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EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT ADAPTOGENS
Health | September 22, 2017
Adaptogens have been popular in both Chinese and Ayurveda medicine for years, and the Western world is only now slowly warming up to the idea of these health and beauty herbs.
And no, we don’t mean herbs like sage and rosemary.
We’re talking herbs like Siberian ginseng, Rhodiola, ashwagandha, and astragalus.
What exactly are Adaptogens?
Adaptogens are a special class of plants (mostly herbs) that have a normalizing effect on the body. They are known to be able to both calm you down and boost your energy at the same time without over-stimulation. Adaptogens help your body achieve a state of homeostasis; which is the body’s natural ability to balance internal and external stress. The belief is that adaptogens can adapt to whatever the body is dealing with, whether it’s stress, anxiety, fatigue. They also help to lessen the symptoms.
Sebastian Pole, the founder of Pukka Herbs, was quoted, stating that these herbs “-can normalize body systems while being non-specific, meaning they can act on multiple parts of the body simultaneously. They are also non-toxic and safe to use over a long period of time.”
Here are some of the most important adaptogen herbs:
- Holy Basil
- Ginseng
- Aswaganda (Indian Ginseng)
- Licorice root
- Golden root (Rhodiola)
- Shiitake mushrooms
- Astragalus root
How do Adaptogens help?
Stress is something which we all know can throw us out of whack.
This is because our bodies treat stress as if it’s a serious threat, and every time we feel it, our bodies react differently (whether behaviorally or physically) to help fight against the “danger.”
Stress hormones like cortisol, for example, are regulated by the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, which is the matrix of glands that play a dominant role in the endocrine system. When triggered repeatedly, the HPA axis can easily get off balance and begins to take a major toll on the adrenals, making it easier for us to become anxious and become prone to certain illnesses.
Lucky for us, adaptogens are said to be able to better assist the body with handling stress more efficiently. They work alongside the HPA axis, which in turn regulates the stress response.
Keep in mind
Studies on adaptogens have been going on since the sixties, and since then these herbs have found to reduce the symptoms of common ailments like insomnia, depression, low libido fatigue, anxiety and even weight imbalance.
Now, while this all may sound too good to be true, keep in mind that there are more for prevention and are not actual cures for whatever it is currently ailing you.
Henrietta Norton, the founder of supplement brand Wild Nutrition, stated that “Prevention, not cure, is the new standard for living well and adaptogens are key to doing this because they nourish, regulate and strengthen the whole body.”
Going Forward
Few adaptogens have been associated with any minor/major side effects, although some may interfere with prescription medicines, and are not recommended to those who have certain health conditions. Therefore, as with any new supplement, it’s best to consult with a doctor before trying anything new.
You can find most adaptogens are available in capsule form, which can be taken as regular dietary supplements.
**Please remember that research on adaptogens are still ongoing, and the FDA has NOT evaluated many of these claims. Again, adaptogens are NOT intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease!
Private Member |
bulgaria
The golden root that grows in Bulgaria is the most powerful in the world in the percentage of the main ingredient SALYROZID, this is proven by American and Russian scientists, botanists.
In Bulgaria there are three types of Golden Root – with yellow, orange and pink colors. In 1992, the Russians opened their doors to the world for their first Golden Root Research. Until then, it had been classified by the KGB. During the harvest, only the elite and their families drank from it, because it is the most powerful immunomodulator and adaptogen from the family of the plant world. It prolongs life, exacerbates the senses, increases physical endurance, protects against harmful radiation, noise, deficiency of oxygen at high altitudes. I disagree with some scholastic doctors who say that they have been worn in Bulgaria by Altai. It has always been here, and when the GREAT BULGARIAN EMPIRE started around the world to create countries and culture, they brought with them GOLDEN ROUND seeds! Also in Bulgaria we have astragalus all around the country and not bought from the store, but collected from the mountain. In many Bulgarian families, herbs are an indispensable part of everyday life, and even children know who they are and what they are used for 😉
Love your post and researches. Thank you for sharing all with us!
Private Member |
italy, italy
great comment Rampapulka!..thank u very much!
Private Member |
uk
Rhodiola gave me terrible insomnia. I couldn’t sleep all night. Took me a week to start sleeping normally. It must have raised my cortisol pretty high. Holy basil on the other hand is great. Calms you down instantly.
