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Today, we are busier than ever before: technological advancements have led us to a more fast-paced lifestyle. As a result, life is stressful physically & mentally, which makes us search for opportunities to reduce stress or improve energy levels.
Because of this, we at Reforged believe the past is our greatest teacher: especially when it comes to supplementation. For example, specific herbs & plants have been used for centuries with various health benefits.
While we have moved away from holistic health in light of more technologically advanced health options... modern science has been realizing the benefits of some herbs & plants in proper/efficacious dosages.
In this article, I wanted to bring a nostalgic blast from the past: adaptogens!
Adaptogens are plants (herbs, mushrooms, and roots) that can help us manage stress, fatigue, and more. They have been used in Chinese & Ayurvedic medicine for hundreds of years. Recently, modern science has shown that many adaptogens have some benefits when used in efficacious dosages.
Adaptogens typically help handle and manage stress when used consistently over a period of time. Some also have been shown to improve cognition, libido, mood, and attention over time.
Adaptogens have to be used consistently, kind of like frequent exercise: You train your body to better handle more stress. In adaptogens, our body is able to optimize it's benefits more effectively.
While some Adaptogens have been proven to work, others need more research. With that being said, we wanted to go over a few of the adaptogens that have been directly shown to work.
Ashwagandha has been used in Ayurvedic medicine for health. It has anti-anxiety and anti-depressive effects. Daily usage over a period of time has been shown to manage fatigue, & may even improve power output in strength tests. A typical dosage of Ashwagandha is around 300–500 mg of a root extract, with a meal.
You might have heard of curcumin before because of Turmeric: the spice is one of very popular today because of the benefits of curcumin. As curcumin has anti-inflammatory and anti-anxiety properties, turmeric is supplemented for this reason.
Since curcumin is poorly absorbed through turmeric, some combinations of curcumin are used for better absorption: for example, curcumin combined with piperine, or black pepper extract, seems to have some benefits.
Typically, 500 mg of curcumin and 20 mg of piperine taken three times daily seems to benefit individuals supplementing with this adaptogen.
Rhodiola Rosea is a plant that has been proven to have anti-fatigue & anti-stress properties. Taken consistently, Rhodiola Rosea may improve alertness and sleep quality for individuals who have mild levels of anxiety.
While there are various suggestions when it comes to taking Rhodiola Rosea, around 300mg-680mg daily can help manage fatigue/stress.
Bacopa Monnieri is an ayurvedic herb that has been shown to improve brain power by reducing anxiety. In addition, prolonged usage allows individuals to have improved long-term memory, making it a powerful adaptogenic-nootropic to have in your arsenal. 300mg of Bacopa Monnieri is typically a standard dosage for the herb.
People typically mix adaptogens in powder with their tea or even eat them with meals. Since some adaptogens make people too calm and less productive, it is recommended to supplement them with caffeine.
Adaptogens have been in our supplement markets for years now, however, some are not efficaciously dosed as they are combined in proprietary blends or "matrixes". In reality, most adaptogens have to be taken in proper dosages to get consistent benefits overtime.
Because of this, we are working on an upcoming adaptogenic-nootropic supplement: Spark. Spark will contain some of the previously mentioned herbs, combined with another nootropic component.
Adaptogens are very promising when it comes to managing fatigue, stress, and improvements in mood. Some have nootropic capabilities, while others help our bodies.
Here's the great thing about adaptogens: while herbs & plants have been used for hundreds of years, we are still learning from today! As the science continues to expand, we will have the opportunity to keep learning more from them.
Any questions, comments or insights? Throw them in the comments below and let's discuss!
Thanks for reading, Legion!
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