Adaptogens & A Rose Latté
Today's guest post is by Kacie Carter, the co-founder of the quaint Californian café Honey Hi. Here's her guide to armouring our bodies against stress with adaptogens . . .
It’s no secret: I’m kind of obsessed with my pantry and refrigerator full of powders, potions and tinctures. But let me get one thing straight: nothing can take the place of a healthy, balanced diet and the paramount nutrition it provides our bodies. If we want to be healthy, we need to start with a healthy diet rich in veggies, bioavailable high quality protein, healthy fats, and adequate minerals, vitamins, and antioxidants. But there are also a variety of amazing supplemental herbs that can make a tremendous difference in our lives, and my favorite of them all are called adaptogens. Adaptogens are powerful substances (plant chemicals, polyphenols and amino acids) that enable our bodies to cope more efficiently with living in our modern environment full of toxins and stressors.
Stress is stress, regardless of where it originates. Your body cannot physiologically differentiate between being chased by a lion or an argument with a co-worker: the exact same chemical response occurs- where your body is flooded with cortisol, your blood sugar rises dramatically, and energy and blood is shunted away from your organs to your extremities so that you can react quickly. This is what is referred to as the Fight or Flight response. This adaptation has definitely allowed us to survive and evolve, but when it is constantly and chronically elevated, the results are devastating for our health. Most commonly, our adrenal system (two small glands located above our kidneys that produce Cortisol, Epinephrine and Norepinephrine among other sex hormones) gets depleted from being constantly active, and we end up with the symptoms of Adrenal Fatigue; anxiety, fatigue, mood disorders, hormonal dysruptions, exercise intolerance, hair loss, sleeplessness, and so many more.
We live in a modern world full of toxins and stressors. Even if we do our absolute best to avoid them, we will still be exposed to them by virtue of living in modern society- in cities, the water we drink at restaurants, the food other people prepare for us, when we travel, the air we breathe in, the cars we drive, the stress from work and school and relationships- basically, just being a human being! Rather than running away into a forest and retreating from society, let’s be a part of the modern world, but still maintain our sanity. let’s show up for mankind and our planet and our loved ones- with a sense of balance while respecting our limitations. Adaptogens are herbal remedies that can help us cope with these stressors to find more balance.
Bodily Systems Affected by Stress
ENDOCTRINE / HORMONAL
this includes our thyroid gland, satiety & hunger regulation, sex hormones including menstruation and fertility, etc.
cardiovascular/ heart
These also regulates our blood pressure, cellular energy production, and lymphatic organs that control detoxification.
neurological / brain
Greatly effects our sense perception, speech, memory, balance, and hormonal interactions via the pituitary and hypothalamus glands.
digestive
Our digestion functions optimally when our parasympathetic “Rest & Digest” nervous system is engaged. Chronic stress shunts much needed blood and energy away from the digestive system, resulting in chronic digestive & related disorders.
emotional
Including our mood, our response and ability to tolerate stress, contentment and gratitude, deep and stable relationships,
Spiritual
Our sense of greater connectedness with the earth & the life force that connects us all.
All of these systems work in a synergy; that is to say, they cannot be separated from one another. Each one interacts with and effects all of the others. It is easy to see how stress; whether acute or chronic, results in debilitating effects on the body.
Adaptogens can help us improve our response to stress while living in precisely these modern conditions. Rather than being physiologically overwhelmed by stress and toxins, we can assist our bodies to RESPOND better to those stresses so that they do not become overburdened and break down on us, which results in physical disease and major emotional imbalance. Adaptogens possess unique herbal capabilities to supplement where there is a deficiency, or decrease unregulated excesses, bringing the body closer to homeostasis.
Adaptogens We Love
ashwagandha
Especially nourishing for the thyroid gland (that controls your energy and metabolism), ashwaghanda can help support hypothyroid conditions and assist in relaxation, especially in acute anxiety episodes by reducing cortisol. It also helps to heal adrenal fatigue. I love “Adrenal Support” capsules by Gaia Herbs.
ginseng
This is known as the king of adaptogens; Siberian Ginseng (Eleuthero) seems to have some of the best stress regulating capabilities and is a powerful immune booster.
chaga mushroom
Also has amazing anti-tumor, anti-oxidant and DNA repairing qualities. Wild Arctic Chaga from Alaska is some of the most potent on earth.
he shou wu
This is one of the more powerful herbal remedies to balance hormones, and helps to nourish the skin and hair while calming the nervous system.
holy basil
This is an herb indigenous to India with some of the best soothing qualities of any plant. It is a powerful antioxidant and helps promote deep relaxation.
maca
A root native to the highlands of Peru, Maca has slightly more stimulating but balancing qualities and can help greatly with stamina, hormone balancing, and even increasing libido!
Adaptogenic Rose Latté
ingredients
1 bag Tulsi holy basil rose tea
1 tsp Ashwagandha
1 tsp He Shou Wu
1 cup almond milk
sprinkle of cinnamon
sprinkle of vanilla powder
1 tbsp MCT oil and/or grass fed ghee
directions
Steep tea in hot almond milk for 5 minutes until flavors have infused. Remove tea bag and add the liquid plus all other ingredients to a blender and blend for 30 seconds until you get a rich froth. Sip slowly and enjoy!
