Why Adaptogens are the Coolest Category of Plants!
I wanted to touch on my ultimate favorite and by far the coolest category of plants: Adaptogens. If you’ve heard of them, you probably are already obsessed! It blows my mind how these plants can have such deep healing qualities.
Adaptogens are herbs that increase the ability of the body to cope with, respond to, and adapt to stress while restoring overall balance. They increase the body’s resistance to physical, biological, emotional and environmental stressors and promote normal physiologic function. Adaptogenic herbs support the adrenals, endocrine, and immune systems.
Adaptogens allow us to handle life with a bit more grace and prevent us from hitting our breaking point. They do so by enabling the body to avoid reaching a point of collapse, over-stress, or adrenal fatigue. They help to relax tension, increases resiliency in times of stress, and replenishes vital energy.
Their primary actions are to help the body deal with stress and to promote balance within the body or homeostasis. These miraculous plants have the ability to modulate body systems regardless of which direction (hypo or hyper) the system is swinging. To top it off, they also tend to have immuno-modulating abilities as well as being antioxidants!
If you’d like to deepen your knowledge on this topic, a great book that I recommend is Adaptogens: Herbs for Strength, Stamina, and Stress Relief by David Winston and Steven Maimes.
Adaptogen Examples:
Ginseng
Eleuthero
Schisandra Berry
Ashwagandha
Rhodiola
Tulsi/Holy Basil
Licorice
Astragalus
Chaga Mushroom
Reishi Mushroom
Fo Ti/He Shou Wu
Our Energy Formula is the one product that I take most regularly. The Energy Formula is full of stimulating adaptogenic herbs that promote sustained, natural energy (the “real deal” energy)! I created this product to break our reliance on caffeine because of the negative effects it has on our body. I wanted to create a formula that gave you the natural energy you had when you were a kid!
Our adrenal glands are the source of all our energy. Too much caffeine and stress take their toll on these glands and overtime could even cause adrenal fatigue! Adaptogens support these glands to bring back the vital energy we once had.
Some of the benefits of this formula include:
• increased stamina & endurance
• increased vitality
• increased energy levels
• increased athletic performance
• combats stress & fatigue
• enhances concentration & focus
Because of my love affair with Adaptogens and the restorative qualities they hold, I’ve made it a point to include them in a few other products. These products include the Stress Free Tea and the Immune Chai Tea.
The Stress Free Tea is the perfect tea blend for anyone who is stressed, overworked, and full of tension. This infusion was created to calm the nerves, restore balance to the body, and to adapt to stress. This blend is made with herbs that are nourishing and supportive to the nervous system and the adrenal glands. This was the first blend I’ve ever created and is still by far our most popular tea!
There are two categories of herbs in the Stress Free Tea: Nervines and Adaptogens. They are our allies for coping with the daily aggravations of life, especially work pressures, family responsibilities, financial worries, lack of sunshine, and regular use of caffeine. The Adaptogens found in this blend are Tulsi & Licorice.
The Immune Chai Tea is a very aromatic and spicy blend that is a twist on traditional chai tea because we added immune-boosting herbs, Adaptogens, & medicinal mushrooms! The Adaptogens found in this blend are Chaga mushroom, Astragalus, and Eleuthero.
On a final note, these plants can have a profound healing effect on our bodies, but they are not meant as a replacement for adequate sleep, nutrition, and overall healthy habits. Though, they are great allies in supporting us on our path to living an optimal life.
What are your favorite stress reducing strategies? Comment below to keep the conversation going!