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It’s Wellness Wednesdays! We’ll talk about adaptogenic herbs and how they can change your life for the better.
Adaptogenic herbs are a powerful way to strengthen your health. If you haven’t heard of them or tried them, you’ll enjoy discovering a whole new world of benefits.
Adaptogenic herbs can literally change your life for the better!
Learn more about these herbs:
1. What are adaptogenic herbs?
They are natural herbs that are capable of affecting the body in positive ways by reducing stress and its damaging impact.
- Adaptogenic herbs are generally nontoxic and found in nature.
- They’re usually used as extracts to help balance the body’s systems and fight free radicals or other issues. They’re great at fighting stressors such as anxiety or lack of sleep.
2. How adaptogens help.
There are many herbs that are classified as adaptogenic, such as ginseng and holy basil. However, many of their functions are similar.
- Adaptogenic herbs often have high antioxidant levels. This means that they try to stop the damage in your cells.
- They’re also able to help you by strengthening immune response, increasing focus, reducing anxiety, increasing strength, and uplifting moods. Since different herbs have different properties, the impact can vary.
3. How to use them.
You have several ways that you can use adaptogenic herbs. One way to benefit from them is to take blends of adaptogenic herbs. This combines several powerful natural herbs together. You’ll find supplements such as tonics, pills, powders, capsules, and more.
- The key is to find a form that you enjoy taking and that makes you feel better. Some of these herbs have strong tastes as tonics, so you may need to experiment.
4. Different types of adaptogenic herbs.
There are multiple herbs in this category.
- Some of the most common adaptogenic herbs are ginseng, holy basil, licorice root, astragalus, fresh milky oats, and cordycep mushrooms. Each herb has different powers to help your body.
- For example, holy basil has antibacterial properties and stimulates the body. It can facilitate memory, fight coughs, reduce colds, diminish fatigue, and help indigestion.
- Fresh milky oats can help the nervous system. It is good for those who want to relax and feel calm. It may reduce or eliminate anxiety in many cases.
5. Choose the most effective form.
Most importantly, focus on organically grown herbs that are free from chemicals and pesticides.
- You also want fresh herbs because they’re more powerful. Many preparations are made with dry herbs, but fresh ones are stronger.
- Another thing to consider is how the adaptogenic herbs are grown. Wild herbs tend to have more effective properties than the ones from a farm. This is partially caused by the seeds that are used.
- You may see labels that say “standardized herbs.” This means certain compounds have been extracted from the herbs and combined together. The goal is to make a more consistent mixture from bottle to bottle. If you have a choice, choose organic and wild herbs instead of the standardized ones.
Adaptogenic herbs are one type of natural remedy you may want to try. Always consult your doctors before making this type of addition to your diet. These herbs can interact with some medications, so it’s important to avoid taking them without a consultation.
Stress is a major cause of many serious and chronic diseases. Reduce your stress and strengthen your health with adaptogenic herbs!
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I really wanted to talk about this topic today because your natural health and wellness is important. You can adopt healthy lifestyle practices that improve your health, your environment, and enrich your life, which can in turn improve the lives of those close to you. You have the power to break the cycle of poor health, including chronic disease, so that you can leave a legacy of health to your loved ones.
I use functional medicine and lifestyle medicine as the first line of treatment, before medications, to treat lifestyle-related chronic diseases. Lifestyle-related chronic diseases include diabetes, hypertension, obesity, and some cancers, just to name a few. Lifestyle practices, such as eating a whole-food plant-based diet and regular physical activity, can help you lose weight, reverse some chronic diseases (if you suffer from them), and can even help you with detoxification. In certain cases, these approaches may even outperform pharmaceutical therapy.
But I always tell my patients that conventional medications may be appropriate at this time to prevent catastrophic illness, but over time, you can work to make the necessary lifestyle changes to possibly reduce and/or eliminate medications. Please remember to always consult your physician for your particular needs and circumstances prior to making any decisions whatsoever.
