ADAPTOGENS

Adaptogens are substances, "foods" which bring the body to a heightened state of resistance to disease through physiological and emotional health. The term has come to refer more to the nutritive herbs. It was Dr. Hans Selye who coined the term "Adaptations Energy" and stated that it was this energy which when depleted due to stressful situations, became the limiting factor in performance and resistance to disease. Although a Russian scientist, Lazarev first used the term "adaptogen" and showed the connection between stress and immune functions, it was Selye who defined the work and formulated his General Adaptive Syndrome, winning a Nobel Prize in the process.

General Adaptive Syndrome

Alarm Reaction
This is the first stage, "response to stress" and begins the degenerative process. The body's response to stress is first seen here through the sympathetic nervous system.

Resistance Phase
If the stress continues, the second phase will set in. In this stage the body's adaptive energies are sufficient to maintain normalization.

Exhaustion Phase
If the stress is permitted to continue the "Adaptive Energy" is depleted and the ability to adapt as well as resist disease is lost and cells and tissues begin to break down which result in organ dysfunction and disease.

While this process can occur over long periods of time, it is also possible to degrade one's health in a short time also.

The class of plants known as "Adaptogens" are usually categorized due to several qualities:

The plant must raise the non-specific resistance to disease.
The plant must be capable of normalizing bodily functions even in disease states.
The plant must be non-toxic and harmless to any organ of the body.
The plant should be safe for ingestion for long periods as a nutritive (for prevention).

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A Partial List of Known Adaptogens

Please excuse the 'missing links' we're working as fast as we can

Asian Ginseng (Ren Shen)
American Ginseng
Eleuthero root
Schisandra Berries (Wu Wei Zi)
Astragalus (Huang Qi)
Ashwaganda
Cordyceps Fungus
Reishi Mushroom (Ling Zhi)
Poria cocos
Gotu Kola
Holy Basil
Polygonum multiflorum (Ho Shou Wu)
Suma
Lycii Berries(Gou Qi Zi)
Codonopsis (Dang Shen)
Royal Jelly
Eucommia (Du Zhong)

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[NOTE:]There are many substances which fall loosely within the guidelines for an adaptogen. Only the major known plants and substances are listed here. For example, the "Maitake" mushroom has been termed an adaptogen and falls within the nutritive category but is not listed here due to the fact that no research has shown it to qualify for all the categories.