Adaptogens, Nature’s Ancient Answer to Modern Stress

Adaptogens

I first discovered adaptogens in 2017-2018 and began taking Mucuna pruriens as well as Ashwagandha to help with the stress of being newly sober. I had no clue how to operate in the world without self medicating, so adaptogens offered me a new chance at life. And some adaptogens are truly life changing – like Mucuna pruriens.

MUCUNA PRURIENS – MY FAVORITE ADAPTOGEN

Adaptogens are rooted in Traditional Chinese Medicine.

Adaptogens regulate cortisol levels which in turn calms anxiety and boosts your mood and energy levels – naturally.

One adaptogen in particular, called Mucuna Pruriens, contains L-dopa, a naturally occurring amino acid which is a precursor to dopamine, that feel good chemical in your brain.

Higher levels of dopamine are “linked to enhanced brain function, elevated mood and energy levels, and a more balanced nervous system,” writes Hallie Gould.

Modern life, with all of its conveniences, has a dark side: in our efforts to create ease and comfort we have created an artificial environment filled with stressors that assault us physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. We are exposed every day to a sea of toxic chemicals in our air, food, and water; this is coupled with intense time pressures and information overload at home and at work.

Excessive use of alcohol, nicotine, and recreational drugs, combined with the grow-ing use of prescription medications, adds to this load, further taxing our bodies to their limits.

On a daily basis our bodies are presented with a heavy burden of foreign substances to metabolize and eliminate. Not surprisingly, fatigue, minor illnesses, and chronic emo-tional stress are epidemic in our country, and can all be traced back to chronic stress. Meanwhile, beneath the surface, deeper and more serious problems can arise.

There’s no question that we have benefited from science and technology. But in the process we have lost our connection to Earth, to her natural rhythms, and most importantly to the ancient wisdom that for thousands of years has guided human beings in living in health and harmony with our internal and external environments,” Donald Yance writes in his book ADAPTOGENS IN MEDICAL HERBALISM.

The word adaptogen refers to the nonspecific, endocrine- regulating, immune-modulating effects of certain plants that increase a person’s ability to maintain optimal balance in the face of physical or emotional stress. These botanical agents provide the perfect antidote for the life robbing deficiencies in vitality created by the demands of modern life.