What Are Adaptogens And How Do They Work?

Adaptogens are basically herbs or mushrooms that can help your body and mind adjust to the different forms of stress you’re facing. This includes physical, biological, and chemical stress. Stress is one of the most damaging conditions to the body and adaptogens work in a variety of ways to counter this stress, helping the body regain its balance and reach a state of what’s called homeostasis. For those who are looking to bolster their health and wellbeing, adaptogens provide a potent way to help deal with stress.

How To Use Adaptogens?

You can find adaptogens in teas, capsules, tinctures, and powders which can be sprinkled on food. When used in the right amounts, it is believed that they can boost your body’s natural response to stress, providing protections that keep the stress and undoing its harm.

What Are The Types Of Adaptogens?

There are at least 70 types of adaptogens available. Adaptogens have a long history of being used for stress relief, dating back to many centuries ago when they were used as medicine in Eastern civilizations. 

What follows are a few of the adaptogens that are recommended for stress relief:

Ginseng:

 Ginseng sits at top of the adaptogens hall of fame. It’s a herb that can help boost the body’s immune system when consumed in moderate amounts. There is American and Asian ginseng available, and both are considered adaptogens.

Ashwagandha: 

Ashwagandha is a shrub that grows in parts of Africa, the Middle East, and India. It’s been found to reduce premature aging and anxiety along with other detrimental conditions.

Astragalus: 

From boosting the immune system to treating hay fever, astragalus is an adaptogen that is commonly used in traditional Chinese medicines. This herb is often used with other substances to treat a wide variety of conditions, but it can also be used to lower stress levels. 

Tulsi: 

Also known as the Queen of Herbs since it’s used in a wide variety of traditional medicines. You can find Tulsi in parts of Asia and India and it’s been used to treat colds, coughs, and even scorpion bites!

Rhodiola Rosea L: 

This is a shrub that is found at high altitudes across Europe, Asia, and North America. In addition to lowering stress, it is believed that this substance can also fight certain cancers and limit premature aging. However, more research is needed in these areas. 

Should I Take Adaptogens?

If you are suffering from undue amounts of stress, then adaptogens may offer an answer. 

When adaptogens are combined with stress-relieving therapies such as meditation, for example, they can be pretty powerful in lowering high amounts of stress.

However, it should be noted that the overall effectiveness of adaptogens can vary from one person to another. 

Important Points About Adaptogens

• Even though adaptogens have been consumed since before civilization began, there is still relatively little known about their overall effects. 
• Since supplements are not as regulated by the FDA as medications, you should be careful before integrating adaptogens into your daily routine. 
• Talk to your doctor first before consuming supplements, especially if you are already taking medications.