Stress Management and Adaptogens
Life can be stressful, evidence says that small amounts of stress every now and then can be good for us improving motivation and brain activity but, the impact of stress over a prolonged period on our body and mind can be pretty serious. Prolonged or chronic stress can impact our memory, mental health, cause inflammation in our body including our immune system that can lead to some pretty nasty illnesses and in some cases even shorten our life span.
The good news is that there are many free resources available to help us manage our stress levels (I have listed some available at the end of this article) and the wellbeing industry is booming with a plethora of wellbeing products and approaches to help us restore balance to our hectic lives. Great right, but where do you start?
I have spent many years researching and trying different products and approaches to help manage my own wellbeing and many years ago I stumbled upon adaptogens. Adaptogens are a natural medicinal plant containing amino acids, antioxidants and vitamins that can be used to help protect the body from the effects of stress by reducing cortisol as well as increasing energy levels and creating a general sense of wellbeing. Adaptogens help the body adapt to stressors.
Adaptogens are not drugs and they are non-toxic. When taken over time that help support a natural resilience to stressors by helping the body adapt and maintain balance through regulation the immune and nervous systems. There are many different adaptogens but my top 6 are:
- Ashwagandha – stress, anxiety, inflammation support
- Lions Mane – brain, heart and gut support, antioxidant, blood sugar support
- Reishi Mushrooms – control of blood glucose levels, increased immunity, liver support
- Shatavari – for female anaemia and hormones
- Shilajit – brain function, testosterone support, allergy support
- Holy Basil (Tulsi) – anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antibacterial, heart and liver support
Adaptogens can be bought as supplements just like vitamin tablets but also many can be made into teas or tinctures. If you are interested in finding out more about how to manage your own wellbeing and what approaches and supplements may be right for you please contact me to arrange an Ayurvedic consultation.
List of free wellbeing resources:
