Adaptogens: Herbs to Boost Performance and Improve Wellbeing

                                  Or “Stress Happens, but Being Stressed Out Doesn’t Have to–We Can Thrive!”

Ever feel burned out at work or the need for greater focus and get into a habit of a reaching for a pick me up at a particular time each day? Have you ever not had that soda/tea/coffee/pastry/sugar only to feel drained, lethargic or sleepy? Or, at the end of the day, you are left exhausted but unable to sleep–wired but tired, jittery and restless.  There is another way to boost your focus, combat fatigue and avoid the roller coaster highs and lows from sugar or caffeine—adaptogens.

An adaptogen is an herbal substance which increases the ability of the body to adapt to environmental factors/change and protect us from the harmful effects of stress. Adaptogens are not actually stimulants and don’t have the associated crash that stimulants do but can help the body be more efficient in using energy as well as protect the body from the harmful effects of stress. Adaptogens can calm you down and boost your energy at the same time without over stimulation. They can normalize body imbalances, prevent fatigue and free up energy when you need a burst. Or, on the flip side, they can calm nerves down and promote relaxation even under pressure. By supporting adrenal function, they counteract the adverse effects of stress:

• Like a personal trainer, adaptogens help the body to adjust to stress, helping cortisol (the adrenal stress hormone) regulate to balanced healthy levels.
• When real stress occurs like sprinting to catch the bus, working overtime or powering through a presentation, adaptogens help you perform at your best with greater ease.

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Adaptogens work inside the body’s cells to help the mitochondria (where your energy is made) keep working efficiently so you can access more energy, even when pressured. They can even prevent chemical garbage that otherwise builds up in your cells causing free radicals and damage, or cellular aging. So, adaptogens help cells eliminate toxic byproducts of the metabolic process and help the body to burn cleaner. Another way of looking at its function is that adaptogens “immunize” your body to stress. When challenging real life situations come along, your body is more toned or fit to breeze through the stressor, remaining calm, cool and collected. 

• Like Acupuncture, adaptogens promote balance in a wide range of body systems without causing any major side effects. They both can help the body self-regulate many functional processes and work with the neuro-endocrine, immune systems, and with metabolism.
• Many adaptogen herbs have been safely used in Chinese and Ayurvedic traditional medicines for centuries. The former Soviet Union extensively studied adaptogens, publishing more than a thousand scientific pharmacological and clinical papers prior to 1984.
• Some adaptogens are becoming more well known such as Eleuthero/Siberian Ginseng, Ashwaghanda and Rhodiola Rosea, Panax/Asian Ginseng, Red Reishi, Tulsi/Holy basil, Goji berries but Schisandra and Gymnostemma are herbal rock stars too.

In this blog series, I will continue to explore various adaptogens, examining their strengths and what clinical benefits have been proven in studies. Please always consult with your doctor or herbalist for possible interactions with any medications you are taking before adding adaptogens to your routine.

If you are prone to numerous colds and flus or are frequently under a lot of stress and would like herbal support for your body, call us at (415) 462-4600. We are happy to help! 
by Julie Ginsburg, L.Ac., MS

For further reading:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3991026/ this paper analyzes years of clinical and pharmacological research and focuses mainly on Rhodiola rosea, Schisandra chinensis and Eleutherococcus senticosusFrank Lipman’s blog:http://www.drfranklipman.com/adaptogens-natures-miracle-anti-stress-and-fatigue-fighters/Michael Castleman’s articlehttp://www.motherearthnews.com/natural-health/adaptogens-zamz08jjzmcc.aspx