Adaptogens

Adaptogens are non-toxic substances (plants, roots and herbs), that support your adrenal function and therefore modulate your response to stress enhancing your innate ability to respond appropriately to changes in your environment. ‘They can boost it up when sluggish, and they can help calm you down when you are on hyperalert’.

How to maintain an ideal internal environment and balance within your nervous system.

According to Dr. NavNirat Nibber ND. These adaptor boosters not only support your stress response, but you get a systemic impact because of your adrenal glands' communication with some other endocrine glands, namely the thyroid, pituitary and the gonads. From there your enhanced response creates a ripple effect throughout your body in the best possible way to commence healing and restoration. A form of ‘whole system body reset’.

“Chronic stress often rewires our endocrine function so our immune system, our metabolism, and much more are thrown into chaos.” We all need a little help sometimes to reset times of deep impact.

The more holistic, natural and consistent the healing approach is, the greater is the systemic, sustainable conscious evolution within the individual.

Adaptogens help realign and balance the physical, mental and emotional levels of being.

Most adaptogens take time to build up in the body.

People have the most powerful noticeable response with continued use (can take up to six to 12 weeks for proper results). As powerful as adaptogenic herbs, roots and powders are, they are slow acting. Yet when your innate adaptability kicks in properly, the positive effects will be felt. Your ability to adapt to stress will make you stronger physically, mentally and emotionally.

Synergy

When Tea’s (herbs) are joined together a remarkable ‘elevated synergy’ takes place which doubles the healing effect within the body!!

Blend together

Buchu, Mountain Sage, Wild Dagga, Cancer bush for a very potent healing effect.

Black Tea (3 cups per day)

Abundance in antioxidants such as flavonoids. These antioxidants have been demonstrated to lower the risk of heart disease. They do this by preventing the oxidation of LDL cholesterol and preventing damage in both the bloodstream and the arterial walls.

‘Pick me up’ alternative to coffee. Theaflavins are polyphenols formed from catechins present in tea leaves during enzymatic oxidation. These theaflavins are only present in black teas and not found in Rooibos. Theaflavins help protect heart health, can lower bad cholesterol LDL, improve blood circulation, lower blood pressure and is a powerful antioxidant to fight oxidative stress.

Black tea varieties = Darjeeling, Earl Gray

Rooibos Tea (Aspalathus linearis)

• Low levels of tannins

• Important source of dietary antioxidants (flavonoids, dihydrochalcone glucoside and aspalathin).

Rooibos tea has been shown to possess potent antimutagenic, cancer-modulating and antioxidant activities by regenerating coenzyme Q10.

Research suggests that Rooibos induces activity in the antioxidant enzymes, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase in cells.

Polyphenolic compounds together with unknown compounds in Rooibos tea and other herbal extracts, teas are together responsible for their anti-mutagenicity (or cancer fighting ability).

Green Tea

Best tea for cancer prevention - antioxidant epigallocatechin gallate EGCG prevents cancer cell reproduction and even kills existing cancer cells. These antioxidants also prevent oxidative stress in the brain. Experts recommend consuming up to 5 cups of green tea per day as the benefits increase with each cup.

Chamomile Tea

Renowned for its sedative and calming effects that help to reduce stress and induce relaxation.

Chemical compounds in chamomile tea work to reduce the stress hormone cortisol. Also increase serotonin and melatonin levels - two hormones that are responsible for mood and sleep.

Peppermint Tea

Contains menthol (increases bile production), antibacterial properties, reduces gas and bloating. Best drank after a meal.

Cayenne pepper; Cinnamon

Rich in antioxidants and loaded with polyphenols to help reduce the risk of cancer and balance sugar levels.

All and any herbal leaf, root or spice has adaptogenic effects. There are some more potent than others like ashwagandha, Spirulina, turmeric, CBD oil and therapeutic mushrooms such as reishi, chaga, etc.

Spices combined with herbs and some lemon. Be creative and combine, concoct and enjoy!

Antioxidants

Superoxide dismutase SOD is an enzyme that helps break down potentially harmful oxygen molecules in cells, which might prevent damage to tissues. The SOD enzyme i sa free-radical scavenger and an important antioxidant defense in nearly all cells exposed to oxygen. The antioxidants in rooibos tea and other plant extracts, tea’s, black tea’s, raw cacao and even coffee have similar protective effects in Vitro.

Free radicals = potentially harmful substances that can cause oxidative damage to living cells.

Mental Health

Dietary antioxidants have been shown to protect neurons against a variety of neurodegenerative conditions.

Herbal teas have great potential against a variety of oxidative stress-induced neurodegenerative diseases.

Chronic psychological stress over a long period may cause the accumulation of oxidative damage and eventually lead to many neurodegenerative diseases. Compared with other organs the brain appears especially susceptible to excessive oxidative stress due to its high demand for oxygen.

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) nl. Hydrogen peroxide, nitric oxide, peroxynitrite, and hypochlorous acid = as a result of aerobic metabolism.

The brain is one of the most sensitive target tissues to oxidative stress because of its increased levels of ROS and decreased levels of antioxidants.

ROS are constantly generated as by-products of normal metabolism and neurotransmitter metabolic processes.

Nerve damage - excessive ROS production without adequate vitamin B12, magnesium and open flowing detoxification pathways.

Stress Adaptogens

Adaptogenic Concoctions

• Hot water, cayenne pepper, ginger, lemon, honey..

• Grated ginger in Raw honey (immune health).

• Turmeric/black pepper/cayenne pepper/roasted sesame seed/unrefined salt dukha.

• Star anise, cardamon, clove, cinnamon tea.

• Yamu: Turmeric, ginger, black pepper, fresh lemon and raw honey.

• Fresh Herb Pesto

What are adaptogens

• An adaptogen is a food, herb or spice that has an innate intelligence and adaptogenic ability to find and adapt and support the particular stress in your body wherever it may be.

• Adaptogens take time to help heal and reset the body’s nervous and hormonal systems and must be taken consistently over a time as a lifestyle choice.

• Within three months of taking various forms of food, herbs and spices a great reset can be achieved and felt.

• The body's ability to deal with stress will be much greater especially if combined with other bio stressors such as exercise, breathholds, cold water submersion, fasting, etc.

• All whole foods, herbs and spices will act as an adaptogen over time though there are specific herbs that are known to be most potent in this regard.

My choice of most potent adaptogens to reset your system

1. Ashwagandha, Astragalus, Chaga..

2. Sceletium, CBD oil

3. Ginseng (maca)

4. Spirulina, moringa, chlorella…

5. Green tea, cancer bush, dandelion, buchu, thyme...