Adaptogens: What They Are and What You Can Expect?

By Meredith Murdock, RA, CH

In today’s post pandemic world, many of us experience stress on a daily basis. According to the American Psychological Association, over 76% of adults have reported experiencing stress within the past month.

When we experience stress a few things happen to our body. First, our body goes into a fight or flight feeling. When this happens your system releases hormones through your adrenal garlands. These hormones include cortisol and adrenaline. Adrenaline can increase your heart rate and elevate your blood pressure. Cortisol can increase the amount of glucose in your bloodstream and increase the chemical substances that help repair tissues in your body. Cortisol also alters immune system responses and can also suppress other systems of the body such as the digestive system, reproductive system and can alter your mood.

When you experience this type of stress on a short term basis, your hormones go back to normal after the stressful event. However, when the body is in a constant state of stress, these reactions can do damage to the body including but not limited to headaches, digestive problems, weight gain, muscle tension, memory and mood disorders and others. Over time, chronic disease can settle in.

This where Adaptgoens can prove helpful to help regulate stress of the body. An adaptogen is a herb that has been studied and in many cases clinically tested to support the body’s reaction to stress. An adaptogen targets different areas of your body to bring your body back to a state of balance, otherwise known as homeostasis.

Adaptogens have been studied extensively in the last 10 years. Most adaptogens can be taken with pharmaceutical medications and over time their use will help your body adapt to stress, making the physical reactions not as severe and support the release of cortisol and adrenaline during times of stress.

There are quite a few adaptogens in the herbalist toolbox. While all the following herbs fall under the “adaptogenic” umbrella, they all have different qualities that they target.

Some of the most popular adaptogens on the market are:
. Ashwagandha
. Astragalus
. Ginseng
. Tulsi
. Rhodiola
. Schicandra
. Eleuthero

Many of these herbs can be taken daily as an infusion or decoction. Another way is to purchase an extract of the herbs, where the strong concentration can be taken as a dropper full daily.

Studies have shown that taking these plants and herbs on a regular basis have other benefits besides just reducing your body’s effect of stress. Other benefits include supporting restful sleep, calmed mind, stronger memory and focusing, less musculoskeletal pain and possible reduction of fatigue.

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