Wouldn’t it be great if we could snap our fingers and feel relief in stressful moments? Many of us are looking to reduce the impact of circumstantial stress as we juggle our busy lives. Of course, you can’t get rid of everyday stressors altogether, but you can support your body as you navigate life’s more trying times.
Adaptogens are powerful options to help your body cope with occasional stress. Keep reading to learn about these ancient herbs and mushrooms, including how they benefit our modern bodies and minds and easy ways to incorporate them into your wellness routine.
What Are Adaptogens?
Adaptogens are herbs and other plant substances, like mushrooms, that can help you better adapt to occasional biological, chemical, or physical stressors.
In order for a plant to be considered an adaptogen it must: help your body cope with circumstantial stress, be nontoxic when taken at recommended doses, and help your body to return to homeostasis (balance).1
We dive more into how adaptogens work below. But first, some history:
The term “adaptogen” was coined in the 1940s by a Soviet scientist as a way to describe the properties of Schisandra chinensis, or the Chinese magnolia vine plant. However, thousands of years before that, the plants we now know as adaptogens were staples in Ayurvedic medicine.
Ayurveda is a traditional Indian medical system that promotes balance and overall health. The word Ayurveda comes from the Sanskrit words ayur (life) and veda (knowledge or science). Adaptogenic plants were mentioned in the earliest Ayurvedic text, and were highlighted as “valuable medicines” in Charaka-Samhita, the first well-known classic work of Ayurvedic medicine. Over 350+ healing plants were included in these writings.
Adaptogens have gained popularity in today’s world as well, including the herb that inspired the term, schizandra, along with rhodiola, holy basil, and ginseng. Some mushrooms are also considered adaptogens, such as chaga, reishi, lion's mane, and cordyceps.
How Do Adaptogens Work?
Throughout the course of our days and nights, our bodies are affected by many different kinds of occasional stress, including physical and mental stressors. When we experience these stressors, our bodies can enter “fight or flight” mode, which may come with rapid breathing, nausea, and flushed skin. While some of these physiological responses may have been helpful to our ancient ancestors running from danger, most of the time they aren’t needed in our modern world.
Adaptogenic herbs and mushrooms support your body when you encounter circumstantial stress. They appear to help “hack” the stress response for better resistance.
Some experts believe that adaptogens interact with the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, which initiates the stress response and plays a significant role in keeping your body in balance.2 Another theory is that adaptogens support our mitochondria, which are involved in stress adaptation. 3
Scientists are still studying exactly how adaptogens work, with more research being published each year.
Popular Adaptogenic Herbs & Mushrooms
Over 70 plants are considered adaptogens. While we can’t delve into each one here, these are some of the most well-known and effective adaptogens:
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Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) is an evergreen shrub cultivated in tropical areas of Asia, Africa, and Europe. It’s also known as Indian ginseng and winter cherry, and is traditionally used to support occasional stress as well as sleep, female libido, cognition, and mood.* Our potent new ProSorb Ashwagandha formula is designed for 18X absorption and peak bioavailability, so you can get the most out of your daily dose.†
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Asian, or Korean, ginseng (Panax ginseng) is a species of flowering plant in the ivy family. It was first discovered over 5,000 years ago in the mountains of Manchuria, China, where it was revered for its array of benefits. Today, it's a favorite for supporting occasional stress, including mental stress.*
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Holy basil (Ocimum tenuiflorum) is a flowering plant in the mint family that is grown for its aromatic leaves. Also known as Tulsi, it’s native to the Indian subcontinent and grows throughout Southeast Asia. The plant has long been used in Ayurvedic medicine to help address emotional stress and fatigue. As a supplement, it can support concentration, mood, and occasional stress.*
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Mushrooms: Solaray has identified and uses eight different types of mushrooms that provide myriad health benefits and are believed to have adaptogenic properties: chaga, cordyceps, lion’s mane, maitake, reishi, royal agaricus, shiitake, and turkey tail. Our Mushroom Complete formulas, in both capsules and powder, contain a special blend of all eight. Every mushroom we source for these products grows under optimal conditions, in a sterile facility with state-of-the-art high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filtration. We grow our organic fermented mushrooms on oats. Since mushrooms absorb and retain the nutrients of the substrates on which they grow, our mushrooms are also absorbing nutrients from the oats, making them even more efficacious for you.
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Rhodiola (Rhodiola rosea), also known as arctic root or golden root, is an herb that grows in the cold, mountainous regions of Europe and Asia. Traditionally, rhodiola was used to help mood, cognition, and fatigue. In modern times, it’s used to support energy, including mental energy; occasional stress; stamina; and a healthy mood.* Rhodiola's two main components, rosavins and salidrosides, may help support the body's healthy reaction to circumstantial stress.*
- Schizandra (Schisandra chinensis) is a vining shrub that grows in temperate forests, particularly in northeastern China and Korea. It is one of the 50 fundamental herbs in Chinese medicine. As you might remember, it was the herb that inspired the word adaptogen. Historically, it was thought to protect health and longevity. It’s still widely used today.
If you'd like try taking adaptogens, you can choose single-herb and single-mushroom supplements or speciality formulas. For example, our SharpMind line offers expert blends of adaptogenic herbs and mushrooms designed to support your mental and emotional health.* These fast-acting, potent nootropics contain clinically backed ingredients you can count on.
Possible Side Effects of Adaptogens
Adaptogens offer excellent support and are generally considered safe, but as with all supplements, we recommend you talk to your doctor before beginning a new routine. People with certain health conditions or taking certain medications may be advised not to take some adaptogens.
Your Sidekicks for Occasional Stress
Modern life keeps us busy, and stressful situations are bound to happen from time to time. Adaptogens can be a powerful addition to your wellness routine when occasional stress shows up in your life.*
At Solaray, we want you to feel confident about adding adaptogens to your daily routine. Our supplements are triple tested and lab verified for purity and potency.
Turn to these herbs and mushrooms for help finding balance so you can better weather trying moments.
Resources:
1. “Adaptogens.” Cleveland Clinic. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/drugs/22361-adaptogens.
2. “What are adaptogens and should you be taking them?” UCLA Health. www.uclahealth.org/news/article/what-are-adaptogens-and-should-you-be-taking-them.
3. “Adaptogens.” U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs: Whole Health Library. www.va.gov/WHOLEHEALTHLIBRARY/tools/adaptogens.asp.