Adaptogens - How would I benefit from using them?
- Earth Made
- Mar 3, 2020
- 3 min read
Updated: Aug 3, 2020
- This is a quick explanation, just to grasp the basics.
If you're reading this, you're probably wondering why everyone has started to talk about adaptogens. What they are? Who in Canada is using them? Why?
It's booming in the wellness industry and with good reason too. Adaptogens are found throughout skin care lines, supplements and even treats designed specifically for our furry companions.
With the high levels of stress in our modern society, who wouldn't want to add something to their daily practice that can help battle the tensity that life sometimes throws at us.
Adaptogens - In regards to herbal medicine, are certain plants (or fungi) that are used to help our bodies withstand both mental and physical stress. In a way, sort of allowing us to better adapt to the stress. Adaptogens help us by reducing fatigue, improving our mental clarity and combat the anxiety often associated during those trying times.
Stress is sometimes inevitable and these little plants are here to help us get through it with as little harm as possible. Excessive stress can have negative lasting effects both physically and mentally so having the ability to mitigate and protect against that is definitely something more people should consider.
There are many different common and not so common adaptogens. Here's a few of the most familiar adaptogens that you might already have in your kitchen.
Turmeric
Rosemary
Ginger
Tulsi / Holy Basil
An then, there's the not so common ones that are growing in popularity.
Ashwagandha
Rhodiola rosea
Astragalus
Cordycepes mushrooms
Lions Mane mushroom
A Double blind, placebo-controlled study set out to find the efficacy on reducing stress and the safety of Ashwagandha. A total group of 64 people were randomly split in two. Half received a placebo and the other half given full spectrum, high concentrated ashwagandha root extract, all unaware of which group they were in. Initially, they evaluated each persons stress by measuring serum cortisol levels, and having each person fill out stress assessment questionnaires often used in many scientific studies.
The study took place over 60 days of which each group had to take their capsules as called for. Checking in periodically until day 60, when they were required to again fill out the stress assessment questionnaires and take measurements of serum cortisol levels. Based on the findings, people in ashwagandha group had received a significant reduction in levels of stress
compared to the placebo group in all the areas recorded.
In the Perceived Stress Scale(PSS), a standard psychological assessment based on your own perception of your stress, there was a overall reduction of 44% with the group taking ashwaganda on the PSS score compared to the placebo at just 5.5%.
This study is just one prime example of the influences some of these adaptogenic plants can have, while generally being regarded as safe. It's always important to talk with a health care practitioner before introducing some of these plants into your regiment.
But, the fact of the matter is, we're all looking for ways to better manage our life, improve our health and obtain all this naturally. Adaptogens can be just that, a natural "brace" to enhance our well being and stress management.
Trying to make health & Plant Powered Wellness easy to digest,
and even easier to implement.
Resources//
Nation Center For Biotechnology Information
A Prospective, Randomized Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study of Safety and Efficacy of a High-Concentration Full-Spectrum Extract of Ashwagandha Root in Reducing Stress and Anxiety in Adults
K. Chandrasekhar, Jyoti Kapoor, and Sridhar Anishetty
Feb 28/2020
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