Adapt to Stress with Herbal Adaptogens
(Page 2 of 5)
September/October 2007
By Laurel Vukovic
Ashwaganda: An Ayurvedic Favorite
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Ashwaganda (Withania somnifera). The most frequently prescribed tonic herb in Ayurvedic medicine, ashwaganda is recommended for anyone suffering from weakness or debility, including fatigue caused by nervous tension and overwork. Ashwaganda is reputed to increase energy and endurance, promote longevity, support sexual vitality, calm the mind, enhance mental function, rejuvenate the tissues, strengthen immune function, encourage restful sleep and help the body overcome imbalances caused by mental or physical stress, poor diet, environmental toxins or lack of sleep. Ashwaganda also has been used as an anti-inflammatory to relieve arthritis and joint pain.
In the August 2000 issue of Alternative Medicine Review, the authors evaluated research on ashwaganda to determine the chemical properties, therapeutic effects and potential toxicity of the herb. They determined that ashwaganda has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-stress, immune-enhancing and rejuvenating properties. In addition, ashwaganda has little or no toxicity. Researchers believe that compounds called withanolides are responsible for ashwaganda’s healing properties. Withanolides are very similar to ginsenosides, the compounds responsible for the health benefits of ginseng. In fact, ashwaganda often is referred to as “Indian ginseng.”
In studies, ashwaganda has been shown to stimulate immune cell activity and inhibit inflammation. Research also has shown the herb has mild sedative and muscle-relaxing properties. These findings support the herb’s traditional use as a tonic to bolster stress resistance and enhance general health and well-being.
Ashwaganda is available in powdered form, capsules and as a liquid extract. A traditional dosage is 1 to 2 grams of the dried powdered root, taken three times daily. As a liquid extract, take 1/2 to 1 teaspoon three times a day. A typical dosage of a standardized extract is 100 to 200 mg twice a day.
Eleuthero: The Ginseng That Isn’t
Eleuthero (Eleutherococcus senticosus). Formerly known as Siberian ginseng, eleuthero is not a true ginseng, although it’s in the same botanical family as Panax ginseng. Indigenous to Siberia and northeastern China, eleuthero has been used for at least 2,000 years to improve general health, increase energy and as a longevity tonic. Many studies have shown the herb to be an invaluable aid for enhancing resistance to stress, and people who regularly take eleuthero report an increased sense of psychological as well as physical well-being.
The health-promoting benefits of eleuthero have largely been researched and documented by Russian scientists, who became interested in the root of the spiny shrub as an alternative to the more costly P. ginseng. In more than 1,000 studies, eleuthero has been shown to significantly increase energy and endurance for both physical and mental tasks, enhance immune function and protect the body against environmental stresses and toxins. Eleuthero also has been shown to normalize blood pressure, lower cholesterol, regulate blood sugar and strengthen the adrenal glands, which play an important role in regulating the body’s response to stressful situations.
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