As psychotropic plants become legalised all over the world and a more common topic of conversation, we start to see a societal increased interest in natural medicines and alternative healing solutions to physical and mental health.
These alternative healing solutions are rooted in a more holistic and nature-first approach to maintaining health and wellness within the mind, body and soul complex, and work by aiding in the body’s natural regenerative and self-healing mechanisms.
Using plants as medicines is a very ancient practice that has been around for thousands of years, and was the main source of external supportive healing measures taken by our ancestors to aid survival, enhance their performance and help them commune with nature and themselves, on a deeper spiritual level. This connection between humans and plants originated with the beginning of life of earth when man had to be in deep reliance on his environment for the shelter, oxygen, food and medicine needed for survival. Overtime, through repeated use, humans learnt to categorise plant materials and use oral tradition to share the wisdom & knowledge about certain healing herbs that could cure illness & relieve pain. Eventually this lead to the well known traditional medical systems that formed the basis for modern medicine, such as Ayurveda & Chinese Medicine.
Today, according to WHO (World Health Organization), 70% of the population relies on plants for their primary healthcare. From about 250 000 species of plants across the globe, only 17% of plants have been academically studied & trialed for their potential use as medicine, and because of the large variety in chemical and biological diversity, there is still a large percentage of unknown potential within the plant and herbal medicines industry, that could provide potentially unlimited renewable sources for the treatment & prevention of human diseases & illnesses.
What Are Herbal Tinctures?
Tinctures are highly concentrated herbal extracts made by soaking the dried mass of a medicinal plant in a liquid solvent such as ethanol alcohol. This combination allows for a greater part of the whole plant to be extracted and also preserves the medicine for much longer use, as the alcohol acts as a natural preservative.
The parts of medicinal plants that may be used are different types of seeds, root, leaf, fruit, skin, flowers or even the whole plant. The active ingredients in most parts of the plant has direct or indirect therapeutic effects on the human mind and body.
What Are Adaptogens?
Adaptogens are a class of non-toxic phytochemical compounds, from plants and fungi, that work on helping the body adapt & heal from adverse conditions & illnesses, as a result of physical or environmental stress. Adaptogens work by affecting body tissues & organs to reduce stress, inflammation and fatigue and restore the body’s natural balance of homeostasis, when the body may be under stress or pressure. Adaptogens work mainly within the endocrine, neurological and immune systems of the body.
The definition for adaptogenic compounds, relies one three sets of criteria:
They must be non-specific and help the body heal from various adverse conditions
They must counteract the physical impact of stress on the body
They must not harm the usual working of the body
These compounds are non-specific which means that they have a general application & can assist the body in healing from many different impacts, as the compounds work on a variety of receptors & organs, rather than targeting specific needs or areas of the body. In this way they can be used for a vast range of health needs & requirements as general supportive aids.
What Are Adaptogens Used For?
Adaptogens are used to support the body and treat any adverse symptoms that may arise when the body has been under physical and/or mental stress for a short or prolonged period of time. Some may also boost immunity and overall well-being.
Research shows rear adaptogens can combat fatigue, enhance mental performance, ease depression and anxiety. Basically they are used to help the body adapt and optimise its functioning and performance and boost overall health and vitality.
Research shows that adaptogens have proven useful to help people with:
Mental and physical fatigue as a result of stress
Pain and inflammation due to arthritis
Fibromyalgia
Sleep problems
Hormonal imbalances
Nervous system regulation & healing
Some studies show that certain adaptogens may even have anticancer properties, although more research is needed to conclude these findings.
Understanding The Stress response
Stress is a chemical & hormonal response within the body, to an internal or external circumstance that is perceived as dangerous by the body and psyche. The stress response, also known as the fight, flight or freeze response, is supposed to be short-lived in order to give your body enough energy to get away from the danger, and from then which it would then subside.
Unfortunately, within our modern world our stress responses can often play out for prolonged periods of time because we are constantly being bombarded by overstimulation of the senses meaning that our baseline levels of stress, are much higher than those of our ancestors and so we end up with prolonged stress responses playing out and causing damage to our overall health & nervous system.
When you body goes into a stress response, the sympathetic nervous system gets activated which starts a domino affect of responses within the body, some being physical, some being chemical based responses, such as the release of adrenaline & cortisol. A process called “general adaptation syndrome” gets triggered.
This is a three stage response consisting of:
Stage 1: Alarm - this is when the sympathetic nervous system is activated, causing your body to go into defence mode. This SOS results in the manifestation of the fight, flight or freeze response.
Stage 2: Resistance - this is when your body begins to repair itself and normalise heart rate, blood pressure, etc. After the initial shock of a stressful event, your body enters this recovery phase but remains on high alert for a while.
Stage 3: Exhaustion - this is when activation in the first two stages continues over time, causing a breakdown in the balance within your body. This is when certain diseases, such as diabetes or heart disease, may begin.
How Does Stress Impact Your Physical Health?
Many physical and chemical responses take place once your body starts to go into a stress response, that impact your cardiovascular, muscular and nervous systems.
Your brain releases a hormone that triggers your body’s fight-or-flight response, producing adrenaline and secreting cortisol.
Cortisol is a steroid, which can weaken your immune system and the healing process, which increases bone loss, and decreases energy levels.
Adrenaline increases your heart rate, breathing and blood pressure. It also causes fat tissue to break down and increases lactic acid in your muscles. With stimulation and increased adrenaline, your liver releases sugar into the bloodstream for energy.
The stimulation of your central nervous system and sympathetic nervous system causes salt retention, the elevation of sugar in your bloodstream, increased risk of blood clots, and can even lead to damage to your heart and kidneys.
