NOTE..
These plants are not a magic bullet. Adaptogens are probably the most overused herbs right now. Many herbalists and naturopathic doctors doll them out like crazy. Here's the thing.. our symptoms are our body's language. It's very important to listen to and consider what our body is saying and why. Things like diet, sleep cycles, stress level, relationships and environmental factors all need to be considered. These herbs are incredible and can be a huge help but they should be an adjunct to lifestyle and diet adjustments that reduce the stress on our bodies over time. It does us no good to continue to stress out bodies and just prop them up with herbs to keep pushing ourselves beyond our body's limit. This will lead to total burnout over time. I, unfortunately speak from experience and am very sensitive to this topic. I would love to be able to talk to each one of you individually but I can't offer that right now so I'm doing what I can!
Let's dive into the plants in this blend.
Reishi: Known as the mushroom of immortality, there are many potential benefits of Reishi. Today reishi is used primarily as an immunomodulant, adaptogen, anti-tumor, anti-inflammatory, hypocholesterolemic, liver protective, nervine, and antiviral herb (Winston). I'll discuss a few of these here! Reishi is wonderful for gently boosting energy and vitality over time without crashes and promotes a more peaceful state. Herbalist and Biologist Christopher Hobbs says of Reishi “I have found it useful for many kinds of deficiency syndromes, such as AIDS, chronic fatigue….to reduce fatigue, "calm the spirit," promote a restful sleep at night, and reduce anxiety and nervousness in people who have deficiency, or adrenal weakness.” Reishi mushroom provides an immune modulating effect. This means that it helps to bring the immune system back into balance (Winston). They contain beta glucans that are antimicrobial as well as helpful for immune function by enhancing macrophages and natural killer cell function and may help us combat infectious diseases. There have been several studies done on Reishi mushroom's mood modulating effects (1, 2). Since Reishi can help reduce anxiety and promote rest and relaxation, it can broadly benefit the cardiovascular system by reducing excess adrenaline, cortisol, high blood pressure and tension. Reishi is widely regarded for improving resilience towards both physical and mental stress. Reishi is believed to optimize adrenal gland function and is indicated in cases of adrenal deficiency, particularly as a revitalizing tonic following an extended or exhausting illness (Smith, 2011). It supports liver function as well as healthy blood sugar and cholesterol levels. Reishi contains beta-glucans and triterpenoids that support healthy blood pressure level and the anti-oxidants in Reishi mushroom help reduce cellular damage from oxidative stress and free radicals.
Astragalus: Astragalus root is famous as an immune tonic herb. It is one of my personal favorites for supporting, modulating and tonifying the immune system (3,4). As an immunomodulator, astragalus balances the response of the immune system by either increasing or decreasing its activity as needed for a particular situation, supporting the body’s natural capacity to maintain wellness. In other words, astragalus promotes long-term strengthening of the immune system (Winston). It has a sweet and moistening taste that is indicative of its nutritive, rejuvenate and tonic properties. Astragalus helps to build adrenal strength and tends to the nervous system, and balances the neuroendocrine system. Astragalus contains flavanoids and polysaccharides that contribute to it's antioxidant activity (5). Astragalus contains amino acids as well as flavanoids that make for a pretty decent liver restorative and works to protect the liver. They specifically enhance hepatic assimilation, storage and detoxification and increase liver protein synthesis (Holmes).
Eleuthero: Eleuthero is known as the "king" of adaptogens and is the most widely studied adaptogenic plant in the world. It has been used for at least 2 thousand years in Russia and China. It is most known for its ability to improve quality of life and imbue greater energy and endurance. It increases the body’s ability to resist and cope with nonspecific internal or external stress, be it physical, mental, or emotional, allowing the body to adapt to the stressor and respond in a measured way instead of succumbing to it. Eleuthero nourishes and supports the adrenal glands, which produce hormones that regulate the body’s response to stress, to “normalize stress hormone levels thereby smoothing out the peaks and valleys that characterize chronic stress” (Winston). This plant has a complex taste that is both sweet as well as slightly bitter and pungent. The bitter and pungent aspect of Eleuthero supports liver function as well blood circulation. Using this herb in this formula helps to drive the other remedies deeper into the nervous system. "As a nerve tonic Eleuthero can support the dry/atrophy tissue state through directly nourishing, strengthening and tonifying the nervous system. This tissue state may be due to sympathetic excess, endocrine burnout and neurological fatigue which can affect the thyroid, pituitary adrenals and ovaries" (Popham). Eleuthero is another immune tonic herb that nourishes the nervous system and is sometimes called an Adaptogenic Aphrodisiac. Eleuthero's immunomodulating effects come from it's polysaccharide content. Eleuthero contains minerals calcium, phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, sodium, aluminium, barium, iron, strontium, boron, copper, zinc, manganese, and chromium (Winston).
