Harnessing the Power of Herbal Adaptogens: Unlocking Stress Relief and Cognitive Boosters with Demetria Clark

What if you could naturally manage stress while boosting your cognitive function and overall well-being? Join me, Demetria Clark, from Heart of Herbs Herbal School, as we uncover the transformative power of herbal adaptogens. In this enlightening episode, we'll define adaptogens and delve into their multifaceted benefits, from anti-stress and neuroprotective effects to immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory properties. Learn how these potent herbs can enhance your body's resilience to various stressors, support the endocrine and cardiovascular systems, and improve mental clarity.


We'll introduce you to some of the most revered adaptogens, like Panax ginseng and ashwagandha. Discover how Panax ginseng can elevate your energy and cognitive function, but be mindful of its contraindications for individuals with hypertension, anxiety, or insomnia. We'll also explore ashwagandha's calming properties and its benefits for thyroid function, stress, and anxiety. Additionally, we'll shine a spotlight on Rhodiola rosea, known for enhancing mental clarity, reducing fatigue, and boosting physical performance, especially for those in their later years. Don't miss this comprehensive guide to harnessing the power of adaptogens for a healthier, more resilient you.

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Chapters

• 0:00 The Power of Herbal Adaptogens
• 9:03 The Power of Rodelia Rosea

Transcript

Speaker 1: 0:37

Hi, this is Demetria Clark, the director of Heart of Herbs Herbal School, and today I'm talking with you about the wonders of herbal adaptogens. So welcome. I'm your host, demetria Clark, and today we're diving into the fascinating world of herbal adaptogens. These powerful plants have been used for centuries to help the body adapt to stress. These powerful plants have been used for centuries to help the body adapt to stress. They also work to support overall health and enhance well-being. We'll explore 10 common adaptogens, their uses and important contraindications to be aware of. So sit back, relax and let's journey into the world of natural adaptogens. So first question, first things first what are adaptogens? So let's define what an adaptogen is.

Speaker 1: 1:40

Adaptogens are natural substances that help the body adapt to stress and exert a normalizing effect on bodily processes. They are known for their ability to balance, restore and protect the body. Unlike many pharmaceuticals that have a specific action, adaptogens support the body's ability to resist a wide range of stressors. Adaptogens are a unique class of herbs that help the body resist various stressors of physical, chemical or biological nature. Their herbal actions are broad and versatile, contributing to overall health and well-being. Here are some key herbal actions associated with adaptogens Anti-stress Adaptogens help the body cope with stress.

Speaker 1: 2:29

By modulating the stress response, they support the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal-HPA axis, which plays a crucial role in the body's reaction to stress. The next is that they are immunomodulatory. Many adaptogens have immunomodulatory effects, meaning they can enhance or suppress the immune system as needed to maintain homeostasis. This action helps in improving the body's defense mechanism, so it's setting up your army. They also act as agents to help reduce fatigue, so they're anti-fatigue agents. Adaptogens are known for their ability to reduce fatigue and enhance stamina and endurance. They improve physical performance by increasing the efficiency of energy production in the body. They're also neuroprotective, so these herbs can protect the nervous system from damage caused by stress and other factors. They support cognitive function, improve memory and enhance mental clarity. Adaptogens also are antioxidant. Adaptogens have potent antioxidant properties that help protect cells from oxidative stress and free radical damage. This action is crucial for preventing chronic diseases and aging Anti-inflammatory. Many adaptogens possess anti-inflammatory properties, helping to reduce inflammation and support the body's natural healing processes. We know that so many chronic diseases and chronic issues are caused by inflammation, so adaptogens can be really helpful with that. They're analoxic and antidepressant.

Speaker 1: 4:24

Adaptogens have a calming effects on the nervous system, reducing anxiety and improving mood. They help balance neurotransmitters and support mental health. So they're really good for reducing anxiety, which a lot of people that is like. When we have we see clients in the clinic and stuff like that, they are really really often complaining about anxiety.

