Summary: After years of building a holistic foundation for my mental and physical wellbeing, I’ve found that Needed’s Stress Support blend fits seamlessly into my routine as a working mother. The clinically backed adaptogens, transparent sourcing, and thoughtful formulation make me feel like I’m supporting my stress response in a meaningful and sustainable way. While no supplement is a magic pill, this one genuinely feels like a supportive extension of the care I’m already giving myself.

What I Love:

  • I appreciate that Needed’s Stress Support formula relies on clinically studied ingredients like Sensoril® ashwagandha and Affron® saffron, which makes me feel more confident in what I’m taking.
  • The capsules are completely tasteless and odorless, which matters to me since I’m sensitive to scents and flavored supplements.
  • I love that Needed is transparent, third-party tested, and mission-driven — it aligns with my values and helps me trust the product even more.
  • After consistent use, I feel more grounded and supported, especially during long stretches of work and parenting when my stress naturally spikes.

Things To Note:

  • Stress Support is one of the few items in Needed’s product line that is not to be taken while pregnant due to insufficient safety data about how ashwagandha can affect a woman’s body during pregnancy.

As a full-time working mother of two, I’m deeply committed to finding ways to support how my body experiences and manages stress. It’s important to me to do everything I can to care for myself as someone whose mental health requires consistent support while I also care for my two children.

Informational graphic about stress resilience, highlighting ashwagandha and saffron as adaptogens that support the body’s natural stress response, with images of each plant and their dosages.

Alongside diet, exercise, meaningful lifestyle changes, and the guidance of a functional medicine clinician, I’ve built a holistic foundation for both my mental and physical well-being over the last five years. While I’m generally skeptical of supplement brands, I’ve found value in creating a curated regimen based on my specific biomarkers and that fills nutritional gaps and supports my body where it needs it most. 

Needed has been a brand I’ve trusted throughout this process and one that aligns with my focus on evidence-based, targeted support. Anything that helps build resilience to everyday stress matters to me, and I approach these tools with both intention and care. 🤲

Why I trust Needed above other supplement brands

Needed is a women-centered supplement company on a mission to deliver radically better nutrition for fertility, pregnancy, postpartum, and lifelong health. Unlike most prenatal or women’s health brands, Needed prioritizes optimal — not just minimal — nutrient levels (what initially drew me to the brand when I first learned about how 95% of women are nutritionally depleted) by carefully selecting forms and doses informed by a collective of over 10,000 practitioners, including OB-GYNs, midwives, dietitians, and naturopaths.

“As someone who is incredibly selective of which supplements earn a spot in my lineup, I’m happy to add Needed’s Stress Support to my arsenal of tools to support my mental and physical wellbeing.”

Their “Needed Standard” requires every ingredient to be third-party tested, vetted by experts, and backed by clinical insight. They also build life-stage supplement plans — for perinatal phases, stress, sleep, or even men’s fertility — making their system deeply personalized. On top of that, Needed is mission-driven: it’s B Corp and climate-neutral certified, and places social and environmental responsibility at the heart of its growth.

I’ve been consistently taking Needed’s Prenatal Multi or Women’s Multi over the last five years (based on my particular life stage), along with their Collagen Protein and Hydration Support. As someone who is incredibly selective of which supplements earn a spot in my lineup, I’m happy to add Needed’s Stress Support to my arsenal of tools to support my mental and physical wellbeing.

Quick note: It’s important to indicate up front that Needed’s Stress Support is one of the few items in their product line that is not to be taken while pregnant due to insufficient safety data about how ashwagandha can affect a woman’s body during pregnancy.

A container labeled "Needed: Stress Support," two brown capsules, and a glass of water are placed on a white surface.
A person in a white shirt holds two brown capsules between their fingers, with their face partially obscured by their hand.
I’m sensitive to capsules that have a flavor or scent – the Stress Support capsules are tasteless, odorless, and easy to swallow.

What is actually in the capsules, and how strong is the science?

In an industry that follows a different regulatory pathway than prescription drugs and utilizes unwanted ingredients and fillers to make a profit, Needed’s transparency and third-party testing are what originally drew me to the brand. Each of their product pages publishes a full supplement facts panel and a per-serving breakdown. 

The Stress Support’s key active ingredients (per two-capsule serving) are:

  • Sensoril® Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) — 125 mg — a standardized root/leaf extract widely used in clinical trials for stress, cortisol reduction and perceived stress improvement. Sensoril is one of the better-researched ashwagandha extracts and is included here at a clinically relevant dose.
  • Affron® Saffron (Crocus sativus stigma extract) — 28 mg — a patented, standardized saffron extract shown in randomized trials to support mood, reduce occasional stress and even improve sleep measures in some participants.
  • Rhodiola rosea standardized root extract — 200 mg — an adaptogen commonly used to reduce occasional fatigue and support mental performance and resilience under stress.
  • Holy basil (Ocimum tenuiflorum) 10:1 leaf extract — 200 mg — an Ayurvedic adaptogen traditionally used for emotional balance and everyday stress response.
  • Shatavari (Asparagus racemosus) root extract — 200 mg — used in Ayurvedic practice to support female hormonal support and stress resilience.
  • Schisandra berry — 125 mg — another traditional adaptogen included for vitality and central nervous system resilience.

