Adaptogens: Stress-Fighters that Re-Awaken Your Body’s Natural Defences

Don’t you love it when vintage trends resurrect from the dead and come back into style again?

Caffeine and sugar are seeing the end of their hey days, as we’re coming to finally accept that that jittery stimulant tidal wave just can’t sail you over life’s steady stream of stressful demands after all – not without the inevitable crash at the end, anyway.

And so, out with the new, in with the old.

Centuries-old Chinese and Ayurvedic schools of medicine are making a come-back as “the next big thing” for fighting stress, anxiety and sleep disorders. Adaptogens are a group of herbs that have been used in traditional medicine for hundreds of years and have stirred up renewed interest after several new studies have shown evidence of their positive benefits.

These herbs are unique in their ability to lower elevated cortisol levels and relieve chronic stress and fatigue while also boosting energy and resiliency at the same time. Adaptogens help to both calm and invigorate the body, without the roller coaster of energy jolts and crashes associated with the typical Western stimulants that have become modern-day crutches for handling stress, anxiety and fatigue.

Fight Stress by Adapting to It

Cortisol is a stress hormone that can affect every system of your body, draining your sympathetic nervous system, thyroid and adrenal glands. A chronic state of elevated cortisol can lead to anxiousness and irritability, weakened digestion, lower metabolism, depleted energy, weakened immunity, hormonal imbalance, irritable bowel disorder, thyroid conditions, weight gain, bone loss, advanced aging, and the development of other illnesses and diseases.

Adaptogenic plants help to restore and protect your body from these harmful effects of stress by supporting adrenal functions, enabling the body’s cells to become more efficient at accessing energy, helping the body utilize oxygen better and aiding in the removal of toxic by-products from metabolic processes.

By improving the health of the body systems in charge of managing hormonal responses, these special herbs fortify your body’s ability to cope with stress from the bottom up. They empower your body to fight its own battles, to defend itself from the physiological effects of cortisol by re-balancing and normalizing the internal processes that would otherwise be negatively affected by it.

That’s why they’re called “adaptogens” – they help your body to adapt its regular functions to the vast array of internal imbalances that stress creates, so that your body can self-correct these imbalances and continue operating at its very best – no matter what life throws at you.

Top Adaptogens Used Around the World

These adaptogens have been traditionally used for relieving stress, anxiety and fatigue in a variety of healing preparations for hundreds of years. It’s best to follow the guidance and precautions of a naturopathic doctor or herbalist when selecting the adaptogenic herb or combination formula that’s best for you, according to your specific needs and/or medical conditions.

Ginseng

Asian Ginseng is one of the most well-known adaptogens, and is considered by many to be the most potent. Herbalists say that this ancient medicinal plant restores and strengthens the body’s immune system, enhances the metabolism and growth of normal cells, promotes a sense of well-being, has an antioxidant and antidepressant effect, supports longevity and may protect against some types of chronic disease.

Holy Basil

In India, this herb is known as the “elixir of anti-aging.” Some preliminary studies suggest that holy basil, or tulsi, may help fight stress and fatigue, boost immunity, and regulate blood pressure, blood sugar levels and hormonal balance.

Eleuthero

Traditionally, eleuthero is used for muscle spasms, joint pain, fatigue and insomnia. Herbalists say that it aides in the improvement of memory and promotes feelings of well-being. In Germany, eleuthero is approved for therapeutic use for impaired concentration, chronic fatigue syndrome and recovery after illness.

Ashwaganda

Also known as Indian ginseng, Ayurvedic medicine recommends ashwaganda for boosting the immune system and for easing anxiety through the lowering of cortisol levels.

Licorice Root

Licorice root is commonly recommended for boosting energy, endurance and immunity, while also protecting the thymus from cortisol damage. However, its use must be monitored by a medical professional due to possible effects on blood pressure.

Astragalus Root

This is a root promoted in Chinese medicine for an ability to reduce the binding of, and damage caused by, the stress hormone cortisol, while also increasing the amount of anti-stress compounds made by the body.

Rhodiola

Rhodiola rosea, or golden root, has been used for many years by Russian cosmonauts, athletes and military personnel. Recently, it’s become the focus of a slew of new research. Studies have found a vast array of positive anti-stress effects linked to the root, including suppression of cortisol, the promotion of stress-resistant proteins, the regulation of normal eating and sleeping patterns after stress, lowering of mental and physical fatigue, improvement of memory, as well as protection from oxidative stress, heat stress, radiation and toxic agents. It’s also being investigated for possible weight loss benefits.

Find Inner Balance & Calm amidst the Storm

Nietzsche once said “that which does not kill you will make you stronger”.

In combination with a healthy diet, regular activity, proper rest and a positive outlook, adaptogens help you draw strength from the achievement of inner balance in the face of life’s many de-stabilizing pressures and challenges.

Taking measures to recharge from the damaging and weakening effects of chronic stress and fatigue lead to a state of body and mind that’s even stronger and more resilient, so that you can gently bend with the coming of the wind, rather than breaking in the storm.