Jun 05
Fascinating article about the role of stress in illness and the role of adaptogens in helping you handle stress:
“For a plant to be called a true adaptogen, it must conform to the following properties:
- The herb should cause no harm and place no additional stress on the body.
- The herb should help the body adapt to many and varied environmental and psychological stresses.
- The herb must have a nonspecific action on the body, supporting all the major systems, such as the nervous system, hormonal system and immune system.
- It should regulate the functions of the body (such as the blood sugar); if they are too high, an adaptogen will lower it and vice-verse.
- An adaptogen is protective. It raises an individual’s resistance to physical, chemical or biological stress.”
This article concludes that:
“
- Adaptogens make the stress response less damaging
- They help maintain homeostasis in the face of stress by regulating the body’s adaptive reactions
- Adaptogens reduce most signs of the alarm stage of the stress response, and delay or promote avoidance of the exhaustion stage
- The use of adaptogens eliminates or significantly decreases the classical signs of the prolonged stress reaction described by Hans Selye as the stress triad
- Adaptogens help the body utilise fuel more efficiently, with fewer toxic or waste byproducts (like lactic acid), which can contribute to fatigue and reduced function
- Efficient use of energy means greater reserves are more readily available when needed for performing difficult tasks.
Ginseng is a well-known adaptogen, and DAAN carries a wide variety of it. We also have some special formaulations designed to help your body with overcome the potentially debilitating consequences of stress.
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