Adaptogens are beginning to get quite a lot of attention in the modern world of health and wellness. You can find apoptogenic herbs offered in everything from supplements and tonics to hot drinks and juices. But what exactly are adaptogens, what are they found in, and how do they work? Adaptogens are components of herbal supplements and medicines that are believed to aid the body’s resilience in dealing with stresses. They are also considered to have anti-aging properties and have been used for hundreds of years in Ayurvedic healing practices.
How Adaptogens Work
Adaptogens are considered to help the body overcome the influences of various stressors, including psychological, physical, chemical, and biological stressors. Some practitioners also recommend them for:
- Improving attention
- Helping with stress-induced disorders
- Balancing hormone levels
- Fighting fatigue from excessive stress
- Increasing endurance when fatigued
- Improving cognitive function when under stress
- Boosting the immune system
- Normalizing body functions
They can also fight the symptoms that are the result of high cortisol levels, such as insulin resistance, anxiety, fatigue, and depression. You can take some adaptogens as supplements or find them in drinks such as this RISE Botanicals adaptogen tea.
How Adaptogens Help with Stress
Adaptogens are said to improve how the body responds to stress. While they might not be able to help you avoid stressful events altogether, they can improve how your body responds.
Stress is a physiological condition that can be caused by environmental conditions, external events, or biological and chemical agents that trigger the body to release stress hormones. This causes physical changes such as an increase in the heart rate and blood pressure. Adaptogens are said to be effective at helping the body overcome maladaptive stress, which occurs when stress is prolonged and too overwhelming.
How Effective are Adaptogens?
While there is still quite limited evidence from studies to back up the claims of effectiveness for each adaptogen type, some new studies are emerging. One study found that adaptogens could be regarded as an anti-fatigue medication that induces increased endurance and attention in situations of decreased performance that is caused by fatigue, along with reducing stress-induced disorders or impairments.
Adaptogenic Herbs to Consider
There are several different adaptogens, and each one is considered to have its own action. Some of the most popular include:
- Ashwagandha: Helps the body with daily stress
- Astragalus root: Protects the telomeres, which are structures at the end of each chromosome, against stress and aging
- Siberian ginseng: Provides energy and helps overcome fatigue and exhaustion
- Rhodiola Rosea: Lowers depression, anxiety, and fatigue
- Holy basil: Relieves anxiety and stress while promoting relaxation.
- Reishi: A type of mushroom that is considered to promote a healthy sleep pattern and help the body adapt better to stress
- Cordyceps: Another mushroom that is considered to help with balancing hormones and fighting stress
- Maca: Improves energy and mood
- Licorice: Increases energy and endurance, promote healthy cortisol levels, and helps boost the immune system
- Wild yam: Helps with the regulation of female hormones.
- Bacopa Monnieri: Protects the brain while improving cognitive functions such as memory
How your body copes with stress can impact you both physically and psychologically. Adaptogens are worth considering to strengthen your body under stress and develop a healthier stress response.
