Adaptogens: Nature’s Hug for Stress
Stress. It’s a word we don’t want to hear but are all too familiar with. Unfortunately, we are all prone to it. Running around, checking off our to-do lists and sucking down caffeine to get us through the days. We grind through the week, but find ways by the end of it all to destress. Meditate, yoga, pray. Do nothing. What’s that? Most of us don’t even know how to relax. And sometimes it seems impossible to do.
But the toll stress has on our bodies is dangerous. It impacts our nervous system, and it’s not in a good way. When our nervous system is not in check, we develop symptoms like frazzled exhausted nerves, anxiety, dizziness, heart palpitations, weakness, sexual disfunction, hormonal imbalance, digestion issues, and depression. It can pretty much mess up all of our body systems. You may do everything else right to keep your health in check, but if chronic stress is a part of our life we lose.
Thankfully there are so many plant allies to help you through the daily struggle. These magic herbs are called Adaptogens. They are natures hug for stress. They’ve been used for thousands of years in Ayurvedic medicine and Traditional Chinese Medicine to help improve your life and longevity. They take care of your adrenals, which is a main pathway into your body that is used to cope with stress. The body pumps out adrenaline and cortisol hormones to help with the increase in heart rate, blood moving into muscle groups to help you run, and the shutting down of your digestive system.
When your body is in this state of fight or flight it uses up a ton of nutrients and free radicals, which takes up all your energy, leaving you tired and with harmed cells. And what helps neutralize the free radicals and balance the adrenals? Adaptogens. The word adapt is in the word, literally meaning it helps us adapt to stress.
They help our nervous and immune system, endoctrine glands, and help regulate and enhance our hormones. So because we are all prone to it daily, it’s wise to routinely eat and or drink them up. Here are some of my favorite adaptogenic herbs and why I love them.
Oat Tops
Oats are a neutral, moistening, and nourishing herb. It helps mental and physical exhaustion, regulates female hormones, and nourishes the nervous system. It’s a food and does wonders to our frazzled exhausted body.
Ginseng
A Traditional Chinese medicine herb that has mysterious powers to do wonders to our body. It’s known for its life-prolonging help benefits for everything including fatigue, diabetes, inflammation, memory, mood, and our immune system. It helps to calm stress while giving you the energy to fight that fatigue.
Holy Basil
A sacred plant that helps your body defend against everyday pollutants and stress. Loaded with antioxidants and nourishment that will help psychologically and physically with hormone balance, blood sugar, anxiety, and overall protector.
Rose
A flower that goes straight to the heart. Doesn’t it feel like with the heart palpitations and breaking we need something to hold us up? It does this and more. It’s packed full of vitamin C and antioxidants that help heal spiritual trauma and heal emotional pain. It’s what makes our adaptogen tincture heart centered.
Astragulus
A warming and moistening herb that is specifically good for digestion (large and small intenstines), immune system restoration, and boosting energy. It’s much of a food like oat tops and maca where it’s super nourishing and restorative.
Schisandra
A five-flavor fruit that helps the liver and nervous systems for people who have anxiety, stress, irritability, and cannot sleep.
Burdock
A mineral rich and nourishing deep root that helps digestion, detoxify blood, diaretic, and support immunity. It contains prebiotics, vitamins, antioxidants, and helps promote detoxification and inflammation. It’s an all around yes for your body inside and out.
Orange Peel
Choke full of vitamin C and is specifically added to formulas to help move energy support digestion. It nourishes our system all while making anything we make tasty.
So instead of burning through all our energy sources, it’s important to take life moment by moment and nourish our systems with love, kindness, nourishment, and full of adaptogens. Herbal Gypsy’s created a Balance Blend just to do exactly as stated, support your emotional heart, nourish the body, and help you ride through those waves of life.