Adaptogens, that does not sound like pure nature.
But what are Adaptogens and can they help you relieve stress?
Adaptogens are certain plant ingredients that can help you to better compensate for and minimize stress.
How exactly this works and in which plants contain adaptogens will be explained in this article.
Adaptogens for Less Stress
Chronic stress is a common problem for you? Then you are like many others. According to a study by the Bundesgesundheitsblatt, one in four Germans suffers from the consequences of chronic stress. Often the stress factors cannot be minimized immediately or banished completely from life. The problem with stressors is deeply rooted in the history of human development.
The body reacts to stress in the same way today as in the Stone Age. What is triggered by stress in the body, is a primal instinct, which used to mobilize people in dangerous situations to fight or flight and was therefore vital for survival. The extreme, physical response has remained the same, but the stressors have increased significantly.
When you feel stressed, a variety of reactions happen in your body. Intensive stimulation of the sympathetic nervous system triggers the release of hormones, noradrenaline, adrenaline, and cortisol. The heart rate and respiratory rate increase.
Definitel,y a challenging state for your body, especially when the stress starts to get chronic and you are regularly put into this state of emergency.
In addition, the body consumes a large amount of energy to keep itself in that state of increased readiness. When your body is weakened by the constant state of emergency, other regulatory processes, also known as homeostasis, become confused and you become susceptible to disease.
Memory lapses and difficulty concentrating are just a few of the effects that stress can have on your behavior and mental performance.
If the stress hormones are released on a regular basis, is can lead to a worsening of the well-being in the long term, as a study by the European Archives of Psychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience shows.
However, those affected rarely know what to do. Nature is prepared in the form of Adaptogenic natural substances that make your body resistant to stress and thus improve your well-being.
Adaptogens have the unique ability to soothe, provide you with new energy without being overly stimulating.
Take-home message # 1: When stress becomes chronic, it can negatively affect your well-being and minimize your mental capacity. The so-called adaptogens are natural substances that can help you to minimize stress.
How Adaptogens Reduce Stress
Simply put, Adaptogens are phytochemicals that make you less susceptible to stress or help you better adapt to stressful situations.
The term “adaptogen” was coined in the mid-50s by the Russian scientist Nicolai Vasilevich Lazarev, who noted that certain herbs can help to adapt your body to the effects of stress.
In traditional Indian healing, Ayurveda, the harmonizing effect of herbs on the body has been around for thousands of years. Adaptogenic herbs help to reduce imbalances in the homeostasis of the body that occur as a result of stress.
Homeostasis includes the regulation of circulation, body temperature, hormone balance, pH etc. These systems are regulated by a variety of factors, including your hormonal balance. This is where chronic stress comes into play.
Chronic stress disturbs your hormone balance and the homeostasis interrupted. Adaptogenic herbs act against it. They support and strengthen homeostasis, increasing your body’s resistance to stressors. It has been found that only certain herbs have exactly these properties. The two main ones are mainly ginseng and roseroot.
Take Home Message # 2: Adaptogens are plants that have a harmonizing power to your body balance called homeostasis. Chronic stress can unbalance your homeostasis and make you sick.
5 Adaptogens Against Stress
Ginseng (Panax ginseng)
Ginseng is definitely the king of the adaptogens. Especially the Asian ginseng can promote your stress resistance and thus improve mental performance.
The root is one of the most popular, herbal remedies in the world and rightly so. Ginseng has been using Asian medicine for more than 5,000 years and is highly regarded in the biohacking scene for its versatility. Ginseng, in addition to its stress-relieving effect, has a long list of proven health benefits. Because ginseng acts as an adaptogen, beneficial to the body’s dopaminergic and serotoninergic system, it improves well-being in stressful situations.
It is therefore widely used to promote mood, cognitive performance and restful sleep.
Rose root (Rhodiola rosea)
Rose root is one of the most popular adaptogenic herbs and has a similar mode of action as Ginseng. It has also been used for thousands of years in traditional Scandinavian and Chinese medicine. Roseroot is characterized by its ability to increase the physical balance and thus reduce fatigue and fatigue caused by stress.
In addition, the adaptogenic herb can do more. Roseroot has a positive influence on the release of the stress hormone cortisol. A recent study by the Swedish Herbal Institute has looked at the relationship between cortisol and roseroot. It was found that the adaptogen has a positive effect on stress resistance by minimizing cortisol release. The subjects treated with rosacea had a small amount of the stress hormone in their blood.
Kava Kava
Kava Kava is THE herb against anxiety disorders and can keep up with the chemical-inducing effects of chemical drugs such as benzodiazepines.
The advantage of the medicinal plant from the South Seas: Kava Kava, in contrast to chemical tranquilizers, does not cause addiction.
Reason for the calming effect: The Adaptogen contains Kavalactone, which can bind to nerve cells and thereby dampen the feelings. It should also be helpful against depression and social phobia.
In low dosage, it is pleasantly relaxing and is drunk in Hawaii in the evening as kind of an after-work beer.
Kava Kava ingests: As with ginseng, the taste, however, is herd to get used to. Therefore, it is better to resort to capsules instead of powder. Kava Kava is also available as a drop. The maximum daily dose is 120 mg.
Attention: Kava Kava is a prescription and not suitable for people with liver damage and in pregnancy and lactation.
Ginseng, roseroot and Kava Kava is just a small selection of adaptogens. For almost every sensory disorder, a herb has grown.
Cannabis, the forbidden all-rounder
2018 is a big year for the hemp plant, it was named the medicinal plant of the year and in Canada, it was legalized after many years of the ban. At least one cannabinoid is legal for us – the CBD, which is not psychoactive. This is valuable for the endocannabinoid system in which, among other things, it can relieve pain and also have a soothing effect on other diseases.
Reishi, a mushroom of eternal life
In Traditional Chinese Medicine, it has been used as a tonic for thousands of years. Above all, it strengthens the self-healing powers of the internal organs and the immune system and supports the body in general in order to deal better with stress and to detoxify in a more sustainable way.
Conclusion: Adaptogens for Less Stress
Adaptogens are a great way to stress relief. Still, its only herbs so don’t expect wonders.
But before taking actual medicine I’d recommend you give these herbs a try and see for yourself.
Cheers,
Sam