Schisandra: Oh, schisandra... there is so much to say. This plant is also known as the 5 flavors fruit since it contains in it all 5 of the flavors of the TCM flavor wheel (sweet, sour, pungent, bitter, and salty). It contains a variety of vitamins, minerals and other compounds including vitamins A, C, and E, quercetin, terpenoid compounds, phenolic compounds (lignans), fumaric, citric, malic, and tartaric acids, phosphorus, magnesium, chromium, potassium, and other trace minerals (Pedersen). This amazing berry helps to support the whole body. First and foremost, as an adaptogen, schisandra works to reduce stress throughout the body by modulating stress hormones such as adrenaline, noradrenaline, and cortisol (Winston). They can improve focus, coordination, and endurance, reducing fatigue and increasing work quality (Romm). Schisandra berry contains lignans that work as antioxidants inside the body. They have also been shown to support cardiovascular health. Schisandra is also supportive of a healthy inflammatory response. Chronic inflammation—a malady many people in modern society face due to improper diet, lack of exercise, and environmental toxins, among other things—is not only seen in the cardiovascular system, but also in the nervous system, presenting as symptoms of depression, anxiety, ADHD, and other mental health issues. Schisandra has been suggested as an antidepressant, increasing dopamine and stimulating the central nervous system, while relaxing the mind and allowing for more restful sleep (Romm, 2010). There's so much more but for now.. lastly, Schisandra may have a positive effect on hormonal regulation including women experiencing menopausal symptoms (8). I'll also note that Schisandra is hepatoprotective.
Rhodiola: Rhodiola root is another lovely adaptogenic herb. It has a favorable effect on neurotransmitter levels, central nervous system activity, and cardiovascular function. It is used to stimulate the nervous system, decrease depression, enhance work performance, eliminate fatigue, and prevent high-altitude sickness.It is a strong antioxidant and its adaptogenic actions help to build resistance to various stressors and increase the availability of energy during the day, reduce stressed feelings, increase endurance, and increase mental alertness (6). Rhodiola’s positive effects upon physical performance are applicable for athletes, to improve energy, capacity, and speed recovery. For this reason, rhodiola may also be beneficial for those with neurasthenia, chronic fatigue syndrome, ADHD, Parkinson’s disease, and anemia (Brown et al). Rhodiola likely acts at the HPA (hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal) axis, affecting cortisol levels to help reduce stress. Rhodiola also affects neurotransmission by influencing levels of neurotransmitters including monoamines, dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine, which may explain its effects upon depression. In clinical trials, rhodiola has been shown to treat depression almost as well as prescription sertraline, but with far fewer side effects (7). It can be a very helpful herb to generally support memory, focus, mood and concentration. Rhodiola's polyphenol content helps to reduce inflammation and oxidative stress. It provides a host of positive benefits to various organ systems. This is a wonderful example of how true adaptogenic herbs can be so beneficial in a holistic program. By affecting multiple organ systems in synchrony, it helps facilitate balance and integration of biochemical processes. An example of this is that it can provide energy in cases of fatigue while also being helpful in cases of insomnia.
References:
1. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3879659/
2. https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/11/10/1489
3. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12272-022-01393-3
4. https://journals.lww.com/CMC/fulltext/2021/10000/Chemistry_Behind_the_Immunomodulatory_Activity.2.aspx
5. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0144861710001438
6. https://ift.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1541-4337.2005.tb00073.x
7. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25837277/
8. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/13697137.2016.1238453
Brown, R. P., Gerbarg, P. L., & Ramazanov, Z. (2002). Rhodiola rosea: a phytomedicinal overview. HerbalGram 56
Hobbs, C. (1995). Medicinal mushrooms: An exploration of tradition, healing and culture. Botanica Press.
Holmes, Peter. The Energetics of Western Herbs: Treatment Strategies Integrating Western and Oriental Herbal Medicine. Snow Lotus Press, 2006.
Pedersen, M. (1987). Nutritional herbology: A reference guide to herbs. Warsaw, IN: Wendell W. Whitman Company.
Romm, A. (2010). Botanical medicine for women’s health. St. Louis, MO: Churchill Livingstone.
Smith, E. (2011). Therapeutic herb manual: A guide to the safe and effective use of liquid herbal extracts. Ed Smith.
Winston, D. (2007). Adaptogens: Herbs for strength, stamina, and stress relief. Rochester, VT: Healing Arts Press.
