Adaptogens — Nature's Stress Busters
With more people than ever reporting feelings of stress and anxiety, it’s no wonder that adaptogens are rapidly gaining in popularity. Although this elite class of stress-relieving herbs has been in the spotlight as of late, they’ve actually been in use for centuries in both Traditional Chinese Medicine and Ayurvedic (Indian) Medicine.
What Are Adaptogens?
There are three features that define adaptogens. First, they are non-toxic and can be safely taken for extended periods of time. Second, adaptogens assist biological responses that buffer the damaging effects of stress on your body. And third, adaptogens have a normalizing effect, meaning that no matter the direction the stressors are throwing your body out of balance, adaptogens help to bring your system back into equilibrium.
Stress Shields
During World War II, adaptogens were studied extensively in the Soviet Union as a way of finding a “superhero” herb to increase the stamina, endurance, and performance of soldiers, sailors, and pilots. The term adaptogen was coined by Russian scientist Dr. Nikolai Lazarev to refer to substances that can help increase our resistance to stress – in effect, acting like stress shields.
The Stress Response
Chronic stress short circuits the body on many levels. One of the main systems that gets disrupted is called the HPA axis (hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis), which is responsible for controlling our stress response. When our body gets stressed, we go through three physiological stages: the alarm phase, the phase of resistance, and the exhaustion phase.
To illustrate how a healthy stress response works, let’s say we’re experiencing a physical stressor, like running a marathon. When we start the marathon, the alarm phase is triggered and our body starts pumping out hormones like cortisol and adrenaline. These hormones improve muscle performance and boost our ability to stay focused during the phase of resistance. As we get to the end of the marathon and get tired, we enter the exhaustion phase.
Chronic Stress & Adaptogens
With unhealthy chronic stress, the HPA axis is continuously triggered to release hormones on an ongoing basis. Over time, the overproduction of these hormones leaves the glands of the HPA axis desensitized and out of whack. This leads to HPA axis dysfunction, which may show up as fatigue, low energy, anxiety, sleep disruption, metabolic imbalances, lack of focus, and slower healing responses.
Adaptogens help reduce the repeated triggering of the stress response in our daily lives by modulating the overall output of stress hormones. This increases our capacity to handle everyday stress and raises our ability to maintain optimal balance in the face of physical, mental, and emotional stress. When the going gets tough, adaptogens help us keep going.
Pure Synergy® Products with Adaptogenic Herbs
We love the regulating relationship our bodies have with these incredible herbs, which is why adaptogens are featured in quite a few Pure Synergy® products. Such as…
Stress Remedy™ – an exclusive formula of renowned adaptogens including ashwagandha, holy basil, eleuthero, and many more! These neurorestorative herbs are used to invigorate clear-headed concentration while reducing stress and fatigue, and promoting a balanced mood.
Vita·Min·Herb for Women® – our most comprehensive women’s herbal multivitamin that, in addition to providing essential vitamins & minerals, supports key systems like digestion, immunity, the heart, and brain with its specialized blend of herbs. Hormonal balance is offered by adaptogens like shatavari, rhodiola, ashwagandha, and eulthero extract.
Vita·Min·Balance for Women®– another female-minded herbal multi, but the blend of herbs in Vita·Min·Balance is solely comprised of adaptogens (think: shatavari, lemon balm leaf, and maca root) for hormonal harmony in women of all ages. Reminder: hormones are regulators of stress, mood, and energy levels, as well as libido and reproductive health.
Vita·Min·Herb for Men® – our most comprehensive men’s herbal multivitamin that offers holistic support for men in any stage of life. This multi is crafted with complete core nutrients but also gets a bump from some adaptogens like licorice, rhodiola, and shatavari that aid in a balanced stress response, sustained energy, and hormonal health.
Vita·Min·Vitality for Men®– another men’s herbal multivitamin, Vitality is differentiated by its purely adaptogenic herbal formula that offers targeted support for stress, energy, mood, mental clarity, & even libido.Ashwagandha, Panax ginseng, & Peruvian maca root are the star adaptogens in this formula.
To top it all off, our ingredients are certified organic for absolute purity, quality, and safety, and our potent botanical extracts are never made with toxic chemical solvents. All to create products that harness the power of nature, and help you maintain a balanced life.
