Adaptogens Part IV

By now, it’s hopefully no secret that using adaptogens is a great natural way to relieve stress and anxiety. Let us continue to discuss a few more particular adaptogens and their specifically incredible herbal properties.

Reishi: Commonly known as Red Reishi or Ling Zhi, this amazing mushroom may be the oldest form of herbal medicine. The Japanese and Chinese peoples have been applying Reishi to disease prevention for over two centuries. With its complex carbohydrates and water-soluble polysaccharides, the mushroom is a valuable immune modulator with absolutely no side effects. Regular consumption of Red Reishi can improve blood circulation, reduce blood pressure, alleviate allergies, fight cancer and help treat a myriad of other health conditions. The ShenNung Ben Cao Jing, the oldest and most infamous Oriental medical text, even lists Reishi as the number one herb.

Rhodiola: Also known as Golden Root, Roseroot and Aaron’s Rod, Rhodiolarosea is a dioecious perennial common in the cold and mountainous regions of Siberia and China. Rhodiola is known to lessen the symptoms of depression and other mood-related conditions. It eliminates fatigue while optimizing mental and physical operations. This is probably due to the evidence suggesting that Rhodiola boosts the levels of serotonin and dopamine in the brain. Of course, these neurochemical reactions could use more conclusive scientific documentation.

Schisandra: Unlike some aforementioned adaptogens, this deciduous climber can survive in almost any kind of soil. However, it can still call East Asia its home. The dried berries of this incredible shrub have all five basic flavors of Chinese herbal medicine (salty, sweet, sour, pungent and bitter) and over 19 species of the plant have been used in China over the years. Schisandra is known to help resist infections, extreme thirst, coughing and IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome) in addition to helping maintain healthy skin.

Despite their ancient track records, it is constantly mentioned that more evidence is needed to cement these adaptogens’ role in modern medicine. If someone actually wanted to spend money on testing them and proving their value once again, the mass media would probably be too busy tripping over the standard healthcare reform debacle to even notice. Something just doesn’t seem quite right about this.

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The information supplied in this article is not to be considered as medical advice and is for educational purposes only.