The word adaptogen is used by herbalists to refer to a natural herb product that increases the body's resistance to stresses such as trauma, anxiety and bodily fatigue. In the past they have been called rejuvenating herbs, qi tonics, rasayanas, or restoratives. All adaptogens contain antioxidants, but antioxidants are not necessarily adaptogens and that is probably not their primary mode of action.^[1] Dioscorides’ Materia Medica, c. ...

Knowledge about adaptogens dates back thousands of years to ancient India and China, but serious scientific study did not begin until the late 1940s. In 1947, Dr. Nikolai Lazarev defined an adaptogen as an agent that allows the body to counter adverse physical, chemical, or biological stressors by raising nonspecific resistance toward such stress, thus allowing the organism to “adapt” to the stressful circumstances..^[1]

In 1968, Israel I. Brekhman , PhD, and Dr. I. V. Dardymov formally gave adaptogens a functional definition, as follows: This article does not cite any references or sources. ...

1. An adaptogen is nontoxic to the recipient.
2. An adaptogen produces a nonspecific response in the body—an increase in the power of resistance against multiple stressors including physical, chemical, or biological agents.
3. An adaptogen has a normalizing influence on physiology, irrespective of the direction of change from physiological norms caused by the stressor.

Very simply, adaptogens are nontoxic in normal doses, produce a nonspecific defensive response to stress, and have a normalizing influence on the body. They normalize the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA axis). As defined, adaptogens constitute a new class of natural, homeostatic metabolic regulators.^[1] The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA axis) is a major part of the neuroendocrine system that controls reactions to stress and has important functions in regulating various body processes such as digestion, the immune system and energy usage. ... HPA means Physiology Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal axis: The hypothalamus, pituitary and adrenal glands work together to regulate hormone levels and maintain homeostasis. ...

It is claimed that adaptogenic herbs are unique from other substances in their ability to balance endocrine hormones and the immune system, and they help the body to maintain optimal homeostasis. ^[1] Adaptogens have a normalizing effect on the body and are capable of either toning down the activity of hyperfunctioning systems or strengthening the activity of hypofunctioning systems. However they are also functional at the level of allostasis which is a more dynamic reaction to long term stress, lacking the fixed reference points of homeostasis. ^[2] Homeostasis is the property of either an open system or a closed system,[1] especially a living organism, to regulate its internal environment to maintain a stable, constant condition. ... Allostasis is the process of achieving stability, or homeostasis, through physiological or behavioral change. ...

