Would you like to discover a natural remedy that can revitalize your energy, just like coffee, while reducing depression and anxiety?
Well, if you answered “yes,” you might want to consider taking adaptogens!
When it comes to adaptogens, adaptogens deliver a strong combination of natural chemicals that help combat stress and depression.
Moreover, current clinical research indicates that adaptogens can improve adrenal function and many other benefits.
Not only that but adaptogens are also recognized as the better alternative for “fast energy” or a better substitute for what we have already been accustomed to for so long — drinking caffeine.
Here is an overview of adaptogens and how they work to offer you a clear understanding of whether taking them will be helpful for you and your lifestyle.
Once you start taking adaptogens, your body will have the capacity to withstand tension and stress so much better than before.
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Adaptogens Guide for Anxiety + Depression
What Are Adaptogens?
Adaptogens are medicinal herbs that come in a pharmaceutical form and serve as a countermeasure to go against tension in the body.
Since regular stress influences the body’s chemical reactions and induces changes in the immune, endocrine and neurological systems, adaptogens have stress-reducing properties that can reduce those detrimental health consequences.
They are pretty much mother nature’s herbs that have been utilized for centuries to cure pain and the adrenal system all at once.
What does “adaptogen” mean?
The name “adaptogen” is used to identify our planet’s natural plants and fungi that have adapted to stress well over time.
These medicinal herbs and fungi have adapted to stress so well that they simultaneously can help you withstand your own stress too.
It’s not a newfound holistic way to treat the body since brewing up adaptogens has been around for thousands of years and was commonly used in ancient healing rituals in many cultures.
So, you can look at adaptogens as herbal plants and fungi that can help you prevent or ease stress while simultaneously building up your stress response strength to tolerate stress better.
How do adaptogens affect the body?
These healthy herbs and medicinal mushrooms do a fantastic job of not overstimulating or exhausting the nervous system, whilst supplying the perfect balance of adrenaline, stamina, and strength (the same rush of energy that caffeine gives you), all while leveling out your mood and hormones.
Since adaptogens help with overall general well-being by repairing and improving your bodily functions, which are key components to react and restore to stress, the right kind of adaptogen can help the body adapt or adjust to any internal or external stress in the body and/or environment with ease.
Where do adaptogens come from?
Far off the beaten path, most Adaptogens grow wild in highly adverse environments such as China and Russia.
These plants thrive under extremely harsh and unfavorable conditions, and they are simply adaptogens for themselves, as they experience a lot of tension in their lives.
Therefore, by simply ingesting adaptogens, you are ingesting the plant’s or fungi’s stress reduction hormones to fight off your own, which is pretty amazing!
What can adaptogens help with?
A little stress is all right in your life (one cannot go stress-free through all of it), but severe stress can seriously degrade mental health when it’s chronic and regular. So that’s where adaptogens come into play.
Adaptogens also help with:
- insomnia
- muscle pain
- allergic reactions
- nausea
- anxiety
- depression, and any discomfort in the body or mind.
Another good thing to know is that adaptogens don’t only target one organ (such as modern medicines); adaptogens will help your body get back into balance and encourage your body to maintain homeostasis while supporting your overall health.
So if you are thinking about using this as a great way to combat stress, know that you can also benefit from the many other benefits they help with.
How do you consume adaptogens properly?
Depending on your taste buds, some adaptogens have a strong taste, so adding them to drinks such as matcha, hot chocolates, and smoothies in the morning or midday is ideal.
Moreover, when taking traditional herbs, you should drink them as herb tea or mix the herb tinctures with water.
You can also cook with adaptogens, but it’s advised that heating them too high can destroy some of their safety properties.
Also, try not to incorporate more than one or two adaptogenic at a time. You don’t want to overload your system with too many adaptogens as they may counteract each other (more on that below).
Can you take adaptogens at night?
Since adaptogens allow the body to properly control the tension that is felt within the body by retaining healthy cortisol levels… Adaptogens function in both directions, as they facilitate both relaxation and restful sleep in the evening and can also improve energy and stamina.
So depending on what adaptogen you use, they are suitable to take in the morning before a workout or as a bedtime tea.
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Why are adaptogens a good alternative to coffee?
Adaptogens provide caffeine-like relief without the jitters.
There is also no caffeine (but you’re going to get the same boost in energy), and that’s vital for anyone who has adrenal fatigue.
However, the bizarre thing regarding adaptogens is that they also have a dual effect. They can calm you down if you have anxiety or depression while at the same time giving you energy when you need it.
Researchers still don’t know how adaptogens do this and still can’t find a way to duplicate the same results in conventional medicine.
How to take adaptogens and why you should cycle them!
The easiest approach to using and taking adaptogens for the first time is to consider the conditions of the day and/or week.
Select which adaptogen to use according to the specific stress or tension experienced, follow the directions, and see how you feel.
Regardless of how one copes with emotional tension, one should use a certain adaptogen powder that matches the symptoms when one needs it most.
This is where listening to the body comes into play when incorporating adaptogens into your lifestyle.
So many forms of adaptogens have particular advantages, and you have to listen to what your body is saying to you and go from there.
However, once you do recognize what is happening to your nervous system, you will soon know what adaptogens to use as time goes by.
Look at these four suggested adaptogens below to see what they can do for your health and nervous system!
Four Adaptogens For Anxiety + Depression
1. Astragalus.
This adaptogenic is a brain fog banisher!
It features Rhodiola, Maca & Astragalus. This combination of the three helps awaken the body and helps protect against the effects of physical, mental, and emotional stress.
You can also use Astragalus to treat colds, upper respiratory tract infections, and most allergies, increasing general stress resistance and improving adrenal function.
You can get Astragalus from Mood Beli here.
2. Ashwagandha.
Ashwagandha is an ancient herb used in Indian healing ceremonies for thousands of years. The powder form that is highly recommended when taking Ashwagandha is Moon Juice.
All adaptogens relieve stress, but ashwagandha is the holy grail of the stress-relieving adaptogen.
It can significantly reduce depression, anxiety, and insomnia and is shown to reduce stress by 44% by naturally reducing cortisol levels.
3. Cordyceps.
This adaptogen, better known as the super mushroom, is traditionally used to help the body handle stress and support a healthy immune system plus, as a bonus, it aids the vascular system to sustain both energy and stamina.
Cordyceps also helps to improve energy, appetite, stamina, libido, endurance, and sleeping patterns.
4. Reishi.
Reishi is a mushroom that earned its name as the queen of mushrooms because it helps reduce stress and helps you get a better night’s sleep!
Studies have also shown that Reishi extends longevity by boosting immune functions and has an anti-tumor effect.
It also promotes liver cell regeneration, and some studies showed that it reversed some chemically induced liver damage caused by alcohol.
There you have it. Adaptogens are a fantastic tool to increase overall health and help balance stress and hormones. I hope you try them and let me know how it goes for you.
Thanks for reading!
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*Disclaimer: As with any herbal supplements and health-related advice, always check with your healthcare provider before consuming them or taking the advice you read online!
Author: Everything Abode
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Saturday 28th of August 2021
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Wellness Supplements
Tuesday 3rd of August 2021
I love when you say- “They are simply adaptogens for themselves, as they experience a lot of tension in their lives”. This is so true. The qualities of adaptogens still remain unmatched. I myself use them and have replaced my ordinary meds with them. With no side effects, these wellness supplements can change your world. Trust me, these are magic bullets.