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3 Adaptogenic Herbs to Fight Anxiety & Stress

Stress is a prevalent issue that affects people of all ages across the world. In the United States, about 44% of the population report that their levels of stress escalated in the past five years. However, the intensity of stress varies from mild to chronic. Most of us experience work-related stress or that emanating from other areas of life. 

When stress becomes chronic, it can hinder the quality of life and leave you feeling miserable. Symptoms of stress include poor concentration, headaches, insomnia, upset stomach, and aches, among others. Since we may not be able to avoid stress entirely, it is vital to learn how to minimize it naturally. Something that many people don’t know is that adaptogens are great in fighting stress and anxiety. 

But what are they and how do they work? Read on to discover everything you need to know about adaptogens. 

What Are Adaptogens?

Adaptogens refers to a group of herbs whose use in relieving anxiety and stress by humans dates back several centuries. A Russian scientist came up with the term “adaptogen” to classify herbs that met specific criteria. The category includes herbs that normalize body functions, enhance the ability of the body to manage external and internal stress, provide long-term benefits and have no side effects. Adaptogens can reduce fatigue, increase energy and reduce any damage caused by stress.

How do Adaptogenic Herbs Work to Fight Stress and Anxiety?

When you encounter a mental or physical stressor, the body goes through general adaptation syndrome (GAS). There are three main stages responses of GAS, including alarm, resistance, and exhaustion. Adaptogens produce a stimulating effect that will help your body to prolong the resistance phase. As such, instead of feeling miserable when faced with stress, they help you to stay balanced and healthy.

To understand how these herbs work, you should know the role of the hypothalamus axis in the body. The hypothalamus is part of the brain that recognizes when you feel anxious or stressed and signals the body to release the stress hormone. Chronic stress will enhance the function of the hypothalamus resulting in a high level of stress hormone in your body. Taking these herbs will provide a balanced response to stress by regulating the production of cortisol (stress) hormone. As such, the herbs encourage your body to respond in a healthier way to stress. 

3 Adaptogenic Herbs To Use

While there are many adaptogenic herbs on the market, we recommend the following three for you due to their superior abilities to manage stress.

1. Ashwagandha

Picture of a mature ashwagandha plant

This is a popular herb used to mediate the stress response. A common adaptogenic will boost the adrenal function to help your body to handle stress. Patients use it to relieve anxiety, balance the levels of stress hormones, and give energy. It can lower the levels of cortisol, blood sugar levels, boost the function of your brain and fight anxiety. It is advantageous because it acts on all the three stages of the stress response, and is a perfect option if you want to dull stress. Its stimulating effects can help to reduce stress symptoms such as pain and inflammation. Additionally, it will boost your immune system and your overall health and wellbeing.

2. Rhodiola

High levels of stress hormones in your body can affect your memory, deplete your nutrient reserves, and cause other issues such as high blood sugar and pressure. Rhodiola is a herb that will trigger your body to reduce its secretion of cortisol hormones when you feel anxious and stressed. According to research findings, Rhodiola can improve concentration and energy in areas with adrenal fatigue. Therefore, consuming this herb during stressful moments will increase your body’s resistance to stress naturally and help you handle the situation better. 

3. Maca

Maca contains various compounds, including flavonoids, which reduce anxiety and improves mood. It could reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety. It increases the production of hormones when they are at low levels and lowers them when the body overproduces. When you use maca frequently, it will boost the function of the pituitary and hypothalamus gland, which in turn, restores balance to the adrenals. It has a sweet taste, and you can easily infuse it in other foods or drinks to enjoy its relaxing effects. 

Conclusion

Anxiety and stress affect nearly everyone at some point in their life. However, it can lead to serious conditions that affect your health and productivity if left untreated. The good news is that you don’t have to suffer miserably with adverse symptoms of anxiety. 

The herbs discussed in this article can help your body to handle any level of stress and leave you feeling energetic. Unlike stress medications, they are all-natural and don’t produce any side effects. You should probably try them today if you suffer from stress. Besides, you can purchase feminized cannabis seeds if you are planning to grow cannabis and enjoy the properties that you find with these adaptogenic herbs.

 

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