Stress and Adaptogens
As the female founder of a wellness brand and also someone who has ADHD, I’ve invested a lot of time and energy looking for ways to manage stress. Adaptogens have been life-changing for me and I wanted to share what I’ve learned about how they help us to manage life’s ups and downs.
SO, WHAT EXACTLY IS STRESS?
At the most basic level, stress is a system that mobilises other systems in the body to take action. When your stress response is triggered by a stressor, it'll signal to specific areas of your body the need to adjust in response.
It's important to note that stress isn’t all bad, a little bit can be good and necessary. For example, it's been an essential purpose for human survival, especially if we think back to our ancestors who often faced real physical threats. However, problems arise when we experience acute (intense) or chronic (long-term) stress, which can be harmful to both our physical and mental health.
WHAT IS A STRESSOR?
A stressor is any agent or event that threatens the body's normal homeostasis or balance. A stressor can be biological, chemical, environmental, physical, psychological, nutritional, or spiritual. Stressors vary hugely, and so too does the stress response triggered.
"For every human illness, somewhere in the world there exists a plant which is the cure" – Rudolf Steiner
WHAT ARE ADAPTOGENS, AND HOW CAN THEY HELP WITH STRESS?
Adaptogens are remarkable plants that help the body adapt to stress and restore balance. They increase the body's resistance and provide a defence response to acute or chronic stress.
The knowledge and use of these herbs and mushrooms (we now know as adaptogens) date back thousands of years to India and China. Featured within many ancient texts, adaptogens have been used to help maintain and restore health, improve stamina and vigour.
Some Chinese herbs were considered so precious that they were reserved for use by the Emperor and his family alone. Russian research into adaptogens in the 1950s and 1960s concluded that they enhanced the body's ability to handle all types of stressors.
ADAPTOGENIC PLANTS ARE SURVIVORS
Many adaptogens have adapted to grow in harsh environments, such as high altitudes, desert-like conditions or extreme cold. The chemical compounds they carry to support them in those harsh conditions work in our bodies to help build resistance to stress and many other ailments.
Some of our favourite adaptogens are ashwagandha, rhodiola, holy basil, ginseng, lion's mane, cordyceps, reishi, and chaga. We also use a herb that deserves the status of 'adaptogen' but has yet to have it: stinging nettle seed.
About The Herbtender
Adaptogens are regaining their appropriate place in modern healthcare, and rightly so. At The Herbtender we have translated the ancient wisdom and knowledge into contemporary products that deal with modern day issues. Our expertly-crafted supplements help with sleep, anxiety, energy, focus, physical performance, fatigue and immunity. They're a simple and natural way to adapt to the stresses of modern living, enabling you to live a healthier, calmer and more focused life.
Laura’s passion for natural wellness started when a ‘later in life’ diagnosis of ADHD led to a wellness journey of discovery. Alongside her husband, Mark, and Medical Herbalist, Schia, they founded The Herbtender in 2020.
Find The Herbtender on Instagram @theherbtender
Website: www.the-herbtender.com