With all this stress on the body, your heart has to work a lot harder, which can cause it to become less effective and less efficient. Less blood will travel to your vital organs, which can limit their ability to function properly. Prolonged stress can also increase your risk of disease and contribute to pre-existing conditions while also weakening your immune system.
How Do Adaptogens Support Stress?
Adaptogens work to restore balance and therefore homeostasis within the body, by working directly on the HPA-Axis (Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal Axis) which is a “neuroendocrine mechanism” that regulates the stress response in the body, and has control over the physiological processes, such as metabolism, immune responses, and the autonomic nervous system.
When it comes to the stress response, adaptogens help prolong the second stage of resistance via a stimulating effect that prevents the third stage of exhaustion. Resistance is the body’s optimal stage within the stress response as the body and internal systems are protected from the damage that the third stage of exhaustion causes to the body.
Using adaptogens can help manage stress in the short term, but it may also help reduce the risk of long-term complications of persistent stress
Which Adaptogens Are Best Suited For You?
Every adaptogen has a unique and different effect on the body, so the choice of which one you should be taking is dependent on the desired outcomes. Ashwagandha, for example, can both energise and relax you.
Adaptogen | Possible Benefit | Possible Side Effects |
American Ginseng (Panax quinquefolius) | may boost memory, reaction time, calmness, and immune system | may interact with blood thinners |
Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) | may reduce stress and anxiety | may cause stomach upset; not safe in pregnancy |
Astragalus (Astragalus membranaceus) | may combat fatigue | may interact with drugs that affect the immune system |
Cordyceps (Cordyceps militaris) | may boost stamina | may cause dry mouth, nausea, abdominal distension, throat discomfort, headache, diarrhea, allergic reactions; may cause lead poisoning; not safe for people with RA, multiple sclerosis, or systemic lupus erythematosus (lupus) |
Goji Berry (Lycium barbarum) | may boost energy, physical and mental performance, calmness, sense of well-being, can improve sleep | may cause allergic reaction |
Eleuthero Root (Eleutherococcus senticosus) | may improve focus and stave off mental fatigue | may cause upset stomach, headache |
Jiaogulan (Gynostemma pentaphyllum) | may reduce stress and boost endurance | no side effects recorded as yet |
Licorice Root (Glycyrrhiza glabra) | may reduce oxidative stress | may cause high blood pressure, reduced potassium, possibly unsafe for people with kidney disease or cardiovascular problems; not suitable during pregnancy |
Rhodiola rosea (R. rosea) | may starve off physical and mental fatigue | may cause dizziness, dry mouth or excess salivation |
Schisandra Berry / Magnolia Berry (Schisandra chinensis) | may boost endurance, mental performance, and working capacity | may cause restlessness, sleep problems, breathing difficulty |
Tulsi / holy basil(Ocimum sanctum) | may reduce physical and mental stress, stress-related anxiety, and depression and improve memory and thinking | likely safe for most people, but more research is needed |
Turmeric (Curcuma longa) | may reduce depression | likely safe in small amounts |
Why Do We Need To Incorporate Adaptogenic Herbs Into Our Lifestyle?
With the ever increasing demands of modern life, the average human is spending more time stressed out than ever before, which is having long lasting and damaging affects on our physical, mental, emotional and spiritual health. It is very easy to become overwhelmed in this hyper stimulating world and as such we are seeing mental health issues becoming much more prevalent in children, teens and young adults. Adaptogens could be the missing piece of the puzzle in this epidemic of stress. They could be the supportive allies we all need to help our bodies and minds more easily adapt to the fast-paced changing world around us, so that we can be more resilient and take better care of ourselves.
Some studies suggest that adaptogens are very helpful in decreasing symptoms of fatigue and exhaustion and may work best when used alongside other therapies for people with chronic and acute medical conditions.
Where can I purchase Herbal/Adaptogenic Tinctures?
If you're based in South Africa, the most trustworthy & sustainable suppliers are Aether Herbalist Apothecary. You can buy via their website: https://aetherapothecary.com
References:
Hovhannisyan A, et al. (2015). Efficacy of adaptogenic supplements on adapting to stress: A randomized, controlled trail. Available at: doi.org/10.4172/2324-9080.1000205
Efferth, T, et al. (2012). Medicinal & Aromatic Plants The International Open Access Medicinal & Aromatic Plants Editor-in-Chief Executive Editors Medicinal & Aromatic Plants Medicinal Plants Studies: Histor… Available at: http://dx.doi.org/10.4172/2167-0412.1000e133
Brusie, C. (2017). Adaptogenic Herbs: Benefits and Effectiveness. [online] Healthline. Available at: https://www.healthline.com/health/adaptogenic-herbs#effectiveness
Panossian, A. ans Wikman, G. (2010). Effects of Adaptogens on the Central Nervous System and the Molecular Mechanisms Associated with Their Stress – Protective Activity. Pharmaceuticals, [online] 3(1), pp .188-224. Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3991026/.
Time. (n.d.). What Are Adaptogens and Why Are People Taking Them?. [online] Available at: https://time.com/5025278/adaptogens-herbs-stress-anxiety/
Anne, R (2022) What are adaptogens? And how do they work? [online] Available at: https://aetherapothecary.com/blogs/our-wisdom-well/what-are-adaptogens-and-how-do-they-work
Center for Integrated Health Care (2013) The Stress Response and How it Affects You https://www.mirecc.va.gov/cih-visn2/Documents/Patient_Education_Handouts/Stress_Response_and_How_It_Can_Affect_You_Version_3.pdf
Wolting, N. (2020) How Do You Respond to Stress? https://www.marathon-health.com/blog/how-do-you-respond-to-stress/