Best Supplements for Stress
12 evidence-based options for stress, summarized from the research: what they do, how to dose them, and how they work together.
5-HTP
A direct serotonin precursor for mood and sleep, use with care.
Ashwagandha
An adaptogenic herb for stress and resilience.
Glycine
A calming amino acid for sleep, collagen, and metabolic health.
L-Theanine
Calm, focused alertness from green tea.
L-Tryptophan
The dietary precursor to serotonin and melatonin.
L-Tyrosine
The dopamine precursor that sharpens focus under stress.
Magnesium
A master mineral involved in 300+ enzyme reactions.
Panax Ginseng
A classic adaptogen for energy, stress, and cognition.
Phosphatidylserine (PS)
A brain-cell phospholipid studied for memory and stress.
Rhodiola Rosea
An adaptogen for fatigue, stress, and mental performance.
Tongkat Ali
A traditional herb studied for testosterone, stress, and vitality.
Vitamin B5 (Pantothenic Acid)
The acetyl-CoA cofactor behind stress hormones, energy, and skin healing.
Where to buy for stress
Our top options for this goal. Choose third-party-tested brands in the forms each supplement's page recommends.
Some links below are affiliate links: if you buy through them we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. It never changes our ratings or evidence grades.
Combinations to know
How these supplements pair with each other and beyond.
Glycine + Magnesium
A sleep pairing with a built-in shortcut: magnesium glycinate is magnesium bound to glycine, so that form already delivers both. A standalone 3 g dose before bed (the amount sleep studies used) tops up the glycine, lowering core body temperature while magnesium relaxes muscles and calms the nervous system.
5-HTP + L-Tryptophan
5-HTP is the metabolite tryptophan is converted into. It skips the rate-limiting step for a more direct serotonin boost, but stacking the two (or either with SSRIs) raises serotonin-excess risk.
Ashwagandha + L-Theanine
Both promote calm; frequently stacked for stress management.
Ashwagandha + Magnesium
Commonly combined for stress relief and better sleep quality.
Ashwagandha + Rhodiola Rosea
Two complementary adaptogens: rhodiola is energizing while ashwagandha is calming, so they are often paired for daytime stress and resilience.
Ashwagandha + Tongkat Ali
Both are adaptogenic herbs used for stress, hormones, and vitality, and they are commonly stacked together.
Frequently asked questions
What are the best supplements for stress?
The most-researched options are 5-HTP, Ashwagandha, Glycine, L-Theanine, L-Tryptophan, L-Tyrosine, Magnesium, Panax Ginseng, Phosphatidylserine (PS), Rhodiola Rosea, Tongkat Ali, and Vitamin B5 (Pantothenic Acid). Each is summarised with its benefits, typical dosing, and the strength of the evidence behind it.
How were these stress supplements chosen?
These are the supplements in the Vital Matrix library most commonly used for stress, graded by the strength of human evidence. See our methodology for how we grade the research.
Can you combine supplements for stress?
Yes, several pair well. For example, Glycine and Magnesium: A sleep pairing with a built-in shortcut: magnesium glycinate is magnesium bound to glycine, so that form already delivers both. A standalone 3 g dose before bed (the amount sleep studies used) tops up the glycine, lowering core body temperature while magnesium relaxes muscles and calms the nervous system.