Stress Free Summer with Adaptogens
Ah, summer
time. In the blink of an eye, our favorite teas have gone from hot to iced, the
trees have become greener, and the days have become longer, seemingly leaving
us with a bit more time to ourselves. Whether your summer is business-as-usual
or you’ve got a bit more time away from routine, there is no better time of
year to sit back, reevaluate our lifestyle, and reconnect with nature while it
flourishes for these limited months of the year.
Throughout the
year, most of us experience stress from the often over-stimulating combination
of work, school, family, health, finances, and social life, etc. all trying to
function and succeed daily. The American Medical Association shows that 95
million Americans experience a health problem caused by stress every week. Dr.
Aviva Romm, midwife and practicing herbalist, links stress to a common
difficulty to find the balance between saying “yes” to opportunities and
overextending ourselves both personally and professionally.
Have you ever
felt like you have a motor in your chest?
Do you self-doubt? Do you get short tempered or pick a fight with a
loved one? Do you experience shallow breathing or tense shoulder? If this
sounds like you, your body is trying to tell you that it feels overextended.
These symptoms are your body’s “Fight or Flight” response to stress, pumped out
of the adrenal glands. These stress responded increase our body’s level of
Cortisol, a naturally occurring hormone, which can lead to osteoporosis and
osteopenia.
It is important
to note that stress isn’t all bad. Stress can be a motivator to reach great
success in our lives. It can motivate us in our daily lives to reach deadlines
at school and work. Ever heard of the classic story of the mother lifting a car
with her bare hands to save her child trapped underneath? That’s healthy
stress, which fills her body with adrenaline to have abnormal strength and
energy. After all, nothing in life is black or white, all good or all bad, but
it is all about finding balance. Find the motivating power of healthy stress,
and listen to your body when it sends signals of overextension.
The answer to
those symptoms of stress can be found in simple lifestyle changes. Keep to a
sleep cycle of 7-9 hours a night and organize your days mindfully, allowing for
Ultradian Rhythms. These daily rhythms call for 20 minutes of rest in between
90 minutes of active work. These allow the body frequent rest and rejuvenation
in short bursts, to avoid long stretches of uninterrupted stress that lead to
heavy crashes.
Most
importantly, make time for self-care. The way we feed our body is how we
nourish not only our physical body, but also our mind and soul.
We are surrounded by an abundance of herbs in our world called Adaptogens,
which help us reduce stress symptoms and improve our mindset in a natural way.
According to Dr. Aviva Romm, Adaptogens are natural herbs that help us
address the root of our energy crisis: adrenal imbalances. Adaptogens are
a special class of herbal medicine that have been used in Chinese and Ayurvedic
medicine. Scientist Israel Brehkman from the former Soviet Union brought
Adaptogens into modern medicine by scientifically researching and using these
herbs starting in the 1940s.
Ashwaganda, an
adrenal soother, is the king soother for people who feel “tired and wired” and
experience muscle tension and anxiety. At
Passiflora, we carry this as an herb. We recommend boiling it in with a glass
of almond milk, cinnamon and molasses as a warm drink before bed. This soothing
drink is also a great support for thyroid health. In fact, Ashwaganda is one of
the only herbs proven to stimulate and re-regulate the thyroid.
Maca, an
adrenal nourishing powder improves mood, lowers depression, and increases
vitality. It is especially great for women as it helps settle hormone
imbalances. At our Passiflora Café, we carry a delicious and nourishing Cacao
Maca Chia smoothie, a blend of coconut milk,
yogurt, cacao powder, maca powder, chia seeds, bananas, and agave.
Holy Basil, or
Tulsi, is another excellent, drinkable adaptogen to nourish your adrenals. Tulsi
increases energy, lowers fatigue, and decreases Cortisol levels. It also soothes
depression and helps with a bright and healthy mindset. Leading herbalist and ethnobotanist,
David Winston, even uses Tulsi as a natural antidepressant in his clinical practice.
At Passiflora, we offer Tulsi as a loose herb that can be blended into just
about any tea. Our favorite is taking equal parts Tulsi and peppermint over hot
water for a fresh, nourishing, and vitalizing tea.
Rhodiola, an uplifting
adaptogen, calms the spirit with stress reduction and softens the feeling of
being overwhelmed. This type of adaptogen helps us target the effect of stress
on our mood and our personal relationships in life. Rhodiola is an excellent
support for the immune system as well. In Siberia, Rhodiola’s native land,
people would take Rhodiola during long, wet, winters, to prevent sickness. At
our Passiflora Herbal Shop, we carry Mega Foods Supplements Adrenal Strength capsules
which contain Rhodiola, to be special ordered online.
If you’re
looking to reduce stress, create or re-organize your adaptogen and herbal
supplements, consider setting up an herbal consultation with Karen. Her mission
is to allow your mind and body permission to pause and create a self-care
strategy that suits your lifestyle. For more information contact Karen at passifloratearoom@gmail.com.
We owe a warm
embrace of gratitude to Mother Earth for providing such abundance for centuries
that helps clear our minds, heighten our energy, and equip us with the
positivity to live the best life we can live, even under 21st
century stress.
Happy Stress Free
Summer to all!
Supporting
Resources:
-Dr.
Aviva Romm Podcast “Natural MD Radio”
-
David Winston and Steven Maimes, “Adaptogens: Herbs for Strength, Stamina, and
Stress Relief”
