The Best Supplements to Manage Stress

Want to stress less? You are not alone if you are looking for support from the best supplements to manage stress.
Because of our modern, fast-paced lives, many of us (several million, actually) report living in a constant state of stress. A 2024 report by the American Psychological Association found that nearly 7 in 10 cited the future of the country as a significant source of stress, followed closely by the state of the economy.1
Long-term effects of too much stress
A little occasional stress is perfectly natural. In the short-term, stress can be beneficial; think of parents and their seemingly supernatural ability to react quickly to protect their progeny from mishaps. Our innate stress response – the “fight-or-flight” response – makes us more alert, focused, and able to respond quickly in uncertain scenarios.
It’s when stress sticks around that it becomes a problem. Chronic, long-term stress and anxiety can lead to a host of health problems. It can lead to unhealthy behaviors, such as overeating (especially junk food), skipping meals, increased alcohol consumption, wakefulness at night, smoking, irritability, and many others. Or it can physically manifest as symptoms such as migraines, reduced immune function, GI upset, insomnia, and even blood pressure and heart-health problems.
Implementing proper stress relief practices, like yoga, meditation, or talking through your stress with a trusted confidant, can go a long way to help your body to relax. But sometimes, a little extra help is needed to reduce stress. That is where stress relief supplements can come in. Various beneficial natural supplements and nutrients have a knack for helping your body manage its stress response.
Here are the best supplements to manage stress, from Thorne’s experts, to help you find your happy place.
1. A resilience-boosting but calming adaptogen for daily stress
Ashwagandha is one of the most well-known adaptogens for helping the body cope with stress. It supports a healthy cortisol response, helps reduce the mental and physical effects of everyday stress, and promotes calm for a restful sleep. Thorne’s single-ingredient Ashwagandha is formulated with Shoden®, a clinically studied, highly concentrated extract standardized to an industry-leading 35% withanolide glycoside content, the bioactive components of ashwagandha root and leaf that deliver calming and restorative effects.*
2. A solution to help you think and perform your best when feeling stressed
Feeling the effects of fatigue from excessive stress and can’t seem to focus? Thorne’s Ginseng Plus is one of the best supplements to manage stress when you’re tired out. It combines the botanical power of Korean red ginseng with lion’s mane mushroom and Greek mountain tea to provide an immediate sense of elevated focus. Used for thousands of years to promote well-being and vitality, ginseng, a stimulating adaptogen, addresses the symptoms of modern stressors. When taken daily, the trio of botanical ingredients in Thorne’s Ginseng Plus help the body build resilience to stress and resist stress-related fatigue while maintaining mental clarity.*
3. For those who feel burned out from being stuck in front of a computer every day
Memoractiv combines a cast of nootropic ingredients that are well-studied for providing cognitive benefits, including support for concentration, motivation, mental focus, and reaction time. In addition, the unique, naturally-derived marigold extract helps protect the eyes and reduce stress from the negative effects of blue light, for those staring at a screen all day.*
4. A comprehensive powder to help your body adapt to stress
Greens powders are everywhere these days, and it’s easy to see why. Greens are nutrient-dense and low in calories. But in a high-pressure, fast-paced world, it’s not always easy to get enough greens when you need support the most.
Thorne’s Daily Greens Plus provides 28 powerhouse ingredients to promote cognitive performance and maintain a healthy stress response. Adaptogens like ashwagandha and eleuthero help balance the hormones that support stress resistance, while antioxidants like CoQ10 and pomegranate extract mitigate the effects of oxidative stress and enhance cellular energy.*
Not all greens powders are equal in terms of ingredient quality and content. Daily Greens Plus is a unique greens powder formula without proprietary blends, so you know exactly what you are putting in your body and how much.
5. For individuals who want a little more focus along with relaxation
Looking for something to help hit the “brakes” on your body’s stress response? PharmaGABA® can help. Harnessing the power of a natural source of the inhibitory neurotransmitter GABA (as PharmaGABA) can decrease the brain's stress-related beta-waves while increasing the production of relaxing alpha-waves, creating a profound sense of physical relaxation while maintaining mental focus.* The natural GABA in Thorne's PharmaGABA suite is produced via a fermentation process that utilizes Lactobacillus hilgardii, the same bacteria that is used to ferment cabbage in the preparation of the traditional Korean dish known as kimchi.
6. A supplement to help combat stress eating
In times of high stress, many turn to food as a source of comfort. But raiding the pantry can wreak havoc on your diet and fitness goals. If you’re a stress eater, then Craving and Stress Support might be right for you. The formula contains a blend of plant extracts from Magnolia officinalis and Phellodendron amurense (two well-known botanicals used in the practice of traditional Chinese medicine for 1,500 years), along with six B vitamins. These ingredients work synergistically to help balance cortisol levels and minimize stress-related eating.*
7. Formulas for adrenal support
Stress can take a toll on your adrenal glands – a critical component of your endocrine system (the system that distributes hormones throughout your body). Supplementing with adaptogenic botanicals and several key B vitamins can play a helpful role in maintaining healthy adrenal function. Or perhaps you prefer a simple adrenal glandular supplement. Because we know everyone’s lifestyle is different, we offer different ways to keep your adrenals happy.
- Stress Balance: A nutrient and botanical choice that supports adrenals without bovine adrenal gland tissue*
- Adrenal Cortex: Nourish your adrenals with adrenal glandular tissue, without the extra nutrients*
8. A foundational formula to help alleviate the temptation to turn to unhealthy habits
If you find yourself turning to a glass of wine after work or downing a whole bag of potato chips to de-stress, Thorne’s Stress B-Complex could help. It is a well-rounded stress support solution, offering essential amounts of B vitamins in their active, bioavailable forms. In addition, it contains an extra amount of vitamin B5 – a key nutrient for supporting healthy adrenal and immune function.*
Still need answers for your stress?
Try Thorne’s Stress Test, an easy, at-home health test that measures DHEA and fluctuations in cortisol, key hormones related to the body’s natural stress response and adrenal health. All results include a personalized health plan.Reference
- American Psychological Association (2024). Stress in America 2024: A Nation in Political Turmoil. https://www.apa.org/pubs/reports/stress-in-america/2024 [Accessed July 14, 2025]