Stress relief with adaptogens is a current goal in herbalism.
Yet it has been practiced by herbalists in Asia for thousands of years!
Herbalist David Winston points to the difference between acute or short-lived and chronic stress. He recounts that with acute stress, the body can recover quickly. With chronic stress, two chemicals are over-produced by the body’s endocrine systems: adrenaline and cortisol. When adrenaline spikes over a prolonged period, it can cause high blood pressure and other circulatory problems. Cortisol causes reactions in your cardiovascular, circulatory, and digestive systems.
However, stress relief supports your health and makes you strong against probable disease states.
When we have stress, the body meets the challenge in a specific way. Extra hormones from the pituitary and adrenal glands are produced and sent into the bloodstream. Especially when we feel fear, anxiety, anger or other strong emotions these hormones lessen the stress a bit.
Stress relief contributes to a long and healthy life. Stress relief may come in the form of an herb called an adaptogen, a non-specific responder to stress.
Adaptogens: Herbs for Strength, Stamina and Stress Relief / by David Winston and Steven Maimes. Healing Arts Press, Rochester, Vermont, 2007. 324 p. ISBN 978-1-59477-158-3 (pbk.). After introductory notes and the main section on herbs, these sections follow: Resources, Glossary, Bibliography, and Index.
The book discusses 21 adaptogenic herbs; all but three adaptogens are from Chinese or Ayurvedic traditional medicine. Also conferred is information about nervines and nootropics, and some of these are well-known in Western Herbalism.
Three parts of Adaptogens organize ideas about the use of herbs for stress relief.
Part One: Herbal Adaptogens discusses the history of adaptogenic herbs, describes their usefulness, actions and benefits. Part Two: Materia Medica gives mongraphs on 21 herbs, 11 nervines and 8 complementary herbs. Part Three: Herbal Adaptogens in Use paints the broad brush of application: adaptogens in formulas, as food and in clinical application, and finally, for animals.
Origins are World-wide
Adaptogens, the book, is arranged alphabetically by traditional names, annotated with Chinese, Indian, or European origin. Energetics, parts used, natural or cultivated status, properties and constituents are shown for quick reference. As well, ratings for safe use, history, cultural, and current uses are detailed.
Other interesting aspects of the herbs are given: recommended dosage by tincture or decoction (infusion, etc. as appropriate), notes on safe use and drug interactions, finally abstracts of medical studies using adaptogens for a syndrome of the adaptation response.
Botanical drawings and photographs illustrate the herbs.
Herbs in combination and the use of formulas and functional foods using adaptogens round out the broad coverage of adaptogens in your herbal formulary.
Adaptogens, nervines and nootropics are therapeutic in the right conditions.
Winston says:
“Most researchers agree that there are plant substances capable of modulating distinct phases of the general adaptation syndrome as defined by Hans Selye, PhD…” p.75
The Adaptation Syndrome
A syndrome is a group of symptoms that seem to occur with a particular event, such as stress. Whether we are aware of it or not, the Adaptation Syndrome is something we are familiar with. The syndrome is evidence of chronic stress.
Sometimes even with the appropriate stress response, the body’s attempts aren’t productive. It can’t re-balance and get back to homeostasis. It’s the imbalance can eventually lead to disease, or to compromise of the cardiovascular, gastric and nervous systems.
Winston carefully specifies the conditions that an herb can help or mitigate. Adaptogenic herbs are not the sort of substances that eliminate disease. What they do is to strengthen the body’s reactions or make it less necessary to medicate when stress occurs.
Adaptogens are eaten as foods
Herbs such as eleuthero, whose common name is Siberian Ginseng, were traditionally recognized as food in northern temperate areas like Siberia. Others considered as food are Schisandra and Amla, made into wines, chutneys, or teas. A property of Siberian Ginseng is to support immunity, and when used in formulas with other herbs, this herb improves athletic performance. Berries such as Schisandra’s have antioxidant properties when eaten with foods. Foraged since ancient times, berries and fruits now have herbal status.
The way author Winston explains our focus on these herbs in modern times, it all started with the pursuit of a substance to help athletic super-performers in the mid-twentieth century. Russian scientists were interested in improving endurance in their athletes during Olympic games and other competitions. Studying certain herbs, they found that eleuthero, schizandra, rhodiola, and rhaponticum effectively increased athletic performance. They did this because they strengthened the adaptation response.
A function of adaptogenic herbs
Adaptogens have special affinity for the well-being and optimal function of the nervous, respiratory, musculoskeletal, circulatory, digestive systems.
Adaptogens can be used in chronic conditions and diseases. Mainly, though, these herbs do not cure a disease, but they encourage the body’s own defenses to rise and defeat the illness or strengthen a weakened condition.
Winston reveals the results of case files from thirteen herbalists who’ve had success using adaptogens in cases of immune deficiency diseases of all kinds. Using health-enhancing, disease preventing plant foods in recipes for soups, desserts, or teas, etc., is a way to incorporate these herbs in daily life.
Winston’s Adaptogens: Herbs for Strength, Stamina and Stress Relief is an impressive introduction to the idea that we can mitigate and control stress and its effects, stress which can increase aging and debilitate our physical and mental abilities. It also brings together contributions from a world of cultures that have traditions in plant medicine and a record of their great success as agents of health.
This was the first edition of Winston’s and Maimes’ book. See a review of the 2nd edition, here.
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