Private Member |
canada
Thanks for these educational posts Zu. I’ve always been interested in alternative medicines and therapies, and have experimented with some of these herbs, keep the info coming! Luv it 💛
Private Member |
Hi Zuzka! Have you heard of metformin? It’s a very cheap pharmaceutical used to treat type 2 diabetes. It regulates the amount of sugar released by the liver and helps control blood sugar levels, but people that are non-diabetic can take it as well. I started taking it about a month ago, because one of my friends was diagnosed with cancer at a young age, and metformin prevents cancer. There are some finer points to taking the drug, and it has been rough, but it is a straight up WONDER drug. Over 2,000 studies done over the past 40 years have all come out the same, that metformin prevents cancer completely after 36 months of taking the drug. It’s like an inoculation against cancer and dementia, and PCOS. Many type 1 diabetics I’ve talked to have also said that it cured some random thing wrong with them, like thinning hair or lactose intolerance. In just two weeks of use, metformin took away a very strong and painful case of psoriasis that I have had since 2009 that nothing else could help. I wish I could post a before and after picture, it was very ugly and such a nuisance for years! Also some fine lines under my eyes quickly disappeared. Metformin also takes away appetite almost completely, so I lost a bit of weight on it as well. I am still experimenting with dosages because it can have some nasty side effects that I got bit by because I tried too much too soon, but I’m phasing it in again. My blood sugars are much easier to control as well and my insulin dosages are down, it also makes me just not need to eat. I wanted to let you know because it is truly incredible and I think more people should know about it, medical establishments here in America don’t acknowledge metformin’s anti-aging powers even though there is overwhelming proof. I know so many people that have had cancer and this one drug could have helped them prevent so much pain, and saved them a fortune. A three-month supply costs less than $5 as well, it is a generic drug. I think you would love it Zuzka, it’s like science fiction how powerful it is.
Private Member |
caseyville, illinois
i am going to look this up. thanks
Private Member |
🙂 🙂 🙂
If you get the chance, look up the medical journal titled “Metformin: Taking Away the Candy for Cancer?” There are a ton of medical journals on metformin, that is probably the most popular though.
Private Member |
caseyville, illinois
Thanks!
Private Member |
lake tahoe, nv, usa
I myself try to stay away from any drugs 🙂 but thank you for sharing, it might be helpful to someone else.
Private Member |
thank you for the information. Aswaganda works so fine for me. Keeps me calmer reducing stress. Rhodiola helped my daughter concentrate for her exams.
Private Member |
Super interesting post and comments. Zu, have you ever tried Maca (from Peru)?
Private Member |
lake tahoe, nv, usa
yes, I also have an article about Macs. I use Maca powder in smoothies, oatmeal, salads or when I bake sometimes.
Private Member |
Interesting! Im actually suspending my maca consumption now as I noticed that eveytime I take it my facial skin breaks out pretty bad. It’s like you always tell us: all bodies react differently and you have to find what works for you.
Private Member |
lake tahoe, nv, usa
Interesting! And how do you take it usually? Sometimes it might be the vessel of the ingredient that causes problems. For example, you might take the Maca in a yogurt or other dairy product and maybe it’s that that causes the breakouts. Just a thought.
Private Member |
I though of that, but I mixed it with ingredients that generally dont make me break out at all. My first attempt was a hot beverage of 1 tbsp of maca, 1 of coconut oil, 1 of unsweetened cocoa powder, boiling water and erythrytol (sometimes with goat milk). I routinely drink coffee with goat milk and a tsp of cocoa powder (before my Zgym workout!) and never have a reaction.
After that I made your buckwheat muffins recipe and lastly I tried it in a spinach, acai, keffir and berries smoothie and man, that was a trip back to my teen years.
One day I decided to suspend for one week and the very next day I tried using it after that break I had my forehead filled with pimples again.
Who knows, maybe its the quality of the bag I got 🤷🏻♀️
Private Member |
lake tahoe, nv, usa
hm, that’s crazy.. it can totally be the Maca powder.
Private Member |
saint john new brunswick, canada
Great article! thanx for the info 🙂
Private Member |
I have tried several adaptogens but haven’t found one to help me sleep. I have chronic sleeplessness that has really become a health problem & makes it very difficult to work out. I have been to a dr. with no change except sleeping pills, which I refuse to take. Would love to hear what you would recommend. Thank you
Private Member |
This might or might not work but two things that helped me: lavender essential oil in ny room with a steamer and youtube hypnosis videos to ease the mind and sleep better. The second option requires consistency, even if its just a 5 mins meditation ritual. There’s plenty of self hypnosis books too that can help.
Private Member |
I was curious about adaptogens as well, but unfortunately some of them sell for an insane price (here in the United States). That ultimately steered me away, I rather spend my money on buying fruits and vegetables to make healthier meals with.
Private Member |
Something really interesting that i’m curious about is Collagen. In your recent Instagram post you shared a picture of your FabFitFun box you received so i figured i’d go check out their website. They strongly support collagen supplements. I wanted to know if you had done any research on it and what your take would be. Thanks.
Private Member |
I’ve taken type 1+3 collagen by Neocell, as well as thier type 2 collagen supplements. Type one and three is for hair, skin and nails and type two is for joints. I don’t really feel any difference from the type two, but in the four years I have been taking type one and three the results are always apparent. My skin looks fresh and my hair and nails grow about three times faster than they normally do without the supplement. I can feel the collagen in my skin, like an elasticity. Neocell makes chewables as well, and I noticed and felt the difference with the mint chocolate flavored ones, not so much with the other flavors. I have tried other brands of collagen, but i prefer Neocell. Pretty much everything I’ve tried from them has been consistent. I just don’t take the type 1 and 3 every day because it make my hair grow so fast that I need to go to the salon more often.
Private Member |
Ok, thank you!