Adaptogens - The power of Adaptogenic Herbs

ADAPTOGENIC HERBS, ADAPTOGENS, INCREASE METABOLISM

THE POWER OF ADAPTOGENIC HERBS

What are "Adaptogens"? How do they work?

Adaptogenic herbs and their medical properties are well known since ancient times.
Most of us will have unknowingly consumed one or the other (Ginseng), but the term" adaptogenic herbs" is not widely known.

In 1947 a Russian scientist, D. Nikolai V.Lazarev, was the first to come up with the term "adaptogen" as a natural plant substance which helps the body to adapt to all kinds of stress caused by the environment, by ourselves (mental stress), infection and diseases.
Plants contain primary metabolites (enzymes, lipids, proteins, carbohydrates and chlorophyll) and secondary metabolites, both needed to maintain metabolism, the plant's energy production.
Secondary Metabolites are substances which can have important medical value to humans. Only about 1 in 300 herbs is an adaptogenic herb.

Adaptogens can consist of combination of substances of a particular adaptogenic herb and studies are not yet able to conclusively define which compounds of an adaptogenic plant are responsible for its adaptogenic properties.
Only roughly one in 300 herbs is an adaptogenic herb.

Since then scientists have been taken a closer look at how adaptogens benefit the body to cope with internal and external stress factors by strengthening the immune, nervous and glandular system.

Adaptogens enhance the organisms' resistance to stress, infection and disease as well as normalize metabolic functions by increasing metabolic efficiency.

They are described adaptogens as non toxic substances that increase the resistance of an organism to a wide range of harmful influences and normalize functions
(Weil 2006).

Adaptogens are strengthening substances that bring back the balance to the body no matter what's the direction of imbalance. Examples are Siberian Ginseng and Jiaogulan (Gynostemma pentaphyllum). (Tillotson 2005).
The opinion of clinical herbalists is very important to this subject. They have worked with patients and seen the results of using adaptogens.

Even so Adaptogens work in very similar ways, they are very unique. They produce changes in the body by stimulating and balancing several systems (neuroendcrine and immune). They not only help the body to cope with stress, they are also powerful antioxidants.
Their ability of having a normalizing effect by supporting and strengthening hypofunctioning systems or calming down hyperfunctioning systems which leads some researchers to believe that adaptogens have "intelligence"
(from the book "Adaptogens" by David Winston and Steven Maimes).

One adaptogenic herb we want to mention here because of its increased attention it gets from the scientific community and its outstanding benefits for human health and performance. Plus we also use it in our product.

JIAOGULAN, Gynostemma Pentaphyllum, Five-Leaf Ginseng

Traditionally brewed as a tea it is increasingly being offered as a single herb extract or in combination with other herbs because of its distinctive beneficial, preventive and therapeutic effects. Laboratory, animals and human studies have shown that Jiaogulan is beneficial to

Regulate blood pressure
Increase blood circulation
Decrease resistance in blood vessels
Regulate blood lipids
Improve circulation and cardiovascular function
Boost immune system
Support liver function
Lower blood glucose
Enhance athletic performance
Avoid signs of aging
Reduce risk of cancer
Promote and improve quality of sleep

Jiaogulan contains saponins known as gypenosides. 82 gypenosides have been isolated, which is four times the number of different saponins found in Asian Ginseng. Four of these saponins are identical to the ginsenosides found in Asian Ginseng.