Let’s be honest, this year has given us no lack of reasons to be stressed out. Even while many of us have been locked away at home due to COVID-19, many of us still find ourselves freaking out as we doom-scroll our feeds to find out what 2020 has in store next. If only there was a way to help us truly find the chill in Netflix and chill.

Fortunately, there is a secret weapon in the battle against the stress that can take a toll on our body, mind and soul: adaptogens. These sneaky additives, when combined with a daily diet and routine, can make a huge difference in how you feel and respond to the crazy world all around you!

What Are Adaptogens?

So what exactly are adaptogens? These fun-sounding additives are actually natural herbs and mushrooms that you can find growing all around you. Taking their name from their incredible ability to adapt to your body’s needs, adaptogens work their magic in reducing stress and boosting your immune system.

Adaptogens are becoming incredibly popular in many holistic health circles due to their being natural, safe, and bringing balance to your hypothalamic-pituitary-endocrine axis. This axis is how our bodies ensure that our endocrine system and brain stay in sync and keep us energized, focused, and in control. While many adaptogens come from plants, not all plants are adaptogens. In order for something to be considered an adaptogen, they must typically meet the following criteria:

• A nontoxic and natural substance that provides benefits to the body and mind without being habit forming.
• It must bring balance to the system in a natural way without causing wild mood swings or noticeable interruptions to the body or mind.
• The adaptogen should benefit multiple parts of the body, mind, and soul – not just a single part.

Adaptogens have gained popularity in recent years due to their ability to naturally bring equilibrium to the body and act as a “thermostat” for your physical, mental, and emotional state. Adaptogens can be used to offset various issues that are causing distress, bringing a balance back to your body without utilizing chemicals or manufactured medicine. By seeing your body as an integrated whole, you can better take stock of what your body or mind is telling you it needs and respond with additives that are healthy and safe!

Breaking Down Common Adaptogens

Want to get started with adaptogens, but not sure how to begin navigating this brave new world? The list of additives that act as adaptogens may surprise you, as the wide availability of many of these natural ingredients make adaptogens easy to add into almost any meal. Here’s a list of some of our favorite adaptogens and the boost that they can bring your body almost instantly!

Ginseng

Great for improving your energy levels and cognitive functions.

Rhodiola Rosea

Boost your mental and physical stamina, and give you an extra boost in the bedroom!

Reishi Mushrooms

Naturally soothes stress and boosts the immune system by decreasing inner frustration, anger, and other negative emotions.

Astragalus

Boost the immune system and prevent many common illnesses and diseases.

Schizandra

Increase the body’s ability to fight off cough, inflammation, and help you get better sleep at night.

How To Start Sneaking Adaptogens Into Your Life

As adaptogens and herbal remedies have increased in popularity, an entire industry has grown around these products that make it easier than ever to bring these powerful natural remedies to your life. From pills and drinks to teas and salves, adaptogenic herbs can be added to your daily routine in some pretty amazing ways!

Drink

Trying adding adaptogenic teas or tinctures to your daily drink routine to take advantage of the health benefits of adaptogens. You can spice up any regular drink, coffee, or tea with a dash of adaptogenic to boost your entire health and well being!  Reishi and astragalus are especially good in coffee, while the floral notes of rhodiola rosea work better as a tea.

Food

Whether you add a dash of adaptogenic ginseng or astragalus to dinner or combine ground versions to smoothies, there are tons of ways you can start adding adaptogens to your food. This is one of the most popular ways to take advantage of these incredible additives.

Pills

There are many adaptogens that can be taken in pill form. However, it is vital that you ensure that you read the fine print and understand the ingredients of any adaptogen that you are consuming!  Pills are generally considered less effective than forms of herbs that you can taste and since you need higher doses for them, there is a greater chance of side effects.

You can also seek the guidance of adaptogenic gurus such as naturopaths, herbalists, and chiropractors who have experience in helping patients and clients create adaptogenic routines in their everyday life.

As always, make sure you do your research and create a healthy routine when you begin your adaptogenic journey. However, the creative limits for adding these incredible herbs and mushrooms to your daily life is as limited as you are. Give them a try and discover how adaptogens can bring out the silver lining in even the darkest moments of 2020!