Despite only recently becoming popular in western health and wellness, adaptogens have been used in Ayurvedic and Chinese medicine for centuries. These natural plants, herbs and mushrooms have been thought to help the body adapt to physical, biological and/or chemical stressors, controlling our stress response by regulating the release of stress hormones such as cortisol. Simply put they can help our bodies better adapt to stress. But how do they work and what are their main benefits?
How Adaptogens Work to Relieve Stress
Adaptogens interact with the hypothalamic-pituitary adrenal axis, our body’s stress response system. They can help calm your hypothalamus (the small region in your brain), the pituitary gland (around the base of your brain) and your adrenal gland (which produces the hormone cortisol). Cortisol is released during times of stress, increasing your heartrate, blood pressure and glucose levels. It is super important these survival “fight or flight” moments, but continued and high levels of cortisol release can lead to many chronic diseases such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes, osteoporosis as well as weight gain and depression.
True adaptogens are non-toxic, protect against stress, stimulate mental performance and normalise body functions. Adaptogens have thousands of years of historical use to back up their use, as well as increasingly informative modern studies worldwide.
Benefits of Adaptogenic Herbs
Adaptogens help the body’s internal systems build resilience for long-term wellness rather than providing a quick fix. They also do not impact a person’s experience of stressful events, but rather, are said to improve the way the body responds physically to stress.
Some of the possible benefits of adaptogens include:
- Improved attention
- Increased endurance in situations caused by fatigue
- Lower stress-induced disorders
- Balance hormone levels
- Improve sleep
- Keep cortisol levels and other hormone levels balanced
- Fight fatigue that results from excessive emotional and physical stress
- Boost the immune system
- Increased energy levels
Examples of Adaptogenic Herbs
There are many adaptogens, each said to have their own specific benefit. Some important ones include:
Ashwagandha
Sometimes called Indian Ginseng, Ashwagandha is traditionally used in Ayurvedic medicine as a rejuvenating tonic to support a healthy stress response in the body as well as relieving tiredness, improving healthy libido and supporting healthy sexual function. Both ashaya In-Flow and Re-Glow supplements contain KSM-66 Ashwagandha, an industry leading, concentrated and extensively studied ashwagandha extract, with over 24 published clinical studies.
Saffron
Nicknamed “the sunshine spice” due to its possible mood-boosting properties, Saffron has a range of potential health benefits including supporting a healthy balanced mood, reducing symptoms of mild anxiety, reducing free radicals formed in the body, reducing PMS symptoms and reducing period pain. Another star ingredient in both In-Flow Period & PMS Relief and Re-Glow Perimenopause Relief supplements, affron® , is backed by eight human clinical studies that have shown to improve mood and sleeplessness. Another study published in Journal of Menopausal Medicine evaluated the use of affron® in perimenopausal women and its impact on their menopausal complaints. The results showed an improvement in psychological symptoms and a strong tendency to improve hot flashes and sweating.
Shatavari
A traditional Ayurvedic rejuvenating female tonic, Shatavari contains phytoestrogens, biochemicals with estrogen-mimicking properties said to have a range of health benefits, especially for supporting the female reproductive system. Shatavari also relieves PMS symptoms, temporarily relieves mild fluid retention and the symptoms of medically-diagnosed cystitis. A review of studies published in the Biomedicine and Pharmacotherapy in 2018 suggested it may improve conditions such as hormonal imbalances and PCOS. Shatavari is a key ingredient in the In-Flow Period & PMS Relief supplement.
Like all supplements, consistency is key and you will likely see some of the stress-protective benefits over time. It is also really important to incorporate movement, adequate sleep, a balanced diet and meditation into your daily ritual. It is easy (and potentially very beneficial) to take a daily supplement but without other lifestyle changes, it may not be enough to make a long-term difference. And of course, before you start taking any supplement please consult with your medical practitioner.
For more information on ashaya’s Adaptogenic herbs see our Ingredient Glossary.