What are Adaptogens?

Adaptogens, whether medicinal mushroom, herb, spice, or tincture have been used for centuries in some folklore and in Eastern medicine, not so known in Western medicine. What we do know about some of these adaptogens is that they’re able to reduce stress  on the body, but the exact mechanisms of how they do so still need to be researched. Adaptogens can also act like a regulator of your energy and stress levels. For example, if you’re experience high stress they can “calm” it down by normalizing your body without overstimulating. They also help support our adrenal function and central nervous system, and medicinal mushrooms in particular are great at helping our bodies utilize oxygen efficiently.

Adaptogens are a unique class of healing plants: They help balance, restore and protect the body. As naturopath Edward Wallace explains, an adaptogen doesn’t have a specific action: It helps you respond to any influence or stressor, normalizing your physiological functions.

Adaptogens offer several other health benefits like;

• Boost the immune system
• Support to manage a healthy weight
• Increase physical endurance and mental focus
• Reduce discomfort caused by poor health
• Reduce stress and anxiety

All these benefits can come from something as simple as adding adaptogens into your regular diet. While there are a number of ways to increase your adaptogen intake, consuming adaptogenic herbs is arguably one of the best.

Adaptogens greatly improve your body’s ability to adapt to stress, whether it’s a hectic schedule, heat or cold, noise, high altitudes or any number of other stressors. This elite class of herbs impart strength, energy, stamina, endurance, and they improve mental clarity. In many parts of the non-Western world adaptogens are used extensively in high-risk, fast-reflex occupations, from athletes to miners to deep sea divers.

Most common adaptogens are;

• Turmeric. Recipe for Golden Milk.
• Ashwagandha – Indian ginseng
• Maca – Peruvian ginseng
• Tulsi – Holy Basil
• Licorice root
• Medicinal mushrooms like reishi and chaga
• Rhodiola rosea

How to use adaptogens?

You can use adaptogens in teas, tinctures, supplement form, or in powder form with food. I use most of these as a powder form with food or in tea, or as a tea.

How much to use them?

Dosages for adaptogens depend on your individual health, frequency of use, and if you’re taking medications be careful as many of these pose herb-medicine interactions. Also if you’re pregnant, be very careful and speak with your doctor before taking adaptogens. Above all, work closely with your physician or your dietitian nutritionist to get a specific amount and to see if using these are right for your health.

Love & health!

-Sari

Source: draxe.com, globalhealingcenter.com, nutritionstripped.com, examine.com