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Herbal Action Profile: Adaptogens

What are adaptogens?

The category of herbs classified as “Adaptogens” is perhaps the most popular and well-known herbal formula in the modern world of alternative health. This is a relatively new definition of herbs, developed in 1964 by Russian scientists studying Eleutherococcus senticosus and noticing its broad spectrum of actions that were not easily defined by more traditional herbal actions.

The classic definition of adaptogenic herbs is that they have a non-specific action that increases the body’s natural resistance to stress. They can be caused by environmental factors or triggered by exercise, diet, lifestyle factors, and the stresses of modern life. Adaptogens are also said to have a normalizing effect on human physiology.

Ambiguities and need for rethinking

These are pretty vague descriptions, and it’s extremely important to rethink adaptogens in terms of which herbs actually qualify as such, what exactly they do in the body, and how best to use them in a therapeutic context. This is very important because they are some of the most recommended herbs these days and can actually be harmful to the endocrine and nervous systems.

Impact on the endocrine and nervous systems

Because of their specificity for the stress response, many adaptogens are said to affect the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. As such, they are often considered primary agents for treating the endocrine system. Functionally, they do not block the stress response itself, but rather tend to balance the sharp peaks and troughs in energy and mood caused by stress.

The three true adaptogens according to modern research

More recent research on adaptogens, advanced by scientists Panosian, Wickman and Wagner, indicates that there are actually only 3 plants (!!) that meet the classic definition of an adaptogen: Eleutherococcus senticosus, Rhodiola rosea and Schisandra chinensis.

These three scientists also question the claim that adaptogens “normalize” the body’s physiology, as well as the relative safety of their use, which is generally considered to be completely 100% safe to take.

The myth of “building” the adrenal glands

The key is to choose the right adaptogen that matches your basic constitution and energy level. Most people have heard that adaptogens build up your adrenal glands. But research shows that they don’t, and in fact, some herbs can actually make adrenal burnout worse! This is because they give you more energy by turning off the brake your body normally puts on to say “stop.” By taking an herb classified as an adaptogen, you think you have more energy than you actually do, and you keep pushing yourself – a process called overloading. This is also true for eleutherococcus. One study showed that rhodiola stabilized cortisol levels, and schisandra was shown to reduce the short-term effects of cortisol, but increase the long-term response. This doesn’t support your adrenal glands, it pushes them to work harder!

Why adaptogens are not “free energy”

However, it is extremely important to understand that adaptogens are not “free energy.” If someone is severely and chronically fatigued, an adaptogen will generally not be curative and, unless specifically indicated, can actually be harmful. When it comes to fatigue, there are a wide range of underlying factors that can contribute to it—from simply missing a few nights of good sleep to serious illnesses like fibromyalgia, cancer, hypothyroidism, etc. These herbs should always be given in the context of a broader treatment plan, including dietary and lifestyle adjustments, rest therapy, specific nutrients, and a recovery protocol. If we don’t do this, adaptogens can actually make it easier for someone to burn out.

The garden hose analogy – how to understand the flow of life energy

One way to explain the action of these herbs is to use the analogy of a garden hose. The pressure with which the water comes out of the hose is analogous to the overall vital state of a person – how much charge is in their battery. If water is not coming out of the end of the hose, this can be due to 3 main reasons:

  • the valve is not open enough or the well is dry,
  • there may be a kink in the hose that is preventing water from reaching its end,
  • there may be something in the hose blocking it.

What is more common these days is the second and third patterns, where a lot of life force enters a person’s system, but its flow is blocked due to some kind of contraction or tension in the system, blockage or stagnation.

If you take an adaptogen in such a situation, you will not make the water flow from the hose. It does not matter how much water is in the well or how much the tap is open – you must somehow unscrew the hose or remove the blockage!

How to support natural vitality

To get the energy moving (the water flowing), we need to relax the system with nerve spasmolytics to loosen the hose or remove any stagnation in the system (usually with cleansing alternatives) that is blocking the flow of vitality.

There are some truly wonderful and powerful remedies in this category that can be beneficial in the right ways. And that means these plants need to be taken with appropriate lifestyle changes to restore the system, such as:

  • enough sleep (at least 8 hours a night),
  • rest therapy (not sleep, but lying down and rest),
  • consumption of high-quality, nutrient-rich foods,
  • more regular exercise,
  • drinking appropriate amounts of water
  • reducing intake of caffeine, alcohol and medications.

These are the main things that will give us more energy. We don’t feel tired because of an adaptogen deficiency, but because of the way we choose to live each day!

When are adaptogens really helpful?

Adaptogens are best used in the first situation – when someone is truly lacking in life force due to prolonged periods of stress, lack of sleep, suboptimal nutrition, and nervous system exhaustion. They can help to “fill the well with water” and open the valve a little more so that more vitality can flow through the system. If you take adaptogens in this case, you can actually harm your health by putting too much energy in. We can imagine it as forcing so much water through a hose that it bursts! Now the life force (water) is flowing everywhere, leaking out of the system, and ultimately not serving its intended purpose. Sure, you may initially feel more energy from them, but ultimately it doesn’t get to the root cause of the problem.

Each herb has its own uniqueness

One of the problems I see with many users is that they learn about a plant called an adaptogen. Then they automatically apply what they learn about that plant, thinking that all adaptogens have that exact effect on the body. For some reason, people start to lose sight of the differences between different herbs. A respected nutritionist, herbalist, and researcher known for his work in the field of natural medicine and healthy eating, Paul Bergner, says it well:

“Each herb should be studied for its own effects, side effects, contraindications and mechanisms and used for its uniqueness”

and continues by claiming that the term adaptogen is not well defined by science beyond its tonic effects, users ignore the possible consequences of overstimulation, leading to “masking effects.”

In short, this category of plants is truly misunderstood, taken out of its traditional context of use, and used inappropriately in the hope of providing the user with “free” energy, promoting longevity, and as a quick fix for fatigue, without seeking to change the lifestyle factors causing the fatigue.

Energy division of adaptogenic herbs

Below are some useful principles for energetically separating adaptogenic Materia Medica based on the qualities of the herbs, such as temperature and humidity.

We fully agree with Paul that the term adaptogen should be abandoned in favor of more traditional terminology, such as the concept of “tonics,” which are used to strengthen the vital energy Qi. You can find these adaptogens in the Aniseed tincture portfolio.

Warming Adaptogens (Yang Tonics)

Cooling adaptogens

Moisturizing adaptogens

Drying adaptogens

(Almost all warming adaptogens are also drying)

Both are extremely astringent and drying.

Blood tonics

“Blood deficiency” refers to anemia associated with symptoms such as emaciation, paleness, little or no coating on the tongue, weak pulse, dizziness upon standing, spots before the eyes, palpitations, and insomnia.

Chi tonics – restore balance