What Do Adaptogens Do?
If Stress Is Destroying Your Life, This Doctor Says You Need Adaptogens
We've forecasted that adaptogens will be taking over in 2018. And why? Because we honestly really need them. It seems that the world has become swallowed up in stress more than ever before, and because these herbs are stress-fighters — and stress can impact so many areas of our health — we anticipate that everyone will be reaching for these natural wonders to help restore physical and mental balance.
A brief refresher course: adaptogens are herbs, roots, and mushrooms that can help with stress, anxiety, sleep, your immune system, and more. They've been used in naturopathy, Ayurvedic medicine, and Chinese medicine for centuries. Some examples (that you may recognise from your favourite health food café or packaged foods): ginseng, holy basil, eleuthero, ashwagandha, reishi, astragalus, sea buckthorn, rhodiola, and cordyceps.
"Given all the negative consequences of persistent stress, the use of adaptogens can be used as part of a holistic strategy for improving one's health," said Tieraona Low Dog, MD, author of National Geographic's Fortify Your Life: Your Guide to Vitamins, Minerals and More. We got a little intel from the health and wellness genius on how adaptogens will significantly impact your life.
Ease Anxiety
"Often times stress and anxiety go hand-in-hand — it's likely you won't experience one without the other," said Dr. Low Dog. "The most common adaptogen, ashwagandha, has been used in India for more than 4,000 years and is considered the most calming of the adaptogens, having a reputation for easing anxiety."
Ashwagandha just might be the wellness supplement you need to help you get a hold of the excess stress in your life. "The roots of this ancient plant can help us tolerate stress more effectively, and human trials support its traditional use as an anxiety-relieving aid."
Improve Sleep
"Another common symptom and cause of stress is poor sleep," said Dr. Low Dog. Ain't that the truth! "[By] allowing us to tolerate stress more effectively, the calming ashwagandha has also been known to improve sleep," she said. "Ashwagandha is best for those who have a chronic stress that's accompanied by irritability; incorporating the ancient root into your routine can help support relaxation and restore healthy sleep habits." Zzzzzz.
Increase Energy
Because stress impacts your body's sleep cycle, your energy levels the next day can suffer. It's a vicious cycle, isn't it? This is where rhodiola comes in. "Rhodiola has been used for more than 3,000 years in Europe and Asia to increase energy and endurance," Dr. Low Dog told POPSUGAR. "It has been shown to have a beneficial effect on the regulation of stress hormones, improving fatigue and mood." Can we get some of that?!
If you're thinking — "But wait, doesn't ashwagandha do that? Why do I need more?" — it's not quite the same. "In contrast to ashwagandha, rhodiola is considered to be a more stimulating adaptogen, making it best for those who have fatigue, low energy, and depressed mood," said Dr. Low Dog, so this adaptogen is better for daytime use.
Enhance Mental Focus and Clarity
Back to that vicious cycle we mentioned: poor sleep, crummy energy and mood . . . and as you may have guessed, foggy brain and difficulty focusing. Rhodiola to the rescue.
"With increased stress and fatigue comes a natural decrease in mental energy and focus," said Dr. Low Dog. "Rhodiola has also been known to help increase mental strength and focus. Furthermore, there is strong evidence that rodiola extracts improve attention, cognitive function and mental performance in fatigue and in chronic fatigue syndrome."
Reduce Inflammation
"Chronic stress can reduce your body's ability to regulate inflammation, leaving it unchecked," she said. Yikes! Let's introduce one more adaptogen to the mix.
"Eleuthero has long been valued in Traditional Chinese Medicine for its anti-fatigue, anti-stress, and anti-inflammatory properties," she explained. "While [eleuthero is] less known than some of the other adaptogens, eleuthero can increase endurance and mental performance in people with mild fatigue and weakness."
Dr. Low Dog concluded, "Eleuthero is a good choice for those who are under considerable stress, but do not have either marked irritability and anxiety or chronic fatigue and depression.
Dr. Low Dog recommends referring to your healthcare provider before adding in any supplement — adaptogens or otherwise: "While the safety data is good for these herbs, make sure you talk to your healthcare practitioner first if you have any serious health condition, are pregnant or nursing, or are taking prescription medications."
