Adaptogenic plants are botanical treasures that help the body restore balance and adapt to stress. They work by increasing the body’s resistance to various stressors, including physical, emotional, chemical and environmental. They also protect against acute and chronic stress. Their normalizing effects on the body, especially with regard to the endocrine and immune systems, are what make them unique, although adaptogens work differently for each person.
By working non-specifically, they alter basic operations within the body, restoring homeostasis -balance- through their regenerative properties and helping to harmonize body, mind and spirit.
Adaptogens are non-toxic and safe, with no major side effects or contraindications. They produce a non-specific response in the body and have a generalizing action to improve resistance to all types of stress: physical, psychological, environmental, etc.
The ability to balance within adaptogens has a two-way effect. This means that the medicinal components of plants will work as needed to help bring “stressed” physiological conditions back into balance.
The stress hormone, how does it work?
Cortisol is one of the most well-known hormones and the main hormone released in response to stress by the adrenal glands, often referred to as the “stress hormone”, sounds familiar?
The secretion of this hormone occurs when a threat or a stressful situation is perceived. At this point, a series of processes come into play that direct and replenish energy to prepare the body to deal with stress and ensure that the brain receives the necessary energy sources.
Once the cause of the problem disappears, hormone levels return to normal and adrenaline, cortisol, heart rate and blood pressure return to their initial levels, allowing other systems in our body to resume their usual activities. So far everything is smooth as silk. But what happens when these stressors are always present and you feel constantly on alert and that fight-or-flight reaction remains active?
Chronic stress and excessive secretion of cortisol and other stress hormones can disrupt almost every process in the body. Chronic stress contributes to high blood pressure, promotes the formation of deposits that clog arteries, and causes brain changes that can contribute to anxiety, depression, and addiction.
Overexposure to cortisol can cause numerous health problems, one of which is adrenal fatigue. Which is a term often used by healthcare professionals to describe the phenomenon of emptying the adrenal glands and the resulting physical and mental state. Symptoms of adrenal fatigue:
-Feeling tired for no reason.
-Unable to deal with stress; everything becomes a trigger.
-Lack of creativity and concentration.
-Low immune function.
-Difficulty recovering from illness.
– Decreased sexual desire.
– Mood swings, depression, severe ups and downs.
-A feeling of being constantly overwhelmed and anxious.
– Intense craving for sweets, carbohydrates or snacks.
– Excessive use of stimulants such as caffeine, sugar or tobacco.
– Unexplained weight gain.
forms of stress
Stressors can come from many different fronts. Stress is not experienced uniformly and can manifest itself at any time. It often comes and goes, and many different types of stressors can easily affect us without our realizing it. Modern life is experiencing exceptionally high volumes of stress from the environment, perhaps the highest volumes recorded in history.
Toxins in our water, air, food and atmosphere are contributing significantly to higher levels of stress in our bodies and minds. It is important to remember that a healthy lifestyle, combined with adaptogenic herbs and a positive mindset, can help us to lead a full and balanced life.
List of adaptogenic plants
There are many herbs and mushrooms that have adaptogenic chemistry such as Reishi, Suma, Maca and many others. But did you know that they are not officially “adaptogens”? The following list are those that were rigorously tested in the 1950s and are considered primary adaptogens:
- Ashwagandha – Withania somnifera
- Cordyceps – Cordyceps sinensis
- Eleuthero – Eleutherococcus senticosus
- Ginseng – Panax ginseng, Panax quinquefolius
- Holy basil – Ocimum tenuiflorum, Ocimum sanctum
- Licorice – Glycyrrhiza glabra
- Rhodiola – Rhodiola rosea
- Schisandra – Schisandra chinensis
- Shilajit – Asphalt Bitumen