Powerful Healing Adaptogens
Have you ever gone on a walk through the forest and stumbled upon a bundle of mushrooms? You may have been taught not to touch any random mushrooms you find while on a walk, which may be true, but what if I told you not all mushrooms are bad? Many mushrooms and herbs are actually classified as adaptogens (nontoxic). Adaptogens are plants and mushrooms that help your body respond to stress, anxiety, and fatigue, and enhance your well-being. You can take adaptogens by adding them to food or beverages or take them as tinctures. Adaptogens bring your body back to a steady balance by managing your body’s stress response. Adaptogens work by defending our body by building resilience for future stressors, assisting in performance by helping us adapt to acute stressors, and restoring our bodies from past stressors. It is essential to do your research before beginning your journey with adaptogens. There are many resources to help guide you along your journey. When incorporating adaptogens into your diet, it is recommended to work with one at a time in order to see how the body responds. This article will explore just some of the many important adaptogens, and share a few ways you can incorporate adaptogens into your diet. With the proper knowledge and experience, you may actually be able to forage for mushrooms on your next walk through the forest.
Photo by Presetbase Lightroom Presets on Unsplash
First, I want to discuss my favorite adaptogen, which I have the most experience with, and that is Ashwagandha. Ashwagandha is one of the more popular adaptogens and is a great place to start calming and retraining our stress response. Ashwagandha is a root that is used to restore the body from previous stressors. Ashwagandha is helpful with stress, longevity, and brain function. Common uses include incorporating it into an evening routine, specifically around bedtime because it often helps enhance sleep quality. Personally, I prefer taking Ashwagandha before bed in tincture or in pill form. I have also found several coffee and creamer brands that include Ashwagandha in the ingredients. Ashwagandha supports the nervous system by promoting healthy levels of the stress hormone, cortisol. Excess cortisol can lead to more anxiety, therefore taking Ashwagandha before bed can help decrease your cortisol levels and promote peaceful rest.
Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash
Next, I will discuss Lions Mane. Lion’s Mane is another popular adaptogen that I also have experience with. Lion’s mane is a mushroom-fruiting body and is helpful with brain function, longevity, and immunity. Common uses include daily use to help your body overcome afternoon exhaustion (We’ve all been there!). Lion’s Mane has proven abilities to support our cognition of the brain. The first active brain compound found in Lion’s Mane are hericenones which help our brain produce more nerve growth factors that are made in our hippocampus and regenerate neurons in our brain. The second active brain compound is erinacines which have the ability to penetrate the blood-brain barrier, increasing our brain’s longevity. The most common way to incorporate Lion’s Mane that I have found is through a mushroom coffee blend or mixing the powder directly into your morning coffee/tea. There are many different brands on the market but I highly recommend the brand Four Sigmatic. Since incorporating Lion’s Mane into my diet, I have noticed a tremendous difference in brain function and immune health.
Photo by Kier... in Sight on Unsplash
The last adaptogen I will discuss is Chaga. Chaga is a mushroom that grows outside of a birch tree. Chaga helps with immunity, longevity, and beauty. Chaga is full of antioxidants, polysaccharides, and melanin. Common uses include incorporating it into your early morning cup of coffee. Chaga is best known for its immune support. According to Healing Adaptogens, in 1996, a Russian author, Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn wrote a book (The Cancer Ward) about how Chaga cured his cancerous tumor (Isokauppila & Broida, 2022). After much research, Chaga is now known for its antitumor and anticancer activity. Common ways of incorporating Chaga into your diet are adding a supplement to your coffee or taking a daily supplement.
Photo by Elysabeth Malenfant on Unsplash
A few other adaptogens I recommend doing more research on (a few more of my favorites) include Reishi, Turkey Tail, Maca, Goji, Turmeric, Cacao, and Tulsi (amazing for inflammation/chronic pain). I enjoyed learning about each of these adaptogens in the book “Healing Adaptogens” by Tero Isokauppila. Tero is the founder of the brand Four Signmatic which has been my favorite brand to purchase high-quality adaptogens from. Again, please do your research before starting your adaptogen journey. I hope incorporating adaptogens into your daily life enhances your health in the same way it has for me. Adaptogens have been life-changing.
Broida, D. R., & Isokauppila, T. (2022). Healing adaptogens. Hay House.
