How Adaptogens Can Help Manage Stress and Reduce Anxiety

In the fast-paced and demanding world we live in, stress has become an inevitable companion to our daily lives.

A healthy stress response is essential to survival. When we recognize threats, our body responds with a series of physiological changes to minimize their impact.

However, when stress becomes chronic, extreme, or prolonged, it can result in adverse outcomes. From cardiovascular issues to compromised immune function, prolonged stress has been linked to a number of negative health conditions.

Understanding the impact of stress on our bodies and finding ways to manage it is critical for maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

What are common causes of stress?

Our adrenal function has a significant impact on our stress and anxiety levels. The adrenals are two small glands that sit on top of our kidneys. They are involved in the production of the hormones that regulate the fight or flight reactions: adrenalin and noradrenalin. When we are in a constant state of stress, the adrenals become overworked and can run into exhaustion. Common symptoms of adrenal exhaustion are a lack of energy, difficulty sleeping, clouded mind, frequent infections, and difficulty digesting.

This is where adaptogens can come in handy

Adaptogens are a unique group of herbs and botanicals, including mushrooms like cordyceps and plants like ashwagandha and ginseng. Used in Ayurvedic medicine for centuries, adaptogens optimize the body’s adrenal function. Adaptogens act like a thermostat in the body, constantly working to return the body to a state of balance to increase its resiliency and optimize its functioning, while also supporting the major body systems and organs.

How to choose the best adaptogen for you

Some adaptogens are especially effective for stress. Ashwagandha — also known as Withania Somnifera – is a tonic herb renowned for improving overall health and mental function. Ashwagandha has been used for thousands of years to strengthen the body’s vitality, while calming the nervous system. This woody shrub that grows in India, the Middle East, and parts of Africa has a pungent root that offers a broad range of therapeutic benefits.

Understanding the impact of stress on our bodies and finding ways to manage it is critical for maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

Ashwagandha’s use is found in Ayurvedic texts, described as “rasayana” — one that promotes a youthful state of physical and mental health and expands happiness. Its name comes from the Sanskrit words “ashva” meaning horse, and “gandha”, meaning odour, in reference to the root’s horse-like smell. Somnifera is Latin for “sleep-inducing” — a testament to its abilities in supporting calmness and sleep.

There are several common types of ashwagandha supplements, each with different effects and benefits. When choosing an ashwagandha supplement, it’s important to consider factors like the purity of the product, the concentration of active compounds (withanolides), and the form that best fits your lifestyle.

An award-winning, clinically proven herb

St. Francis Herb Farm Ashwagandha Capsules are prepared from KSM-66® — a clean, potent, sustainably sourced, and Certified Organic ashwagandha root that is clinically proven to have positive effects on stress and anxiety.

Containing a concentrated full-spectrum 12:1 extract (each capsule has the equivalent of 3600mg of ashwagandha root) with a minimum of 5 per cent withanolides — St. Francis Ashwagandha Capsules provide enhanced potency and absorption in the convenience of a vegetarian capsule.

For high absorption, dependable potency and customized dosages, St. Francis Herb Farm also offers a certified organic Ashwagandha Tincture, made with time-honoured, high-quality extraction methods.

Taking 2.66 ml (1/2 teaspoon) of Ashwagandha tincture three times daily in a little water, or one Ashwagandha Capsule twice daily on an empty stomach, can help ease symptoms of stress like anxiety, mood swings, insomnia, low energy, and poor concentration.

Because of its potent therapeutic effects and versatility, ashwagandha is also a key ingredient in St. Francis Herb Farm’s award-winning Strest® formula. This herbal formula combines holy basil, rhodiola, ginseng, schisandra and milky oat seed, in addition to ashwagandha, to help promote a sense of calm and manage stress.

Ashwagandha has profound benefits to support and enhance modern lifestyles — both to help with specific health issues, and to promote overall health and full-body wellness.