Adaptogenic Herbs

Most herbal adaptogens that have been identified are used in either Ayurveda or Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Adaptogens with a significant level of scientific research ^[1][3] confirming their use include: Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera), Cordyceps (Cordyceps sinensis), Dang Shen (Codonopsis pilosula), Eleuthero (Eleutherococcus senticosus), Holy Basil (Ocimum sanctum), Ginseng (Panax ginseng), Guduchi (Tinospora cordifolia), Jiaogulan (Gynostemma pentaphyllum), Licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra), Maca (Lepidium meyenii), Reishi (Ganoderma lucidum), Rhaponticum (Rhaponticum carthamoides or Stemmacantha carthamoides), Rhodiola (Rhodiola rosea), Schisandra (Schisandra chinensis), Chaga mushroom (Inonotus obliquus) ^{[4] [5]} and Shilajit (Ashphaltum bitumen). Shirodhara, one of the techniques of Ayurveda Ayurveda (Devanagari: ) or Ayurvedic medicine is an ancient system of health care that is native to the Indian subcontinent. ... Traditional Chinese medicine shop in Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong. ... Binomial name Withania somnifera L. Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera), also known as Indian ginseng, Winter cherry, Ajagandha, Kanaje Hindi and Samm Al Ferakh, is a plant in Solanaceae or nightshade family. ... Binomial name Withania somnifera L. Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera), also known as Indian ginseng, Winter cherry, Ajagandha, Kanaje Hindi and Samm Al Ferakh, is a plant in Solanaceae or nightshade family. ... Cordyceps is a genus of ascomycete fungi that includes about 300 species. ... Vegetable caterpillars are the result of infection of large underground caterpillars by a fungus of the genus Cordyceps. ... Binomial name Codonopsis pilosula Franch. ... Binomial name Codonopsis pilosula Franch. ... Binomial name Eleutherococcus senticosus Rupr. ... Binomial name Rupr. ... Holy basil (Ocimum sanctum) is a herb often used in Thai cusine. ... Binomial name Ocimum tenuiflorum L. Synonyms Ocimum sanctum L. The Tulsi (also known as Tulasi) plant or Holy Basil (Ocimum tenuiflorum) is an important symbol in many Hindu religious traditions. ... Species Subgenus Panax Section Panax Series Notoginseng Panax notoginseng Series Panax Panax bipinnatifidus Panax ginseng Panax japonicus Panax quinquefolius Panax vietnamensis Panax wangianus Panax zingiberensis Section Pseudoginseng Panax pseudoginseng Panax stipuleanatus Subgenus Trifolius Panax trifolius Panax is a genus of 11 species of slow-growing perennial plants with fleshy roots... Species Panax ginseng - Chinese Ginseng Panax japonicus - Japanese Ginseng Panax pseudoginseng - Himalayan Ginseng Panax quinquefolius - American Ginseng Panax trifolius - Dwarf Ginseng Panax vietnamensis - Vietnamese Ginseng Ginseng (Panax) is a genus of about five or six species of slow-growing perennial plants with fleshy roots, in the family Araliaceae. ... Binomial name (Thunb. ... Binomial name (Thunb. ... Binomial name Gynostemma pentaphyllum (Thunb. ... Binomial name Gynostemma pentaphyllum (Thunb. ... Species Glycyrrhiza acanthocarpa Glycyrrhiza aspera Glycyrrhiza astragalina Glycyrrhiza bucharica Glycyrrhiza echinata Glycyrrhiza eurycarpa Glycyrrhiza foetida Glycyrrhiza glabra Glycyrrhiza iconica Glycyrrhiza korshinskyi Glycyrrhiza lepidota Glycyrrhiza pallidiflora Glycyrrhiza triphylla Glycyrrhiza uralensis Glycyrrhiza yunnanensis Ref: ILDIS Version 6. ... Species Glycyrrhiza acanthocarpa Glycyrrhiza aspera Glycyrrhiza astragalina Glycyrrhiza bucharica Glycyrrhiza echinata Glycyrrhiza eurycarpa Glycyrrhiza foetida Glycyrrhiza glabra Glycyrrhiza iconica Glycyrrhiza korshinskyi Glycyrrhiza lepidota Glycyrrhiza pallidiflora Glycyrrhiza triphylla Glycyrrhiza uralensis Glycyrrhiza yunnanensis Ref: ILDIS Version 6. ... Binomial name Lepidium meyenii Walp Maca (Lepidium meyenii) is a herbaceous biennial plant or annual plant grown at altitudes from approximately 12,500-14,500 feet in the Andes in Peru. ... Binomial name Walp Lepidium meyenii or maca is an herbaceous biennial plant or annual plant (some sources say a perennial plant) native to the high Andes of Bolivia and Peru. ... This article needs to be wikified. ... Binomial name Ganoderma lucidum (Curtis) P. Karst Língzhī (traditional Chinese: 靈芝; simplified Chinese: 灵芝; Japanese: reishi; Korean: yeongji, hangul: 영지) is the name for one form of the mushroom Ganoderma lucidum. ... Binomial name Rhaponticum carthamoides(Willd. ... Binomial name Rhaponticum carthamoides(Willd. ... Binomial name Rhaponticum carthamoides(Willd. ... Binomial name Rhodiola rosea L. Synonyms Sedum rosea (L.) Scop. ... Binomial name Rhodiola rosea L. Synonyms Sedum rosea (L.) Scop. ... Species = chinensis See text. ... Binomial name Schisandra chinensis (Turcz. ... Binomial name Inonotus obliquus L. The Chaga mushroom (Inonotus obliquus), also known as tinder mushroom, is a fungus in Hymenochaetaceae family. ... Binomial name Inonotus obliquus L. The Chaga mushroom (Inonotus obliquus), also known as tinder mushroom, is a fungus in Hymenochaetaceae family. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... This does not cite its references or sources. ...

