Have you ever considered treating your stress with adaptogens? Stress overload can impair your body’s immune, endocrine, and neurological systems. Adaptogens have stimulating properties to help counteract the harmful effects of stress.
But what are adaptogens? Adaptogens are super-herbs that aid the body in reacting to or recovering from short and long-term mental and physical stress. Some can even boost your overall well-being and immunity.
How Do Adaptogens Work?
Adaptogenic herbs work at the molecular level to create a stable balance in the adrenal, pituitary, and hypothalamic glands. These are the glands involved in a stress response. The body goes through general adaption syndrome when faced with a stressor. There is a three-stage reaction: alarm, resistance, and exhaustion. Adaptogens help you stay in the resistance phase longer and holds off the exhaustion stage. There is no more crashing in the middle of something stressful. Instead, you can gain equilibrium and move on.
When you’re able to adapt to stress, you can perform better and feel better despite the cause of your stress. This means you can also improve your well-being and health. When you are stressed out, the adrenal gland releases cortisol, which will then energize you to tackle an emergency. However, too much cortisol can be bad for the body. For instance, cortisol is usually the cause of weight gain in the belly area. When you are able to reduce stress, you are able to reduce the stress hormones and the potential for weight gain.
How Can Adaptogens Benefit Me?
Adaptogens are known to perform various functions in the body to help overcome and respond to influences of stress. Thus, adaptogens offer a wide range of health benefits including:
- Improving attention span
- Helping with hormone levels
- Keeping cortisol levels down
- Overcoming fatigue
- Normalizing the body’s functions
- Improving energy levels
- Improving the functions of organs
- Improving the function of other body systems
- Stimulating mental performance
Incorporating Adaptogens Into Your Life
If you’ve decided to start managing stress by adding adaptogens to your diet, be sure follow the instructions that come along with your product information. It’s also a good idea to consult a naturopathic physician who can recommend some specific adaptogens and adjust the dosage up or down, depending on your needs. Adaptogens are generally safe but it’s best to start slow so that you can monitor how your body reacts.
It’s suggested to take stimulating adaptogens earlier in the day to help align your body’s natural rhythms. Calming adaptogens, such as holy basil, can be used before bed and in the daytime since these aren’t potent enough to have a sedative effect.
You can use adaptogens for a few days or weeks to get through a busy period. You can also take them during a stretch of chronic stress. However, you should rotate the type of adaptogen you’re using after about six weeks. This way, your body sees the benefit from the subtle differences among the herbs. You shouldn’t rely on adaptogens for a long period of time but you can use them for more intense periods to stay energized.
Examples of Adaptogenic Herbs
There are different kinds of adaptogenic herbs and each has their own action and benefit. Here are just a few examples:
Astragalus Root: helps reduce aging and stress by protecting structures that are located at each of the chromosomes linked with aging. Discover more with Anima Mundi Qi Energy and Protein Super Powder.
Ashwagandha: helps the body cope with daily stress and can be used as a tonic. Discover more with Anima Mundi Ashwagandha.
Siberian Ginseng: helps promote energy and can help you fight exhaustion
Holy Basil: promotes relaxation and relieves anxiety and stress. Discover more with Anima Mundi Cerebrum Brain Tonic.
Reishi: promotes a healthy sleep pattern and helps with adapting to stress. Discover more with Anima Mundi Reishi.
Maca: helps increase energy and improve mood
Turmeric: helps maintain healthy levels of the stress hormone. Discover more with Anima Mundi Turmeric.
Wild Yam: said to help regulate female hormones
Licorice: helps increase endurance and energy, along with boosting the immune system
Get creative and find methods that are easy to incorporate into your routine.
References for this article:
Very Well Health – What Are Adaptogens
Healthline – Smart Girl’s Guide to Adaptogens
Healthline – Adaptogenic Herbs