What Are Adaptogenic Herbs?

The alarm goes off … you reach for your phone. Hello and good morning to a flooded inbox, pressing deadlines and calendar conflicts. It’s 2018: We have the world at our fingertips but most days we’re tired, overstimulated and under pressure. According to the American Institute of Stress, 3 out of 4 doctor visits are all thanks to stress-related illnesses. Additionally, 40% of stressed people admit to overeating or eating unhealthy foods when experiencing pressure—staggering statistics with cascading consequences that sure get my attention.

Conventional medicine will recommend treatments like exercise, a healthy diet, plenty of sleep, lots of water and a positive, encouraging support system which are all 100% necessary to stress reduction. Concurrently, holistic approaches recommend a special family of medicinal herbs called adaptogens might help in stress reduction. (Adapt-a-what??) Ever heard of ginseng? Congrats, you already know what an adaptogen is! Adaptogens are a class of herbs that are said to help the body adapt to mental or physical stress (1). Adaptogens have been found to normalize chronically increased levels of cortisol and corticosterol—therein helping treat a variety of conditions like anxiety, depression, insomnia and gut health.

While the term adaptogen may be new to you, the truth is these fancy plants have been prized in various cultures around the world for thousands of years. Eastern Chinese medicine and Ayurveda (a medical system utilized in India for over 3,000 years) frequently utilize adaptogenic herbs. The concept of adaptogens came from Hungarian-Canadian cardiologist Hans Seyle, who broke down humans’ stress response into three phases: alarm, resistance and exhaustion. Adaptogens are thought to decrease our response to outside stressors, helping us better adapt and remain in the calm, resistance phase so that we avoid entering the draining exhaustion phase. (2)

The natural (or complementary) approach to health attempts to support natural healing mechanisms within the body by addressing any current symptoms along with social, emotional, cultural and spiritual aspects to a person’s well being. Conventional medicine identifies a specific disease by symptoms and treats with drugs, procedures or other functional means. I think all avenues deserve exploration when it comes to health, but brownie points if legit scientific evidence can back up claims. While adaptogens have been recognized by herbalists as non-toxic and safe for centuries, can they be seen as legit in the world of conventional medicine?

Not to sound like a broken record but as a quick reminder: dietary supplements are not USDA or FDA regulated so it is up to you, the consumer, to read the ingredients carefully. Look for the USP seal on any bottle of supplements which indicates that the supplement was verified by the United States Pharmacopeia. And, of course, I recommend a thorough health assessment with your doctor before starting any new supplement—yes, even the natural ones—as some serious side effects are possible (more info below). While I’ve included some dosage information, I did have some difficulty determining across the board recommendations, likely because these herbs often come in different forms. So you may want to get a second opinion. If you are pregnant, trying to get pregnant or breastfeeding, please avoid any and all of the following supplements as very few clinical trials have been observed. I’ve researched five of the more commonly used adaptogens, so without any further ado, let’s discuss!

•    Tulsi (aka Holy Basil) – This peppery tasting herb is said to help relieve symptoms of anxiety, improve mood and promote mental clarity. Described as having hints of clove, mint and bubble gum, it can be incorporated into stir fry or spicy soups.

o   Dosages: A paper by Gaia herbs recommends 300mg-2,000mg of extract once daily.

o   Safety: “Generally recognized as safe” (GRAS) per FDA. In animal studies was found to cause hypoglycemia and prolonged bleeding, so avoid if you have any issues with coagulation.

•    Ashwagandha (aka Indian ginseng, Winter Cherry) – Fun fact: This iron-rich herb gets its name from the Sanskrit words ashva (horse) and gandha (smell). Yep, reportedly it not only smells rather equine but also gives users the strength and vitality similar to that of a horse. Long regarded as a “royal herb,” it is said to fight fatigue, stress and promote sexual health.

o   Dosages: Vary per supplement. A 2012 study on the safety and efficacy of ashwagandha root found a significant improvement in stress and cortisol levels after taking doses twice daily for 60 days.

o   Safety: One particular extract KSM-66 has been GRAS by the FDA. Use with caution as this herb may cause hypoglycemia, low blood pressure and alter the immune system. Avoid if you have a history of any autoimmune disease.  

