Adaptogen

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Adaptogens are Underrated - Consider Taking Them for Stress

Adaptogen herbs are building herbs that strengthen the HPO axis (hypothalamus, pituitary, gonadal). Taken over time they build up your overall health and wellness and help you have more resiliency to the negative effects of stress. The endocrine system is vital to a well functioning immune system.

Not all adaptogens are created equal. Each herb has its own specific indications and herbal energetics that are better suited for one person or another. Especially when these herbs are matched to you from an energetic perspective these are safe plants that can be taken in larger quantities for an extended period of time.

"The basic theory of adaptogens was that they helped the body cope with stress by fine-tuning (and hence conserving) the stress response. They were also thought to support immune responses. However, current research has shed new light on how adaptogens might confer these benefits and this is via hormesis. "

Adaptogens can help regulate the metabolism of carbohydrates, blood sugar, blood pressure, body temperature

Adaptogens can help to improve DHEA levels. After oral administration of 6 g of Korean red ginseng for 30 days to postmenopausal women, DHEAS was increased by around 13%. Withania significantly increased DHEAS by 30% in a placebo-controlled clinical trial.

-Principlesand Practice of Phytotherapy, 2nd Edition, 2013 by Kerry Bone and Simon Mills. pg 340

Adaptogens can help regulate the metabolism of carbohydrates, blood sugar, blood pressure, body temperature, the body’s response to stress and danger, sleep patterns, body cycles and rhythms including menstrual cycles, menopause, fertility for women.

A key to whether adaptogens are being taken correctly: If you really need it and take the higher doses, you’ll feel really good from it. If you are depleted, recovering from a surgery, if you have chronic colds and flu and are depleted at a deeper level, adaptogens can be useful.

Most adaptogens can be taken over a long period of time.

Dosage and Duration Recommendations for Endocrine Benefits

Adaptogens support endocrine function primarily by modulating the HPA axis, reducing elevated cortisol, and aiding adrenal recovery from stress. Recommendations below are synthesized from evidence-based sources, focusing on human studies where available. Dosages vary by form (e.g., standardized extract vs. dried root) and individual factors; start low and consult a healthcare provider, especially if pregnant, on medications, or with hormone-sensitive conditions. Cycles (e.g., 4-8 weeks on, 1-2 weeks off) are often suggested to prevent tolerance.

ARTICLES/STUDIES

MODERN VIEWS ON THE POSSIBILITIES OF USING ADAPTOGENS

ADAPTOGENS AND RELATED GROUPS OF DRUGS - 50 YEARS OF SEARCHING

Adaptogens for Better Health and Weight Loss

Predictors of individual immune responses to adaptogens

Athletic Performance

Effects of adaptogen supplementation on sport performance. A recent review of published studies

Stress

• Effects of Adaptogens on the Central Nervous System and the Molecular Mechanisms Associated with Their Stress—Protective Activity This paper discusses the neuroprotective, anti-fatigue, and antidepressive activities of adaptogens, linking their stress-protective effects to the regulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. Although it focuses on the CNS, the HPA axis is closely interconnected with the thyroid axis, suggesting an indirect but important relevance to how adaptogens might influence thyroid function.
• The Effects of Adaptogens on the Physical and Psychological Symptoms of Chronic Stress
• Adaptogens: Tonic Herbs for Fatigue and Stress
• Effects of Adaptogens on the Central Nervous System and the Molecular Mechanisms Associated with Their Stress—Protective Activity
• Adaptogens Stimulate Neuropeptide Y and Hsp72 Expression and Release in Neuroglia Cells

Viral Respiratory Infections

The Role of Adaptogens in Prophylaxis and Treatment of Viral Respiratory Infections