HEALING HERBS
Adaptogens may boost your energy or calm you down by naturally regulating cortisol
Stress is an unavoidable symptom of modern life.
But what’s the best way to manage it? Practising meditation, taking a swim every morning, cutting out food groups and enrolling in a course of CBT (cognitive behaviour therapy)?
Many experts are now turning to a newly rediscovered group of wonder herbs called adaptogens.
Found mainly in the roots of certain plants (turmeric is one of the more mainstream roots recognized as being adaptogenic), they get their name for their “adaptable” nature.
The herbs are said to work by naturally regulating the body’s release of the stress hormone cortisol. This means they can help balance the body ’s response to stress, and in doing so allow you to sleep better, become more energized in the mornings and regulate your mood.
Nutritional therapist Jodie Brandman explains: “Adaptogens help your body adapt to difficult periods of your life and environmental stresses. They bring your body back into balance.
“If your energy is really up and you’re struggling to sleep and are really anxious, they can help ground you and bring you back down. If you’re low in spirits and have poor energy, they can bring you up.”
Many people are understandably dismissive of health foods and supplements — suspecting the latest bandwagon as relying on savvy marketing rather than solid science.
However, some experts feel adaptogens may have real staying power.
Pharmaceuticals science journal has reported that a number of clinical trials have demonstrated that adaptogens can exert a novel anti-fatigue effect — increasing mental attention, endurance and work capacity during stress.
Many adaptogens can be found in their plant form and are readily available in supermarkets. In many cases, taking them does not require you to adhere to a strict diet or exercise regimen. More obscure sources can be found in the form of supplements in most health food stores.
“They’ve been used for thousands of years and are all 100 per cent natural, and because they’re biodegradable they go straight into your system and make you feel a lot better really quickly,” says Naomi Buff, the founder of Naomi’s Kitchen, which sells adaptogen superfood blends that you can add to teas and smoothies.
She discovered the benefits of adaptogens herself after suffering terribly from adrenal fatigue.
“I could barely get out of bed to look after my two children. I saw nutritionists and specialists who prescribed lots of supplements. But my digestive system wasn’t working well, either, so I was taking the supplements and they weren’t working. I began reading about adaptogens and how they could give you a natural energy boost and help ease anxiety.
“I started taking them, stirring powder into tea in the evenings before bed to help me sleep, and taking another as a tincture in the morning to wake me up. Slowly, I began to build up my energy levels again.”
Some adaptogens may not be suitable for people with certain conditions, so it’s always best to consult your doctor first.
Adaptogen-rich blended powders are becoming more widely available. Ginseng and turmeric are easy to find and can be infused in hot water or blended into smoothies easily.
Less simple to track down are adaptogens such as ashwagandha (a popular herb in Ayurvedic medicine thought to have a soothing effect), maca (a root similar to ginger that increases energy, strength and libido) or cordyceps (an energyboosting mushroom traditionally grown in China on the bodies of caterpillars — though it’s now cultured in a lab).