Possible adaptogens with less scientific research include: Amla (Emblica officinalis), Astragalus (Astragalus membranaceus), He Shou Wu (Polygonum multiflorum), Lycium (Lycium chinensis), Prince Seng (Pseudostellaria heterophylla), Shatavari (Asparagus racemosus) and Suma (Pfaffia paniculata). Binomial name Phyllanthus emblica Gaertn. ... Binomial name Phyllanthus emblica Gaertn. ... Species See text. ... Astragalus membranaceus is an herb. ... Binomial name Polygonum multiflorum Thunb. ... Binomial name Polygonum multiflorum Thunb. ... Species About 100, including: Lycium afrum Lycium barbarum - wolfberry Lycium carolinianum Lycium chilense Lycium depressum Lycium europaeum Lycium ferocissimum Lycium pallidum Lycium ruthenicum Lycium tetrandrum Boxthorn (Lycium) is a genus of about 100 species of plants in the Solanaceae, native throughout most of the tropical and warm temperate zones of... Species About 90, including: Lycium acutifolium Lycium afrum Lycium ameghinoi Lycium amoenum Lycium andersonii Lycium arenicola Lycium barbarum - wolfberry Lycium bosciifolium Lycium berlandieri Lycium carolinianum Lycium chilense Lycium chinense - wolfberry Lycium cinereum Lycium decumbens Lycium depressum Lycium eenii Lycium europaeum Lycium exsertum Lycium ferocissimum Lycium fremontii Lycium gariepense Lycium grandicalyx... Binomial name Pseudostellaria heterophylla Rupr. ... Binomial name Pseudostellaria heterophylla Rupr. ... This article does not cite its references or sources. ... This article does not cite its references or sources. ... The Suma and the Jumano was a people northern Chihuahua in northwestern Mexico and in southwestern Texas. ... Binomial name Pfaffia paniculata (Mart. ...

Panax ginseng is an example of an adaptogen that has demonstrated an "overall normalizing effect." Among the active ingredients found in Panax Ginseng are substances called ginsenosides. The herb contains ginsenosides Rg1, which can stimulate the nervous system, and ginsenosides Rb1, which calms it. ^[1] However ginsenosides alone do not determine the active strength of ginseng and some preparations with higher ginsenosides have lower activity, indicating that cofactors are necessary to potentiate the adaptogenic properties of ginseng. Species Panax ginseng - Chinese Ginseng Panax japonicus - Japanese Ginseng Panax pseudoginseng - Himalayan Ginseng Panax quinquefolius - American Ginseng Panax trifolius - Dwarf Ginseng Panax vietnamensis - Vietnamese Ginseng Ginseng (Panax) is a genus of about five or six species of slow-growing perennial plants with fleshy roots, in the family Araliaceae. ...

Constituents Common to Adaptogens

It can be difficult to determine which constituents are active ingredients in plants with as diffuse an effect as adaptogens. According to adaptogen researcher Panossian and medical botanist and herbalist Robyn Klein, adaptogens tend to have the following consitituents: ^[6][7] An active ingredient, also active pharmaceutical ingredient (or API), is the substance in drug that is pharmaceutically active. ...

Triterpenes (mevalonate pathway) Terpenes are a class of hydrocarbons, produced by many plants, particularly conifers. ... Mevalonic acid is a key organic compound in biochemistry. ...

• Triterpenoid saponins: dammarane triterpene saponins, cucurbitacins
• Phytosterols: beta-sitosterol
• Phytoecdysteroids: 20-ecdysone, turkesterone

Phenylpropanes (shikimate pathway) Triterpenoid saponins are triterpenes which belong to the group of saponin compounds. ... β-sitosterol is one of several phytosterols with chemical structures similar to that of cholesterol. ... Ecdysone is a prohormone of the major insect moulting hormone 20-hydroxyecdysone, which is secreted from the prothoracic glands. ... Shikimic acid, more commonly known as its anionic form shikimate, is an important biochemical intermediate in plants and microorganisms. ...

• Flavonoids: glucopyranosides, prenylated flavonoids, flavan glycosides
• Lignans: schizandrin, sesamin, syringaresinol

Oxylipins (acetate pathway) Flavonoids are a group of chemical compounds naturally found in certain fruits, vegetables, teas, wines, nuts, seeds, and roots. ... A lignan is a chemical compound found in plants. ... There are very few or no other articles that link to this one. ... An acetate, or ethanoate, is a salt or ester of acetic acid. ...

