Did you know that the global adaptogenic market is expected to reach USD 16.25 billion in value by 2028?
Needless to say, when it comes to contemporary health and wellbeing, “adaptogens” are becoming more popular. From supplements and tonics to coffee, hot chocolate, and juice bars, a variety of different adaptogenic herbs are now available on the market.
But, if this is the first time you’ve heard about them, no worries. We’ve got your back. Keep on reading for our full breakdown of everything you need to know before purchasing adaptogenic herbs or even adaptogenic tea.
What Are Adaptogens?
According to traditional medicine, adaptogens may assist the body’s ability to cope with both physical and mental stress. Anti-aging benefits are also claimed for adaptogens. Adaptogens have been employed in Ayurvedic medicine for hundreds of years.
Adaptogens, however, are becoming more widely available in the western world nowadays.
The bitter taste of certain adaptogenic plants makes them unappetizing as food. Therefore, most people crush them into powder and take them as a supplement (in the form of a pill), blended into smoothies, teas, or herbal beverages. You can find them incorporated into tinctures (herbal supplements dissolved in alcohol and ingested in a liquid form).
Chemical effects, such as stimulating hormone production or changing stress chemicals, may be possible in a laboratory environment. According to some experts, estrogen levels may be increased or decreased in various biochemical environments.
According to proponents of adaptogens, the body as a whole (including the brain and immune system) might benefit from the chemical activities of these supplements.
Adaptogenic Herbs and the Stress Response
The term “adaptogen” encompasses a wide range of substances that purport to boost the body’s ability to cope with stress. Although they do not directly affect a person’s perception of stress, researchers think that they can affect the body’s physical response to stress.
One of the most common symptoms of stress is anxiety, which is tied to the endocrine and immunological systems. The body’s stress hormones get released as a consequence of the release of stress hormones from the external environment. Also, it can happen due to a chemical or biological agent.
The release of stress hormones may lead to an increase in heart rate and blood pressure, among other things. The fight-or-flight reaction refers to this quick influx of hormones.
Kinds of Adaptogenic Herbs
There are a wide variety of adaptogens, each of which is thought to have a distinct effect. However, only a small number of clinical trials have been conducted to demonstrate the safety and efficacy of these natural supplements.
Adaptogens comprise a wide variety of herbs and supplements that have been shown to have beneficial effects on the human body. These encompass the following herbs.
- Ashwagandha
- Bacopa Monnieri
- Holy basil
- Siberian ginseng
- Astragalus root
- Reishi
- Maca
- Licorice
- Rhodiola Rosea
- Wild yam
- Cordyceps
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How to Safely Integrate Adaptogens in Your Diet
It is possible to include adaptogens into many of your favorite dishes if you cook most of your meals at home. It’s possible to get adaptogen supplements in the form of tablets or liquid extracts in addition to teas.
To ensure that you’re swallowing a safe substance, conduct your homework before purchasing. Identify whether brands utilize third-party testing and find out if they use verified GMP (good manufacturing procedures) or where the herbs come from.
ConsumerLab.com is a good paid resource for information, but you may also phone a corporation directly to get answers to your queries. Natural supplement shop employees may also be able to give useful advice.
If you’re new to herbs, start with one and work your way up. This way, you can see how each one affects you before making a decision on whether or not to try anything else.
Remember that adaptogens are not a fast fix for worry or exhaustion. To put it another way, they aid in the development of your body’s ability to withstand stress.
Taking adaptogens regularly for many weeks at a time is the recommended method of using them. Additionally, they’re designed to be discontinued for a week or two so that your body has time to reacclimate.
Supplements and Adaptogens for Stress
Taking adaptogens in the form of supplement capsules is perhaps the simplest method of doing so. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations don’t cover the supplement sector, which means that the products on store shelves might vary greatly in quality. Certain herbs may be used together to give a less than ideal result.
Check for heavy metals in supplements while investigating supplement providers. These are substances you do not want to consume.
Researchers detected heavy metals including cadmium, lead, and arsenic in certain dietary supplements that exceed the recommended daily dosage, which may lead to hazardous exposure in the human body.
Potential Side Effects
All types of herbal supplements may interact with other supplements, OTC medicines, or prescription pharmaceuticals. Before using adaptogens, be sure to contact your doctor just to be cautious.
In spite of the fact that certain adaptogens are touted as beneficial to health, using them for an extended period of time or in excessive amounts might have negative side effects.
Long-term researchers haven’t confirmed the safety of certain adaptogens over time. But, they also haven’t found concrete negative effects. Some adaptogens cause stomach trouble in some individuals, while others cause allergic reactions in others.
Adaptogenic Mushrooms and Herbs: Understanding the Nuances
Sure, it seems like there’s a new trend in the holistic medicine spaces every month or so. Yet, adaptogenic herbs come with thousands of years of history and human use.
We hope that our guide has shed some light on what adaptogenic herbs are all about, and helped you figure out whether you’re interested in using them. And, if you liked reading our article, then you’ll want to check out our health and lifestyle sections for our other explainers and breakdowns.
