Your adrenals are the main stress organ of your body. They are the heroes that come in with cortisol so you can handle that stressful event like a BAMF.
Or….as often happens when our stress loads are constantly too high...we're maybe a bit more like a frantic angry jerkwad; or a terrified wimp.
It’s OK, stress brings out the worst of everyone, and humans just aren’t meant to live under this much constant stress! Which is why supporting our bodies with sustainable coping mechanisms like adaptogens is so important.
Your body has two main stress-response systems that it uses to tell your adrenals to do their thang. Via your endocrine system, that’s the hypothalamic pituitary adrenal axis (HPA) and via your nervous system, the sympathoadrenal system (SAS)
Adaptogens actually mimic stress in the body. They are a eustressor. Eustress means beneficial stress—either psychological, physical (e.g. exercise), or biochemical. The term was coined by endocrinologist Hans Selye, consisting of the Greek prefix eu- meaning "good", and stress, literally meaning "good stress".
Adaptogens work with both your HPA and your SAS, strengthening and toning them so that over time, just like with lifting weights, you’re able to handle larger stress loads with more ease. You take longer to freak out, and come back to balance more quickly.
Like so many good things, adaptogens can take time to really feel the benefits.
This is another one of those key mental shifts (& also a huge generalization, so do take this with a grain of actual thought): most things that promise instant results also have a long-term, often-hidden tax that comes with them. Most things that are holistic and get to the root of the issue...aren’t instant.
Adaptogens also have a cumulative effect, meaning the longer you take them, the more you feel them.
So stick with it and watch the adaptomagic unfold!✨🌿✨ (sorry, that’s SO cheesy. 🤷) A word from one of our longest-term customers...