• Hydroxylated fatty acids: octadecadienoic acid

Triterpenoid saponins have been the focus of most studies of adaptogen constituents. Saponins include ginsenoside from Panax ginseng, gypenosides from Gynostemma and eleutherosides from Eleutherococcus. The lipophilic properties of ginsenosides, for instance, favor binding to intracellular steroid hormone receptors. Triterpenes also include phytosterols and phytoecdysteroids, both of which are thought to have adaptogenic roles in mammals. Phytosterols have been studied more in food science than phytotherapy but are known to have immune function. ^[8] Phytoecdysteroids are in common use by athletes and weight lifters for the anabolic effects they produce. Rhaponticum carthamoides is notable for these compounds. Oxylipins are fatty acids that have been oxidized and display prostaglandin-like activity due to a shape similar to leukotrienes. Examples are the hydroxylated fatty acids in licorice, Glycyrrhiza glabra. ^{[9] [10]} Triterpenoid saponins are triterpenes which belong to the group of saponin compounds. ... Ginsenosides are a class of steroid-like compounds, triterpene saponins, found exclusively in the plant genus Panax (ginseng). ... Triterpenoid saponins of the adaptogen Eleutherococcus senticosus, which are lipophilic chemicals that bind to hormonal receptors. ... Steroid hormones are steroids which act as hormones. ... Phytoecdysteroids are plant derived ecdysteroids. ...

In addition to the above constituents, many adaptogens contain polysaccharides that have been reported to stimulate immune system components and have immune system enhancing benefits. Polysaccharide-rich plants have a long history of use in traditional practices such as Chinese medicine. In addition to stimulating the immune system, they are used to increase vital energy and considered qi tonics. Adaptogens that contain polysaccharides include: American ginseng, Asian ginseng, astragalus, cordyceps, eleuthero, licorice, lycium, prince seng, reishi, rhaponticum, and shatavari. ^[1] Polysaccharides (sometimes called glycans) are relatively complex carbohydrates. ...

Notes

1. ^ ^{a b c d e f g} Winston, David & Maimes, Steven. “Adaptogens: Herbs for Strength, Stamina, and Stress Relief,” Healing Arts Press, 2007.
2. ^ [1]Robyn Klein."Allostasis Theory and Adaptogenic Plant Remedies" 2004
3. ^ Saleeby, J. P. "Wonder Herbs: A Guide to Three Adaptogens", Xlibris, 2006. (Three chapters on adaptogens Rhodiola rosea, Eleuthero & Jiaogulan.)
4. ^ Hobbs, Christopher "Medicinal mushrooms: The history, chemistry, pharmacology and folk uses for modern times" Botanica Press, 1987.
5. ^ http://www.minnesotamushrooms.org/news/2005/04/chaga.php
6. ^ Panossian, Alexander G., 2003. Adaptogens: a historical overview and perspective. Natural Pharmacy, 7(4), 1, 19- 20.
7. ^ [2]Robyn Klein Masters Thesis Paper, May 2004, Montana State University, Dept Plant Sciences & Plant Pathology: Phylogenetic and phytochemical characteristics of plant species with adaptogenic properties
8. ^ Bouic, Patrick J.D., 2002. Sterols and sterolins: new drugs for the immune system? Drug Discovery Today, 7(14), 775-778
9. ^ Panossian, Alexander G., 2003. Adaptogens: a historical overview and perspective. Natural Pharmacy, 7(4), 1, 19- 20.
10. ^ [3]Robyn Klein Masters Thesis Paper, May 2004, Montana State University, Dept Plant Sciences & Plant Pathology: Phylogenetic and phytochemical characteristics of plant species with adaptogenic properties

Further Reading

• Adaptogens.org
• David Winston & Steven Maimes. “Adaptogens: Herbs for Strength, Stamina, and Stress Relief,” Healing Arts Press, 2007. The definitive guide to adaptogenic herbs. Includes overview, history, actions, health benefits, 21 monographs; and chapters on adaptogens as food and adaptogens for animals.
• Adaptogens in America