Speaker 1: 4:52

Endocrine support adaptogen support the endocrine system, particularly the adrenal glands which produce hormones like cortisol. So a lot of us are just firing cortisol big time Like we are on constantly. We are seeing this and the effects of this more and more in different populations. They help regulate hormone levels and maintain balance in the body. Hepaprotective they have adaptogens. Some of them have hepatoprotective properties, meaning they protect the liver from damage and support its function in detoxification and metabolism. Adaptogens can also be cardioprotective, meaning they can support cardiovascular health by improving circulation, reducing blood pressure and protecting against heart disease. They are also adaptogenic.

Speaker 1: 5:45

The primary action of adaptogens is their ability to help the body adapt to stress. They normalize body functions and bring the body back into balance, regardless of the direction of change, and they can be a metabolic metabolic excuse me regulator. And they can be a metabolic regulator. Adaptogens can help regulate metabolism, supporting balanced energy levels and maintaining a healthy weight. They can also help improve glucose metabolism and lipid profiles. By integrating these herbal actions. Adaptogens provide a holistic approach to health having the body adapt, recover and thrive amongst various stressors. Whether they're used individually or in combination, adaptogens offer a natural way to enhance resilience and overall well-being.

Speaker 1: 6:32

Now we're going to talk about 10 common adaptogens, and some of them you may use already or know about. Okay, let's talk about the 10 most common adaptogens and their uses. So Panax ginseng. So let's start with one of the most well-known adaptogens Panax ginseng. It's also known as Asian ginseng. This powerful tool was celebrated for its ability to boost energy, improve mental performance and support the immune system. It's often used to combat fatigue and enhance physical endurance, so it's commonly used for improving cognitive function, reducing inflammation and producing physical, boosting physical stamina. So physical stamina is great.

Speaker 1: 7:20

We see that lots of athletes use this herb, but it's also, you know, something that parents need sometimes, you know. So it isn't just always about being an athlete or physical stamina. In reference to that, if you find that you're dragging you know your butt's dragging by 10 am, this could be something that you could look at. It should not be used, though, with individuals, or should be used with caution in individuals with hypertension, anxiety or insomnia, because it can be stimulating, and so when we say something can be stimulating in this reference, as a contraindication, it could stimulate these negative feelings.

Speaker 1: 8:02

So the next is ashwagandha. We are seeing ashwagandha everywhere. Ashwagandha is becoming more and more popular. People are talking about it more, and they're really talking about it in reference to it being a really powerful adaptogen. It's known for its calming properties and it's also used to reduce anxiety and stress, improves sleep and support thyroid function, which, when your thyroid's out of whack, that can cause issues like anxiety and then stress and sleeplessness also. So it's really something that is a powerful herb for reducing stress and anxiety and improving sleep quality. If someone has hyperthyroidism, they should definitely talk to a healthcare provider before use, because it can increase thyroid hormone levels. As with any podcast, this is not intended as medical advice. It's just information. Do with it what you will.

Speaker 1: 9:03

The next is Rodelia. Rodelia rosea is known as golden root. It's another adaptogen that people have just been loving the past few years. It is also known as like Siberian. Uh, you know Rodelia. It's very, very popular all over the world. It's has a particularly long use in Scandinavia.

