Adaptogens are herbs whose gentle effects on your body are tricky to measure scientifically. But adaptogens are infinitely useful nonetheless, because they perform in a way that no pharmaceutical drug does: They’re nontoxic, mostly side effect–free, and—get this—they help your body counter physical, chemical, or biological stress, says David Winston, the eminent herbal educator, in his book Adaptogens: Herbs for Strength, Stamina and Stress Relief (cowritten with Steven Maimes, Healing Arts Press, 2007).
It’s impossible to fully cover the fascinating spectrum (wonk alert: fascinating to me, anyway) of adaptogens in this blog entry, so if you share even an iota of my interest, I urge you to get a copy of Winston’s book and give it a read. It’s really cool to learn, for example, that Soviet scientists amassed a team of more than 1,200 scientists to study adaptogens back in the 1940s because of the state’s desire to dominate everything from the military to chess to ballet.
But the Russians weren’t the first to discover adaptogenic herbs. Chinese physicians have used Asian ginseng (Panax quinquefolium), arguably our most famous adaptogen, for thousands of years. And ginseng is great. But this season, I’ve taken a particular interest in three lesser known adaptogens. If you have thoughts about these remedies or any others, please share them here.
Next page: Meet three adaptogens
Comments (7)
This is a fantastic article. Herbs can be daunting without guidance!
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This is great information. I use adaptogens everyday. I use to have allergies and now the adaptogens have increased my immune system. No more allergies!! Yah! Have you heard of a spray adaptogen? I keep it in my purse so I can spray when ever I get stressed out. Traffic use to do that to me. Now my body is not suffering at all from the affects of stress.
Thanks for getting the news about adaptogens out. It is so important for everyone knows about them.
Hooray for adaptogens!
I discovered them from my physician of oriental medicine. He says their also called “tonic” herbs.
I’ve been taking an adaptogenic supplement that provides adaptogens in a greens/hemp powder. It’s very tasty! And its my secret weapon for the infamous afternoon slump. Check it out http://www.shentrition.com for more.
Awesome!
One small correction though….Panax (from the Greek, meaning “all-healing”) quinquefolium (five-fingered root) is the North American counterpart to Panax ginseng (from Chinese,meaning “man-root”), the true Chinese product. It is reported that
Imperial or Manchurian ginseng is of the highest value.
The ginseng from Korea is also Panax ginseng.
A related plant, Eleutherococcus senticosus, is indigenous to Siberia.
India uses Panax fruticosum.
Please read The Book of Ginseng by Sarah Harriman (Pyramid Books, New York; 1976; ISBN 0-515-02988-2) for more information.
Thank-you for sharing!
i just wanted to add that depending on who you are, what you’re working on, the time of year, where you live, and your perspective on medicine, all 3-4 types of ginseng may be considered to have the “highest value.” There’s also codonopsis,not a “true” ginseng but kind of acts like one in the body, it’s nick-named “poor man’s ginseng” for obvious reasons, but i have found it to be more effective for people with ulcers (simultaneously with other conditions) than that of eleuthero or manchurian, which are just not as gentle… but again, it all depends on the person and what they need! Ginsengs are vast in their modes of healing and incredibly potent, what would we do with out them these days? I guess that’s why they’re so famous!
I have been suffering from bipolar for 35 years -from age 16. I wasn’t properly diagnosed until 13 years later. When I reached menopause 3 years ago, my symptoms worsened. Also, I became hypothyroid. I have been extremely fit & eat organic veggies & fruits, legumes and fish twice a week, plus soy products, brown rice, other whole grains and take high potency vitamins & minerals. Also, I drink plenty of filtered water. I was only sleeping 2 to 3 hrs. per night for 3 years, but now my sleep has improved. I am constantly fatigued & have not been able to get on a diurnal shift for years. The depression causes circadian rhythm disruption. I wonder if this is also due to severe arthritis in my neck, herniated discs L4 & L5, & an arterial dissection on the right side of my neck;and a severely arthritic large left toe , hallux rigidus, which I’ve had for 2 years. I wear orthotics, a metal plate under the orthotic in the shoe of the injured foot, & have been wearing shape-up MBI shoes for several months.
But I’m in constant pain, can’t walk too far, & other fitness activities are limited. My surgeon says I can opt for bone fusion surgery of the large toe.
Will adaptogens help any of these conditions?
I have used both ginseng (as a root powder to make a tea) and astragalus (as an alcoholic tincture) and both really help energy development and thereby improve the immunity to diseases. I highly recommend both of these herbs from Traditional Chinese Medicine for improving overall health.