This formula’s credibility comes from using branded, standardized extracts with clinical trials:

  • Sensoril® Ashwagandha (125 mg) — multiple human trials (including randomized controlled studies) indicate Sensoril can reduce perceived stress and lower cortisol in 4 – 8 weeks at doses around 125–250 mg/day. A recent clinical paper found reductions in stress markers and PSS scores over ~8 weeks at similar doses. This provides the strongest single-ingredient clinical support in the formula (link to the clinical trial here).
  • Affron® Saffron (28 mg) — randomized trials using 28 mg/day of Affron reported reductions in negative mood and stress/anxiety scores over 4 weeks, with larger trials showing benefits over 8–12 weeks for mood and emotional wellbeing. Affron has an increasingly robust clinical literature for mild mood disturbances and sleep quality (link to the clinical trail here).
Three panels show supplements for cortisol balance, vitality, and mood support, featuring ashwagandha, schizandra berry, and saffron with brief descriptions and dosage information.

The other botanicals (rhodiola, holy basil, schizandra, shatavari) have more variable but supportive traditional and clinical literature for stress resilience and occasional fatigue, and when combined, they form a classic adaptogen stack. Overall, the formula blends stronger clinical ingredients with traditional herbal supporters, making it a thoughtful design for general stress and mood support.

Other formulation notes to keep in mind are that the capsules are vegan, non-GMO, made without common allergens, and intended for preconception and postpartum use (again, not to be taken during pregnancy).

How long until I feel noticeable results?

As mentioned earlier, nothing is a magic pill, and no supplement is a cure-all. I appreciate Needed’s realistic timeline breakdown and the way they rightsize expectations based on what the clinical studies suggest. 

Here’s what you can expect:

Infographic outlining the stress support benefits of Affron® Saffron and Sensoril® Ashwagandha, with a bottle image and descriptions of effects over 12+ weeks.
  • First week: some users may notice improved sleep or subtle relaxation benefits (saffron/Affron has some trials showing early sleep improvements).
  • 4 – 8 weeks: measurable reductions in perceived stress, cortisol markers and mood improvements are commonly reported in Sensoril and other trials — this is the window where many participants in the clinical trials see statistically significant changes.
  • ~3 months: sustained mood benefits and emotional well-being are where some of the larger Affron and longer trials show continued or maximal effects; long-term resilience and sleep improvements are more likely after consistent use.

Of course, it’s important to emphasize that individual response varies. Some people feel calmer within days (often due to saffron, L-theanine, or placebo/ritual effects), while others need the 6–8 week window for adaptogens to shift biomarkers and perceived stress. Consistent daily dosing (Needed recommends two capsules daily) is crucial for the evidence-based benefits to appear.

Screenshot of the Oura app displaying scores for readiness (93), sleep (84), activity (61), and cycle day (19) against a blue gradient background.
A screen displays a Readiness Score of 93 labeled as "Optimal," with encouraging text about energy, focus, and listening to your body.
A health app screen shows stress tracking data, indicating the user is currently relaxed, with a line graph of stress levels from midnight to 6 pm.
My Oura biomarkers on day twelve of taking Needed’s Stress Support.

My final thoughts

Much of what draws me to Needed is reflected in the brand’s philosophy and formulation standards. Needed is a trusted, reliable source of nourishment through every stage of womanhood and motherhood. Their commitment to evidence-based ingredients, intentional formulations, and genuine support for women’s wellbeing resonates deeply with me.

“Stress Support feels like a natural extension of the larger, holistic work I’m doing to care for myself.”

As someone who is exceptionally selective about the supplements I allow into my routine, choosing a new product isn’t something I take lightly. Yet Needed’s approach continues to earn my confidence, and I’m grateful to add their Stress Support blend to my carefully curated arsenal of tools for both mental and physical health as a ritual of care for my body, which is doing so much on a daily basis.

Stress Support feels like a natural extension of the larger, holistic work I’m doing to care for myself — and a reminder that thoughtful, well-crafted support can make a meaningful difference.

A woman wearing a white top holds up a container labeled "NEEDED" and poses with puckered lips in natural light.
A hand holding two brown capsules above a white surface, with a glass of water and a white supplement container nearby.

THIS STORY IS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH OUR FRIENDS AT NEEDED

Kate Arceo is the Community Manager at The Good Trade. She has a Bachelor of Science from Evangel University and has over 5 years of experience reviewing sustainable home and lifestyle brands, as well as organic kids’ apparel and nontoxic cosmetics. When she’s not hosting dinner parties with her husband at their home in Southern California, you can find her sipping a latte at their local coffee house or shopping for strawberries with her kids at the farmers market. Say hi on Instagram!