In modern society, stress has become a constant in many people's lives. Long-term stress affects not only our mood and quality of life but can do serious harm to physical health. Adrenal adaptogens are regarded as a natural approach that can help us cope with stress and allow the body to adapt better to the pressures it faces. This article explains what adrenal adaptogens are and what benefits they may hold for our health.
What are adrenal adaptogens?
Adaptogens are a class of botanicals with the capacity to modulate how we respond to various forms of stress. Their name comes from precisely that property: helping the body adapt to stress. They fall into several types, each acting positively on a different kind of stress — physiological, environmental, emotional and psychological.
What adrenal adaptogens do
Adrenal adaptogens work by supporting and balancing our natural stress response. That means they help reduce the body's adverse reactions to stress so we can handle stressful situations better. Part of this comes from supporting the interaction between the brain and the hormonal system, making it easier for us to return to balance and calm.
Common adrenal adaptogens
- Asian ginseng (Panax ginseng): a widely used adaptogen that helps improve stamina and endurance while reducing fatigue and balancing immunity
- Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera): part of traditional Indian medicine, considered to help the body cope with stress, improve mood and raise energy levels
- Rhodiola (Rhodiola rosea): holds potential for improving mental adaptability and easing stress, and is commonly used for mood and stress management
- L-theanine: traditionally used in contexts relating to relaxation and focus
- Licorice: traditionally used in contexts relating to digestive and respiratory care
- Cordyceps: studied for its relationship with immune regulation and physical performance
Potential benefits of adrenal adaptogens
Research suggests adrenal adaptogens may help ease stress, improve mood, raise energy levels, balance immune function and possibly help with inflammation in the body. These benefits have made adaptogens one of the increasingly popular natural approaches today.
Faced with all the pressures of modern life, we need ways to protect our physical and emotional health. Adrenal adaptogens offer a natural route that can help us cope with stress better, improve quality of life and support health overall.
"Adrenal adaptogens: nature's help in facing stress with courage"
References:
[1] A preliminary review of studies on adaptogens: comparison of their bioactivity in TCM with that of ginseng-like herbs used worldwide Chinese Medicine volume 13, Article number: 57 (2018)
[2] Evolution of the adaptogenic concept from traditional use to medical systems: Pharmacology of stress- and aging-related diseases Medical Research Review First published: 25 October 2020
Any discussion of adaptogens presupposes that the body is genuinely under stress load. Finding out what state your adrenals are actually in means looking at the diurnal rhythm of cortisol and your DHEA reserve, not going on how you feel.
See which systems the 136 markers cover →Frequently asked questions
What are adaptogens?
Adaptogen is an umbrella term for a group of plant extracts that traditional use and modern research have observed to relate to the body's capacity to adapt to stress. It is not a single compound but a group of plants with a similar context of use.
Where does the word adaptogen come from?
The term adaptogen originated in research in the 1940s and was used to describe natural substances that help the body maintain homeostasis. In Chinese it is rendered as shiyingyuan, and sometimes as stress-resilience botanicals.
What are the common adaptogens?
Those most often discussed include rhodiola, ashwagandha, ginseng, holy basil, cordyceps, licorice and schisandra. The traditional context of use and the direction of research differ from plant to plant.
When should adaptogens be taken?
Timing is generally arranged according to the properties of the plant — the more stimulating ones during the day, the more relaxing ones in the evening. Whether they suit you personally, and which one to use, depends on your constitution and your existing data; that falls within the scope of a one-to-one consultation.
How do I know whether I need them?
Any discussion of adaptogens starts from stress load. Rather than going on how you feel, start by looking at the diurnal rhythm of your cortisol and your DHEA reserve — those two pieces of data show which stage your adrenals are currently in.
Want to know what state your adrenals are in right now?
"I'm stressed" is a feeling; cortisol rhythm is data.
Body Decode, 136 markers, covers 17 health categories including endocrine, neurological and nutrients, with a 60-minute consultant report review and a 120-day action plan.