Speaker 1: 9:34

It's known for its ability to enhance mental clarity, reduce fatigue and improve physical performance. It's an excellent herb for reducing fatigue, and it's often you know something that you know people when they're either, you know, hitting their 30s, you know, late 30s, early 40s, their 50s, and they're looking for something to really help with improving mental clarity and physical performance. It's an herb that people often like and then 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s it has, you know, a lot of use in improving cognitive function. Some of the contraindications, though, is it can cause dizziness and dry mouth in some individuals and should be used cautiously when someone has bipolar disorder due to its potential stimulant effects. The next one you've probably heard a lot of lately is holy basil. The next one you've probably heard a lot of lately is holy basil, sinum Sanctum, and holy basil, or Tulsi, is revered in Ayurvedic, traditional medicine and Ayurvedic medicine for its wide range of health benefits. It's known for its ability to combat stress, enhance mood and help to work to restore respiratory health. It's effective in reducing stress, improving respiratory health and supporting cardiovascular health and function, though some contraindications are that it may lower blood sugar levels, so if you have diabetes or you monitor your blood sugar, you need to talk to someone before you start using this herb. The next is Eleuthero, and it's often referred to as Siberian ginseng, although it is not a true ginseng. Eleuthero is known for its ability to enhance physical endurance and immune function. It's a great adaptogen for athletes or anyone looking to improve their physical performance. It is used to improve stamina, reduce fatigue and enhance immune function. A contraindication is it could cause mild side effects, such as drowsiness or irritability, and should be avoided in individuals with high blood pressure. The next is schizandra, and schizandra is one of those herbs that we've been hearing more and more about lately, and it is from the TCM, traditional Chinese medicine tradition, and it is known for its adaptogenic properties. It's known for its ability to improve mental performance, reduce stress and to support liver health. It is effective in enhancing mental performance, reducing stress, liver detoxification, liver health and contraindications is that could cause upset stomach for some individuals and should be avoided during pregnancy for some individuals and should be avoided during pregnancy. All right. Number seven is astragalus. Astragalus is a staple in traditional Chinese medicine, known for its immune boosting properties and ability to combat stress. It's also used to support overall vitality and longevity. It's used to boost immune function, support cardiovascular health and to enhance energy levels. Contraindications Individuals with autoimmune diseases should not, or potentially, use astragalus cautiously because it can stimulate immune activity. So basically, if you have an autoimmune disorder, it can actually make it worse by stimulating the autoimmune disorder. Licorice root is not only a popular flavoring but a powerful adaptogen. It is known for its anti-inflammatory properties and the ability to support adrenal function. It is effective in reducing inflammation, supporting health and soothing gastrointestinal issues. Prolonged use in some individuals can cause high blood pressure and some people are very sensitive to this herb and I know this because I am Now. This herb overall doesn't necessarily bother me, but what it does do is cause my hands and feet to puff up and retain water. To puff up and retain water. And I even years ago I was at a lecture with an herbalist and I was sharing this issue and he was passing around licorice root and I was saying, no, I don't really feel like it. It's you know, it makes my hands swell up and oh, what are you talking about? It can't work that fast. And then I showed everyone and they were like, oh, my goodness. So for some individuals, they are particularly sensitive to it and some individuals who are on different kinds of blood pressure medicines should not use this, and your doctors will tell you that Prolonged use can lead to high blood pressure and potassium imbalances, so it should be used with caution in individuals with hypertension. So just to note, I don't have hypertension, I'm just sensitive to it. And so in herbalism there's some herbs that people just are sensitive to and they just don't work as well with them. It doesn't mean that the herb's a failure or that they're a failure. It just means that we're not working with the herb that we should be working with. So our next herb on our list, number nine, is maca, and maca root is something we've been hearing tons about now in reference to menopause and perimenopause and, you know, increasing sexual health. So it's something that's really been all over the place. Social media, everybody's talking about it, and they have been for a little while now. It's native to the high Andes of Peru, and it's known for its ability to enhance energy, stamina and sexual health. It's often used to balance hormones and improve mood. Maca is used to boost energy, enhance fertility and balance hormones. It can cause, though, as a contraindication, digestive issues in some individuals. It should be used cautiously and by those with thyroid conditions, due to its goitatronic properties. Finally, we have our number 10, and this is probably the most commonly known and referred to. Probably the first adaptogen that you learn about in herbal school or in your herbal studies is reishi. Reishi mushroom is often called the mushroom of immortality. Reishi is known for its immune boosting, anti-inflammatory and calming properties. Reishi is effective in boosting the immune system, reducing inflammation and promoting relaxation and sleep. It can, though, cause dizziness, dry mouth and stomach upset in some individuals, and should be used cautiously by those with low blood pressure. So why do we love adaptogens so much in herbal and holistic