•    Chaga Mushroom – Found on birch trees in cold climates, this fungus claims to provide anti-inflammatory, anti-allergic and cognitive enhancing properties in animal studies.

• Dosage: One source states solid extracts of chaga can be dosed between 200 and 1,000 mg per day. If making a tea, you can dissolve one teaspoon dried mushroom in one cup of hot water and drink several times a day.
• Safety: No clinical trials have been conducted, therefore we have no side effects to report other than chaga should no be used with anticoagulant drug therapy.

•    Maca (aka Peruvian Ginseng) – A radish relative with butterscotch aroma, this essential fatty acid rich veggie can be creamed into a fruit jam, baked or even fermented into a weak beer called Maca Chicha. It has been used for over 3,000 years in the Andes, Peru and Bolivia for its claims to increase energy, promote sexual function and help cope with stress.

o   Dosage: Varies per supplement. Typically, maca is consumed in powder form (though I’ve also heard of gelatinized capsules) to be added to smoothies, so you’ll want to read the label for mixing instructions.

o   Safety: More evidence is needed, but in general, Maca is thought to be relatively harmless. Most studies have been specifically geared towards sexual benefits of maca root. A differential trial showed maca root helped alleviate antidepressant induced sexual dysfunction in postmenopausal women.

•    Rhodiola Rosea (aka golden root) – This root grows in cold climates of mountainous regions and is said to have a rosy scent. One fascinating study supplied a standardized Rhodiola SHR-5 extract (170 mg) to young, healthy physicians on night duty and found a significant improvement in cognitive functioning, including short-term memory and ability to calculate and concentrate (3).

o   Dosage: 200-680 mg/day for improvement in physical performance or 100-576 mg/day for improvement in mental fatigue

o   Safety: Quality and size of studies has varied, so larger, more controlled trials are needed, though many report improvement in endurance, stamina and concentration.

Bottom line: Yes, more research would be ideal but we do know adaptogens have been prized and safely utilized in cultures for thousands of years. If you’re otherwise healthy and have the ‘all clear’ from your doc, I say give them a try and let me know what you think!

A note from Lindsey:

Very cool stuff, Sarah! As briefly mentioned above, did you know many adaptogens can be brewed as teas? For this you will need to buy them as loose herbs. A general recipe is to pour 1 quart of boiling water over one half cup of dried (not powdered) herbs and let steep for 30 minutes to 3 hours. The longer you steep, the stronger the tea will be. I suggest playing around with the strength to suit your taste. You can also add a tablespoon of dried orange or lemon peel for a little tartness or a tablespoon of dried stevia leaf for a little sweetness to change up the taste. After they have brewed, strain out the herbs and store the tea in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. I do want to say with this method there is no way to determine the potency of the teas. Sarah did a lot of research on dosage, so if you’re looking for the more medicinal effects, I would follow her suggestions. But this certainly sounds like a fun way to experiment with herbs! I am a tea fanatic, but so far have limited myself to mostly black and green tea, so I am excited to try this!

Credits // Author: Sarah O’Callaghan with contributions from Lindsey Kelsay. Photo: Emma Chapman.

Additional Sources: 1.) Willoughby, J. (2016). Nature’s Remedies; An Illustrated Guide to Healing Herbs. San Francisco, CA: Chronicle Books 2.) Allardice, P., Beim, M., Cross, D., Harrar,S., Tancred, J., van Aalst, M., Chadd, R. (2016). Doctors’ Favorite Natural Remedies: The Safest and Most Effective Natural Ways to Treat More than 85 Everyday Ailments. White Plains, NY: Readers Digest Trade Publishing. 3.) Darbinyan V, Kteyan A, Panossian A, Gabrielian E, Wikman G, Wagner H. Rhodiola rosea in stress induced fatigue — A double blind cross-over study of a standardized extract SHR-5 with a repeated low-dose regimen on the mental performance of healthy physicians during night duty. Phytomedicine. 2000;7(5):365-371.