| In our not too distant past, we humans were | | | | system flourishes as the protector of health.Here |
| under very different external threats than we are | | | | is a little known fact: adaptogens were given to |
| today, such as being eaten by wild animals and | | | | over a half a million Chernobyl residents after the |
| subjected to violence from hostile invaders. | | | | nuclear disaster that happened there in 1986 to |
| Thankfully, today those life-threatening stressors | | | | help offset the negative effects of radiation |
| are almost non-existent. However, our bodies still | | | | poisoning and to strengthen their immune |
| respond to stress in the same way as when we | | | | systems. These herbs must have some serious |
| were running from tigers. This stress response is | | | | power to be used in that situation!Not only is |
| called "fight or flight." To help protect, defend, and | | | | stress dangerous to our internal health, but most, |
| safeguard our survival more efficiently, the body | | | | if not all, accidents and mishaps are also caused |
| releases hormones such as adrenaline, cortisol, and | | | | by stress. When we are under stress we make |
| a host of other chemicals into the blood stream | | | | poor decisions. When we are gripped with anxiety, |
| during the "fight or flight" response. These | | | | our awareness is occupied; therefore we tend to |
| hormones give us a boost of super-human | | | | pay less attention to details. Sometimes, those |
| strength similar to nitrous oxide in a race car. | | | | details can cost us dearly. Like when we don't see |
| When a race car driver needs an extra boost of | | | | that car pullingout in front of us, or when we |
| power, he hits the button that releases a much | | | | make an expensive blunder at work that ends up |
| higher octane fuel into the engine -- NO2. The | | | | costing us our job. Details matter and supporting |
| car's horsepower increases greatly. However, as | | | | our ability to stay on top of them is worth it.To |
| every race car driver knows, there is a downside | | | | be more specific, regarding stress, adaptogens |
| to this -- nitrous oxide significantly reduces the life | | | | have the amazing ability to restore the adrenal |
| span of the car's engine. This is very similar to the | | | | glands. The adrenal glands are the body's primary |
| way the "fight or flight" response works in our | | | | mechanism for responding to, and adapting to, |
| body: though the strength we get is incredible, | | | | stress. Sometimes referred to as the body's |
| there is a big downside -- expedites the aging and | | | | batteries, the adrenal glands supply the pep to our |
| decay of our tissues and cells!In extreme | | | | step. When we are under chronic stress, the |
| situations, this "fight or flight" function is needed; | | | | adrenals glands get taxed until exhausted. |
| however, in the relatively safe environment of | | | | Therefore, if they are weak, we are weak.But, |
| our modern age, very rarely do we find ourselves | | | | nature has provided us with a solution to low |
| in extreme situations that demand the "fight or | | | | energy, and it is to recharge the adrenal glands |
| flight" response. Yet, based on our hard-wired | | | | with adaptogenic herbs, thereby producing a |
| history, we react to today's stressors as if they | | | | natural boost of energy. Yes, adaptogens |
| are the equivalent of escaping from wild animals. | | | | recharge the adrenal glands, which give us |
| Consequently, most of us, unknowingly, are | | | | abundant energy!As stress levels increase and |
| constantly under a low-grade stress response all | | | | remain constantly high, our body's acidity rises to |
| day long...and for some of us this happens even | | | | dangerous levels. Stress hormones, such as |
| while we sleep! Like in the case of the race car | | | | adrenaline and cortisol, are part of the reason for |
| engine, these stress hormones are very | | | | this. Experts in the medical field say that the |
| dangerous to our bodies if they are released for | | | | presence of these hormones in the blood stream |
| extended periods of time. This is why medicine | | | | over long periods of time acts like battery acid, |
| regards stress as a chronic condition.Achieving a | | | | slowing eating away at our health. High acidity |
| completely stress-free life where we aren't | | | | levels increase the risk of diseases, such as heart |
| switching into "fight or flight" mode may not be | | | | disease, cancer, stroke, and a host of other fatal |
| possible for most, but you can reduce stress | | | | diseases.In fact, one study has shown the one |
| significantly! Here's how.Use foods that heal. Take | | | | common characteristic in all types of cancers is a |
| adaptogenic herbs, referred to simply as | | | | high acidity level -- that is, the pH is highly acidic. |
| adaptogens or tonic herbs.What are adaptogens? | | | | The study went on to show that no type of |
| The key word here is "adapt." Even though we | | | | cancer can survive in a body with a balanced pH |
| aren't being chased by large animals anymore, | | | | -- that is, the body's alkaline and acid levels are in |
| unless you go hiking in the Alaskan wilderness, we | | | | the correct balance.Along with healing stress, |
