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Adaptogens: Nature's Secret Weapon Against Stress

Balancing the demands of shopping, parties, family obligations, and house guests may contribute to increased tension. People may develop stress responses, such as: headaches, excessive drinking, over-eating, and difficulty sleeping. Unfortunately this stress weakens our immune system during the cold and flu season making us even more susceptible to infections.

Nature has provided us with a class of herbs known as "adaptogens" for stress. The term was defined in the 1950's by Russian scientists who were commissioned by the government to find a substance that would help the soldiers overcome fatigue and improve their performance on the battlefield. By definition, adaptogens are substances that will: 1) show some nonspecific effect, such as increasing physical resistance to stress; 2) have a normalizing effect on a pathological condition regardless of the nature of that condition and 3) be safe to use, not disturbing normal body functions. This is in contrast to conventional allopathic drugs that exert a specific action.

Examples of adaptogens include eleuthero (Eleutherococcus senticosus), rhodiola (Rhodiola rosea) and ashwagandha (Withania somnifera), ginseng (Panax spp.), licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra), cordyceps (Cordyceps sinensis) and holy basil (Ocimum sanctum).

 

This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. The Contraindications and Potential Drug Interactions information provided on this website is not intended to be all-inclusive. A health care professional should be consulted regarding the use of herbal products. Always keep your Doctor or other healthcare professional informed about the herbal and other dietary supplement products that you are taking.