health care? Well, probably because they offer holistic health support. They offer a comprehensive approach. They offer a comprehensive approach. So adaptogens provide a holistic approach to healthcare, addressing multiple aspects of well-being, including physical, mental and emotional health. They create balance and promote the body's natural healing processes. They're also really beneficial in stress management. They help to regulate stress responses. Adaptogens help modulate the body's response to cortisol and other hormones by balancing them, and they particularly are good at balancing cortisol. This regulation helps prevent chronic stress-related conditions such as anxiety, depression and fatigue. They help boost energy and endurance. Unlike stimulants that provide a quick but short-lived boost of energy, adaptogens offer sustained energy and enhance endurance. They improve the body's ability to perform under stress without the crash associated with stimulants. Immune system enhancement, so they work to strengthen our immune systems. Adaptogens enhance the immune system, making the body more resilient to infections and diseases. They help in maintaining a balanced immune response, which is crucial for preventing autoimmune conditions and infections. Hormonal balance Regulating endocrine functions Adaptogens support the endocrine system by aiding and regulating hormones. This balance is vital for managing conditions related to hormonal imbalances, such as PMS, menopause and thyroid disorders. Cognitive enhancement, so they help improve mental clarity. Adaptogens enhance cognitive function by improving memory, focus and mental clarity. They provide the brain. They protect the brain from stress-induced cognitive decline and promote overhaul brain health. I obviously, as I'm speaking and saying this, I could probably use some adaptogens. I'm stuttering all over myself, right, I'm bleh, bleh, bleh. But they provide the brain, they protect the brain from stress-induced cognitive decline and promote overall brain health. They also work in the realm of anti-aging and cellular protection. Oxidative stress reduction Adaptogens have antioxidant properties that protect cells from oxidative stress and free radical damage. The cellular protection helps slow down the aging process and promotes longevity. They help to enhance resilience and adaptability, so they help us adapt to change. Adaptogens increase the body's resilience to various stressors, making it easier to adapt to environmental changes, which is really really crucial, because environmental changes are not just changes in our quote environment. They're changes in our environment. So our housing situation, our work, who we work with, how we get to work these are all environmental changes that our household, our household, makeup. These are all environmental factors that we sometimes need adaptogens to help us deal with. So we get a new boss or a group of new employees or employers or whoever right, or someone moves in with us, or there's been a change in our family dynamic, or we're trying to blend families, or our mother or father in law is moving in, or friends of friends. I mean there's all kinds of things that can change our environment and adaptogens help us deal with that. They also help us deal with physical stress and emotional challenges. Look, the past few years. I cannot say that there hasn't been anyone who has not been affected emotionally. Probably this is always this way. But what's going on in the world and the world is changing faster in some ways than we can keep up so adaptogens help us with that. Sometimes an adaptogen can help us until we are ready to get to the point of doing the work where we're helping ourselves. Does that make sense? Like we know, we have to make some kind of big change. We just can't do it yet, but an adaptogen can help us get ready to be available and well-suited for that time. So, when that time comes, we've already given ourselves a head start that time. So, when that time comes, we've already given ourselves a head start. So we've talked about 10 really powerful and common and easy to find adaptogens. So herbal medicine doesn't have to be complicated, it doesn't have to be hard, it doesn't have to be hard to access. It is something that we can all use. We can all find these adaptogens pretty easily. In most herb stores, online retailers, some grocery stores, carry these kinds of herbs. There are more adaptogens than what I've listed here. These were just the most common ones, so you definitely can look around and learn more. Just for quick reference, here are 25 adaptogen herbs, and so some of these are ones that we've already briefly talked about, but I just want to give you like a list of 25 really quickly. So we have ashwagandha, rhodelia, holy basil or tulsi, schizandra, eleuthero, asian ginseng, american ginseng, astragalus, maca, cordyceps, reishi mushroom, lion's mane mushroom, licorice root, shatavari, suma root, goji berry, foetii, moringa, bacopa, amla, gotu kola, guduchi, seabuckthorn, genistema and chaga chaga mushrooms. So these are 25 mushrooms. So these are 25 endoptogens. You've probably, at this point, heard of some of them, and these are ones that you can find and use, and find resources for using them safely and healthily for yourself to help protect you from the physical stress and the emotional and environmental challenges that our world is throwing at us every single day. Remember, while adaptogens are generally safe, it's essential to use them mindfully and consult with a health care provider, especially if you have underlying health conditions or taking other medications, supplements or herbal medicines. Thank you for joining me on this journey through the world of adaptogens. If you enjoyed the episode, come on, follow us, give us a like, do something, help us out here. We're just starting, and so we really want to be able to continue and have this resource for you for as long as you want to listen. Thanks for listening and have a great day. I'm Demetria Clark, the director of Heart of Herbs Herbal School, and this is the Heart of Herbs Herbal School podcast.