Can ancient herbs cure modern stress?
From turmeric to maca, ancient ‘adaptogens’ are being hailed as the new cure for the ills of modern life. Eleanor Steafel explains
Stress is an unavoidable symptom of modern life. We all suffer from it – many of us are even being signed off sick from work because of it – and we probably all talk about it far too much. But what is the best way to manage it? The theories are infinite, ranging from practising regular meditation, to taking a bracing outdoor swim every morning, to cutting out food groups and enrolling in a course of CBT (cognitive behaviour therapy). Rather than prescribe drugs or major lifestyle changes for patients suffering from burnout, many experts are now turning to ancient natural resources to treat stress and anxiety, including a newly re-discovered group of wonder herbs called adaptogens.
“Bespoke herbs for the body” – as one nutritionist I spoke to describes them – adaptogens are the stressbeating plant extracts which have long been used in ancient Chinese and ayurvedic medicine, and are now being hailed as the new natural cure for the symptoms of modern living. Found mainly in the roots of certain plants (turmeric is one of the more mainstream roots recognised 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, bringing it up or down depending on whether the adrenal gland is overproducing or underproducing it. This means they can help balance the body’s response to stress, and in doing so allow you to sleep better, become more energised 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.
“They affect the adrenal pathways – the stress response pathways – but they will adapt to whatever you are struggling with, so 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.”
Thanks to the clean eating brigade, many are understandably dismissive of health foods and supplements – suspecting the latest bandwagon to roll our way of relying on flash branding and savvy marketing rather than solid science.
However, some experts feel adaptogens (in spite of their suspiciously faddy-sounding name) may have real staying power.
Pharmaceuticals science journal has reported that a number of clinical trials have demonstrated that adaptogens can exert a novel antifatigue effect – increasing mental attention, endurance and work capacity against a background of stress.
The journal also notes that recent pharmacological studies of a number of adaptogens have provided a rationale for these effects at a molecular level.
Many adaptogens can be found in their plant form and are readily available in supermarkets and greengrocers, and taking them does not require you to also adhere to a strict diet or exercise regime. 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 100per 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.
“The way we are living today, everybody is highly stressed all the time. We could probably all benefit from taking adaptogens, even if we don’t think of ourselves as struggling,” she adds, having 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 because I was so run down and depleted 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.”
NHS guidelines suggest that while products are often bought by consumers who believe they will experience both physical benefits and a positive effect on cognitive performance and well-being, some adaptogens may not be suitable for people with certain conditions, so it is always best to consult your GP first.
A recent systematic review by the Cochrane Collaboration has assessed
the effects of an adaptogen like ginseng supplements (containing ginseng or active agents of the Panax genus) and while it concluded that although it “appears to have some beneficial effects on cognition, behaviour and quality of life” it also reported “more rigorously designed studies are needed for conclusive proof of effectiveness”.
However, adaptogen-rich blended powders are becoming more widely available. Ginseng and turmeric, Brandman says, are considered as gateway adaptogens in that they are easy enough to find and can be infused in hot water or blended into smoothies easily.
Less simple to track down are some of the other adaptogens such as ashwaganda (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)