{"id":5794,"date":"2021-02-08T16:21:47","date_gmt":"2021-02-08T15:21:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/beautytherapy.absolution-cosmetics.com\/?p=5794"},"modified":"2024-12-09T08:37:52","modified_gmt":"2024-12-09T07:37:52","slug":"intro-adaptogens","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/beautytherapy.absolution-cosmetics.com\/en\/wellness\/intro-adaptogens\/","title":{"rendered":"An introduction to adaptogens"},"content":{"rendered":"
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These days the word stress is on everyone’s lips, the world in which we live is literally saturated with it, it has become the number one enemy of our well-being and contributes to maybe 75% of current illnesses.<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n <\/section>\n\n

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None of us are immune to the stress of our modern life, with a backdrop of an urban environment, the constant noises of technology, the never ending to do list, the endless commitments and the way too short vacations. These psychological stressors associated with environmental stressors we are exposed to, such as pollution, chemicals, heavy metals, pesticides, cause increased oxidative damage in our bodies. In other words, our bodies are damaged by our constant state of stress.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n <\/section>\n\n

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To properly understand what are adaptogens,<\/strong> we first need to deepen our knowledge on what is stress. The notion of stress was introduced by the endocrinologist Hans Selye in 1925. He created the word stress to describe a sudden change in a person’s habits, capable of triggering an upheaval in their psychic and even somatic structure<\/strong>. He depicts an endocrine reaction syndrome with three consecutive phases: the “alarm phase”<\/em>, the “reaction phase”<\/em>, the “exhaustion phase”.<\/em><\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n <\/section>\n\n

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Stress can be considered as the stimulus that disrupt the homeostasis of our body. Homeostasis is the state of internal balance in our body, we are in this state when all of our physiological systems are in dynamic equilibrium which leads to optimal functioning.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n <\/section>\n\n

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What are adaptogens?<\/strong> <\/strong>  <\/h2>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n <\/section>\n\n
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Adaptogens form a very special class of medicinal herbs that come from various parts of the world, used for centuries, especially in traditional Chinese medicine and Ayurveda, for their profound healing capacities.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n <\/section>\n\n

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Maybe you are already familiar with some of the popular ones and even consume some them: licorice, ginseng, goji berries, maca; some herbalists even consider rosemary and sage as potentially adaptogens.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n <\/section>\n\n

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Ginseng<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n <\/section>\n\n
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In 1947 Dr. Nicola\u00ef Lazarev defined an adaptogen as an agent that allows the body to counter adverse physical, chemical or biological stressors<\/strong> by raising nonspecific resistance towards such stress, allowing the organism to adapt to the stressful circumstances. At the end of the 60s, Dr. I. Breckhman and I. Dardymov formally gave adaptogens a functional definition, according to three specific criteria: <\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n <\/section>\n\n

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  1. An adaptogen is non-toxic<\/strong> to the recipient at normal therapeutic doses.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. An adaptogen produces a non-specific response<\/strong> in the bod, an increase in the power of resistance against multiple stressors including physical, chemical or biological agents. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. An adaptogen has normalizing effect on the body<\/strong>, helping to restore normal physiological function that has been altered by the stressor.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n <\/section>\n\n
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    These herbs allow the body to better adapt to stressors in order to avoid damages.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n <\/section>\n\n

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    They work “nonspecifically”, which means they target multiple functions of the body. The inherent intelligence of adaptogens also works by providing our body with what it particularly needs at a time. For example, if we are tired, adaptogens give us energy; if we are anxious, they have the ability to calm us. This is due to the impact that these plants have on our endocrine system, the HPA axis, which is made up of the hypothalamus, pituitary glands and adrenal glands. The HPA axis connects the central nervous and endocrine systems, it controls stress responses.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n <\/section>\n\n

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    When a stressor occurs in our brain, the hypothalamus is activated. It acts as the command center of the stress response and signals through the sympathetic nervous system (SNS), pituitary glands and adrenal glands to start the production of the stress hormones, adrenaline and cortisol. A cascade of hormones in the body activates important physiological changes that act to keep the body alert, including increasing heart rate and blood pressure, oxygen intake and blood sugar levels, while suppressing the immune system, digestive system and reproductive system so that our body is ready to face stress \/ danger (the famous fight-flight response).<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n <\/section>\n\n

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    The system will self-regulate: when cortisol levels get high enough it signals to the brain to stop the response and the hormone levels will return to normal, restoring homeostasis. The heart rate is back to normal, the feeling of stress subsides, the body calms down and regains its normal balance.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n <\/section>\n\n

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    But what if that sense of stress and urgency doesn’t go away?<\/strong> What if our body and mind are constantly in this alert phase, ready to face the next threat and release all of the stress hormones including adrenaline and cortisol? Long-term activation of the stress response system and overexposure to these types of hormones can disrupt almost all of our body\u2019s processes, causing physical and mental exhaustion and leading to health problems. This results in chronic fatigue, weight gain, digestive problems, inflammation, a declining immune system, hormonal imbalances but also more serious pathologies.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n <\/section>\n\n

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    Adaptogens will help reduce negative reactions during the alarm phase and allow us to stay in the resistance phase longer, via a stimulating effect that reduces or eliminates the exhaustion phase. Adaptogens will allow our body to adapt to stress so that it can resist its harmful effects. Adaptogens will strengthen the functioning of each of the body’s systems to promote an optimal response to stress, they will restore the natural balance (homeostasis) and help the proper functioning of the HPA axis. Adaptogens will increase the secretion of the adrenal glands, preventing excessive production of cortisol and adrenal fatigue.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n <\/section>\n\n

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    Adaptogens can help regulate endocrine, nervous system, immune, digestive and cardiovascular function. This will therefore help increase stamina, energy, support and strengthen the immune system, and improve our ability to withstand physical and emotional stress, as well as increase recovery.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n <\/section>\n\n

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    Some expert herbalists explain that based on the initial definition of adaptogens and the number of scientific studies, there are two categories of adaptogens. Primary adaptogens<\/strong>,that have been most extensively researched since the creation of the term adaptogens. Secondary adaptogens<\/strong> which have some characteristics of adaptogens (established by Dr I. Brekhman), but there has not been sufficient research to classify them as primary or official adaptogens. They can, however, enhance and synergize the effects of primary adaptogens.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n <\/section>\n\n

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    There are 9 primary adaptogens: ginseng, ashwagandha, licorice, cordyceps, eleuthero, tulsi (holy basil), rhodiola, schisandra and shilajit.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n <\/section>\n\n

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    The secondary adaptogens are: maca, mucuna, reishi, shatavari, astragalus, goji berry, amla, codonopsis (dang shen), bacopa (brahmi), he shou wu, jiaogulan (Gynostemma pentaphyllum)\u2026 in this category we also find many medicinal mushrooms such as: lion’s mane, chaga, maitake, turkey tail\u2026 and other herbs\u2026<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n <\/section>\n\n

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