| are subjected to stressors such as a financial | | | | strengthening the immune system, and providing |
| troubles, job worries, relationship problems, family | | | | a clean boost of energy, adaptogens help to |
| dramas, and health concerns. To many of us, we | | | | normalize the body's pH level -- a biomarker of |
| experience these stressors with the same | | | | sound health!An adaptogenic supplement needs to |
| intensity as being chased by wild animals in the | | | | have a broad range of adaptogenic herbs such as, |
| past. Therefore, it is important that we learn to | | | | American Ginseng, Ashwagandha, Astragalus, |
| "adapt" better to these stressors, so that we are | | | | Shitake Mushroom, Maitake Mushroom, Eleuthero |
| better equipped to deal with them.Adaptogens | | | | Root (Siberian Ginseng), Polygonatum Multiflorum, |
| were popularized by Russian scientists when they | | | | Atractylodes, Cordyceps, and other herbs |
| discovered the amazing effects they had on their | | | | because a wide array of herbs allows the body to |
| Olympians. They found that adaptogenic herbs | | | | absorb greater benefits. This is called "synergistic |
| greatly reduce the recovery time during training, | | | | effect". These herbs taken together produce |
| therefore, helping these Olympians to better | | | | more powerful results compared to taking the |
| "adapt" to the extraordinary amount of stress | | | | herbs individually.Though herbs come in the form |
| imposed on their bodies. They borrowed this | | | | of pills, extracts, concentrates or powders, the |
| technology from ancient Chinese Physicians who | | | | ideal form is either powder or concentrate. |
| had been using adaptogens for thousands of | | | | Moreover, it needs to be delivered in a |
| years in wound healing, stress reduction, mental | | | | macro-nutrient base (that is, a proper balance of |
| clarity, alleviating depression, longevity, and energy | | | | proteins, fats, and carbohydrates). Combining the |
| rejuvenation.The miraculous ability to help us | | | | herbs with food works well, since the body |
| "adapt" to stress comes from these herbs' unique | | | | metabolizes herbs and other micro-nutrients much |
| dual-directive function; meaning they neither | | | | more efficiently within a food or |
| over-stimulate, nor under-stimulate the body's | | | | macro-nutrient-based delivery system. Thus, |
| systems, but have instead a normalizing effect on | | | | herbs in a powder form is ideal because the herbs |
| the body and mind. Simply put, adaptogens enable | | | | mix well with food delivery systems, unlike herb |
| the body to better cope, resist, and adapt to any | | | | extracts which are usually held in a liquid alcohol |
| stressor, whether it be mental, emotional, | | | | base. On the other hand, most herbs in pill forms |
| physical, or environmental. Additionally, they have | | | | tend to be denatured through the manufacturing |
| the miraculous ability to aid the body in maintaining | | | | process. For this reason, adaptogens that are in pill |
| homeostasis (the crucial balance needed for | | | | form, in my opinion, are not ideal.Make sure that |
| optimum functioning within the body). Balance | | | | the sources of ingredients are all-natural! Organic is |
| translates into deeper relaxation, optimum | | | | great, but there are numerous sources that are |
| function, and better health!Your body will still | | | | not "certified" organic, yet are equally healthful |
| respond to stress appropriately, but the negative | | | | when all natural. "All natural" is a standard that |
| effects are minimized when the body is properly | | | | typically eliminates the harmful chemicals and |
| supplemented with adaptogens. More importantly, | | | | preservatives. All natural is also more economical |
| these herbs relax the roller-coaster highs and lows | | | | than an organic product, which is a big plus for |
| we experience from the stress response.Though | | | | both farmers and consumers. And lastly, make |
| stress itself is not an illness, it has been linked to a | | | | sure the product was developed by a qualified |
| myriad of diseases such as heart disease, stroke, | | | | herbalist who understands internal medicine, not |
| obesity and cancer. In fact, studies have shown | | | | simply a nutritionist who has studied herbs, or |
| that stress is the #1 cause of all disease. The | | | | worse, a businessperson who's only making a |
| American Academy of Family Physicians | | | | buck.I believe we are just scratching the surface |
| estimates that around two-thirds of all trips to the | | | | with regards to the health benefits of adaptogens. |
| doctor are for stress-related complaints. With this | | | | As the Chinese have practiced for thousands of |
| in mind, it is undeniable that stress is a serious | | | | years, adaptogens (tonic herbs) should be part of |
| threat to our immune system, compromising our | | | | our daily diet. We here in the west will soon get |
| health and well being. Luckily, adaptogens help to | | | | on with the trend as we come to recognize the |
| heal the root cause of stress. In turn, the immune | | | | powerful stress-relieving benefits of adaptogens. |