Is Dietary Supplementation Right For You?
For some people, vitamin and mineral supplements offer important health benefits. Supplements are designed to fight deficiencies found in our diet and complement the food we eat regularly. Supplements are basically “helping hands” to our daily food.
If you suspect that you aren’t getting the nutrients you need, consider shifting your focus from supplements to eating better.
But it is very important to note that we are not eating the same foods we ate years ago because the soils have been depleted of critical nutrients through current industrial farming practices. And because the soil is not as good as it used to be, the food supply (grown from the depleted soil) is not as good as it used to be. For example, you are not getting the same levels of magnesium as you would have gotten 30 or even 50 years ago.
Second, much of the food has been genetically altered, which can impact the inherent and unique nutritional composition that each food possess. For example, ancient einkorn wheat has less gluten, more protein, more Vitamin A, and more beta carotene, than modern genetically modified wheat.
Third, the toxic load in the environment today is much higher than 100 years ago. We can see this with global warming, toxic landfills, polluted oceans and waterways, etc. Toxicity levels interfere with nutrient assimilation and absorption not just into the foods, but into our bodies as well.
So… if you are unable to eat better, the supplements in my MaxHealth Essentials Bundle may provide the extra boost you need.
These are my favorite Wellness and Immune-Boosting Supplements to use! This MaxHealth Essentials Bundle will ensure you have the intake of the important vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants to decrease inflammation and boost your innate wellness day and night. Taken together, it’s a solid plan for increasing your body’s natural resiliency.
For best results make sure you use the supplements with dietary changes including a whole food plant-based diet, regular exercise (at least 2-3x per week), regular sleep (8 hours per night), and intermittent fasting (at least 1-3x per week).
Weight Monitoring
Since weight management is very important in combatting chronic diseases, I recommend that you be mindful of your weight and its fluctuations, and that you monitor your weight AT LEAST on a weekly basis. I recommend a scale that includes a body composition monitor (*this scale cannot be used with a pacemaker or other implanted devices).
Physical Activity
Physical activity (or exercise) can improve your health and reduce the risk of developing several chronic diseases like high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, and cancer, just to name a few. Physical activity can improve your mood, boost your immune system, help you maintain a healthy weight, and is a great way to detox your body!
I often recommend yoga and resistance training for physical activity, but as you are aware, there are plenty of forms of “movement” that you can do! But for the basics, especially if you’re just getting started, yoga and resistance training are where I would start.
Yoga
Yoga can be a great way to improve your strength and flexibility, manage your stress, improve your heart health, and lose weight! I recommend using a grounded yoga mat to connect yourself with the earth and reduce inflammation.
Resistance Training
Resistance training is the mainstay for overall health. It not only has beneficial effects on reducing body fat, it also increases muscle size and strength. Check out some basic dumbbells/free weights that I recommend to everyone.
Another alternative for dumbbells/free weights are resistance bands. They are great for physical therapy, yoga, strength training, and excellent for traveling.
Remember, living a healthy lifestyle including eating a whole foods plant-based diet, regular physical activity, and reducing stress are the best ways to maintain a healthy weight. Let me know what you think in the comment section below.
Dr. Nicolle Martin
Dr. Nicolle is double board-certified in Family Medicine and Preventive Medicine. As one of the nation’s most acclaimed primary care and public health physicians, she is a nationally recognized author, speaker, researcher, consultant and media personality. She is the Founder and Chief Medical Advisor of DrNicolleMD.com, where she discusses actionable ideas and real-world strategies to help people take control of their health using integrative therapies and lifestyle change.
Dr. Nicolle also shares her knowledge via her popular social media accounts “Maximize Health” to help people pursue a healthier life. Her motto is simple: Minimize Medications, Maximize Health. With her credentials and warm “bedside manner,” it’s no wonder that the doctor is renowned as “America’s Favorite Family Physician.”
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Last updated on September 5th, 2023 at 09:46 pm
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