meaning they strengthen and build the system. That can be helpful when you’re well — and problematic when you’re getting sick.

In Chinese medicine, there’s a saying: “Don’t trap the robber in the house.”
When you take tonifying herbs while a pathogen is present, you can inadvertently give it more resources and push it deeper into the body.

This is one of the most common reasons I see illnesses linger, shift, or worsen.

What to Do Instead

When you first feel yourself getting sick, it’s often wise to pause most adaptogens and tonics, even the ones you normally tolerate well.

This includes many herbs commonly found in:

• “Immune support” blends

• Stress or adrenal support formulas

• Daily wellness drinks and powders

The goal during an acute illness is not to build energy — it’s to clear what doesn’t belong. Once the illness has passed, strengthening herbs can be reintroduced thoughtfully.

This distinction is rarely explained on packaging, but it matters.

The Takeaway

If there’s one message I hope people remember, it’s this:

When you’re getting sick, more support is not always better.
Pause tonifying herbs. Clear first. Build later.