July 2024

Stress

• Increasing The Body’s Resilience To Stress
• Herbs For Reducing Stress – Herbal Nervine Relaxant
• Adaptogen Herbs For Stress Management
• Food For Though – Nutrition For The Nervous System.

Adaptogen Herbs For Stress Management

After more than 20 years of research, the Russians created a functional definition of what they now call adaptogens. These herbs help the body adapt to stress, support normal metabolic function, and restore harmony. 

Non-toxic

An herb must be non-toxic, non-specific, and have a normalizing effect on the body to be considered an adaptogen. 

Adaptogens are non-toxic; therefore, using adaptogens doesn’t lead to any side effects.

Non-specific

The non-specific effect of adaptogenic herbs has two facets. First, they build resistance to multiple stressors, including physiological, chemical, biological, and psychological. Second, Adaptogens promote change through multiple pathways or systems in the body.

Their non-specific quality sets them apart from nervine herbs. While nervines work directly on the nervous system, adaptogens improve systemic (all-body) adaptation to stress. One of the most prominent ways that adaptogens help the body adapt to stress is by enhancing metabolism and allowing more efficient energy production. 

 Normalizing

Adaptogens are normalizing, meaning they can either stimulate or suppress certain functions depending on what the body needs at that particular time. 

How do adaptogens work?

While nervines reduce stress, Adaptogens act as buffers to reduce the effects of stress on the endocrine and immune systems. 

Adaptogen herbs improve sleep.

Adaptogens help tune the circadian cycle, the sleep and awake cycle located in the hypothalamus. By regulating hormones and increasing metabolism, adaptogens improve the quantity and quality of sleep. This is especially important because stress and sleep can create a vicious cycle: stress leads to insomnia and brainflammation, triggering more stress. 

 Adaptogen herbs are antioxidants.

Many adaptogens contain bioactive compounds with potent antioxidant properties. These compounds help neutralize free radicals, thereby reducing oxidative stress and protecting cells from damage. The antioxidative effect of adaptogens extends to all cells of the body but is more potent in cells with a high number of mitochondria that produce a lot of energy, such as the liver, heart, and brain. 

Adaptogens and your mindset

Adaptogens can impact mindset and mental well-being by helping the body manage stress more effectively and promoting balance and resilience. 

1. Stress Reduction: Adaptogens help modulate the body’s stress response, primarily by regulating the release of stress hormones like cortisol, reducing feelings of anxiety, and promoting a calmer, more balanced state of mind.
2. Enhancing Cognitive Function: Some adaptogens are known to improve cognitive functions, including memory, focus, and mental clarity. 
3. Mood Regulation: Adaptogens can influence neurotransmitters involved in mood regulation, such as serotonin, dopamine, and adrenaline. By modulating these neurotransmitters, adaptogens can help elevate mood and reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety.
4. Energy and Vitality: Adaptogens can help maintain a positive and motivated mindset by supporting the body’s energy levels and reducing fatigue. 

Stimulants vs sedative adaptogens

Many Adaptogens are stimulating, meaning they increase metabolism, AKA energy production in the body. If you have a long to-do list every day and your energy naturally crashes, then stimulant adaptogens sound very tempting because they can help you feel more energized. However, using stimulants when you are depleted without filling your energy reserve by eating a nutrient-dense diet, hydration, sleep, and movement can lead to total burnout and nervous breakdown. 

Calming or sedative adaptogens promote relaxation without causing drowsiness. They are beneficial for individuals experiencing anxiety, tension, or difficulty sleeping.

Ashwagandha

While most adaptogens are stimulants, ashwagandha is a calming adaptogen that is perfect for when your stress leads to insomnia, fatigue, anxiety, and brain fog. 

The root of ashwagandha is believed to give its users the strength and stamina of a stallion. It has been used in Ayurveda, traditional Indian medicine, to stimulate the mind, enhance vitality and libido, and promote longevity.

Ashwagandha has a direct effect on the endocrine system, specifically the thyroid and the adrenal glands. 

Small studies suggest that ashwagandha can increase the production of thyroid hormones, thus benefiting people with hypothyroidism.

Due to its Anti-Inflammatory and Antioxidant Properties, Ashwagandha can help reduce oxidative stress and inflammation in the thyroid gland, potentially supporting overall thyroid health.

By reducing cortisol levels, ashwagandha can help buffer the physiological impact associated with chronic stress.

Ashwagandha has a modulating effect on the immune system. It enhances the activity of some immune cells and is used to sedate inflammation and autoimmune diseases. 

Rich in iron, ashwagandha can benefit people with iron-deficient anemia, especially if used alongside molasses. About 50% of women between puberty and menopause live with untreated iron-deficient anemia as a result of their monthly periods. Ashwagandha can be a great ally to women in fertility age.

some safety points to consider when using ashwagandha

There are reports of ashwagandha worsening conditions of hyperthyroidism, so people with hyperthyroid conditions should avoid using ashwagandha. 

Ashwagandha should not be used during pregnancy and while breastfeeding.

I love to make an ashwagandha drink with coconut milk and a bag of Chai Masala. For a cup of coconut milk, use a tablespoon of powdered ashwagandha root, a teaspoon of honey, and 1-2 bags of chai masala. Traditionally, ghee was added to the drink to improve the absorption of ashwagandha. 

Adaptogens can be your ally after healing from a debilitating disease that weakens your body or when healing from fatigue after a long stretch of stress. They should be used for six to eight weeks alongside a nutrient-dense diet and plenty of rest and sleep. Then, a four-week break from adaptogens is suggested, followed by an evaluation of the benefits of additional use.