Nootropic Adaptogens to beat Anxiety and Stress

Before modern science and medicines, humans studied and experimented with plants to help us heal and improve our physical form. As far back as 3500 BC, the Chinese were meticulously cataloguing medicinal plants, many of which continue to be essential components in the practice of traditional Chinese medicine today.

Among these numerous medicinal plants, a select few started standing out for their extraordinary capacity to help humans manage both physical and mental stress. As ancient cultures and healing systems expanded them, these potent herbal remedies came to be known as “adaptogens.”

Fast forward to the 1950’s and the first adaptogen that was studied by modern methods was Panax Ginseng.

The modern definition of adaptogen is best described in terms of their three primary characteristics:

Non-specificity: An adaptogen produces a broad-spectrum, non-specific action and works in a general way to help the body fight off physical challenges like tiredness and even stress from the environment or from chemicals.

Normalisation: Adaptogens can bring imbalances in bodily functions back to normal, whether those imbalances are caused by stress or other factors.

Non-toxicity: Adaptogens are generally considered safe for long-term use and do not produce harmful side-effects when consumed in reasonable amounts.

In nature, the plants that make up adaptogens have developed compounds to allow them to thrive in harsh conditions, fend off insect threats, and detoxify themselves from harmful elements in the soil. These compounds have developed these mechanisms naturally and humans can use these compounds to our advantage when managing the symptoms of our own stress.