Ultimate Guide to Nootropics | Part 4 | Adaptogens

Adaptogens: Herbs That May Help You Cope With Stress

Balance; it’s often the most overlooked aspect in our day-to-day lives. Humans seem to thrive on chaos.We constantly experience blissful behavioral highs and subsequent lows. In a certain sense, we have mastered the act of being imbalanced. However, the question we must ask ourselves is: how far can we push it before we crash? Most of us have come face to face with the limit at some point in our lives. If this occurs at regular instances, we are forced to reach a state that we have come to know as a ‘burn-out’; where we are incredibly inefficient due to a lack of drive. So how do we perform at our maximum potential while staying healthy and preventing periods of ‘burn out’?

What Are Adaptogens?

Although the term ‘adaptogen’ was coined fairly recently, adaptogens have actually been in use for thousands of years. This is due to their abundant presence in nature. In fact, the term ‘adaptogen’ was later adapted to describe a substance of natural origin. Adaptogenic herbs are an integral component of both traditional Chinese and Ayurvedic use; which is not surprising, since both of these systems emphasizes the importance of balance.

Adaptogenic Herbs Benefits and Uses

As you can see from the above infographic, even though a “true” adaptogen produces a non-specific balancing effect, the reality is that plant chemistry is too complex to produce a purely homogenous effect. However, this variability can be advantageous, since there is such large variation between what works well for an individual. For example, if you’re usually a very high energy person, and find it hard to relax, you would probably react best to adaptogenic herbs on the calming side of the spectrum. However, if you are the kind of person that struggles to get your mind into gear and focused, then you’d likely benefit more from an adaptogenic herbs on the energizing side of the spectrum.

On top of this, due to their balancing effect, adaptogens can combine fantastically with other compounds. For example,  bacopa monnieri could smooth out the jittery feelings of caffeine for individuals whom are sensitive to its effects. However, an individual who is more accustomed to caffeine, panax ginseng could be used to bolster its energy effects.

Furthermore, adaptogens can even be combined with each other to produce a very well rounded effect profile. Looking at the effect matrix for cordyceps in the infographic above, we can see that it’s well suited for boosting vigor, and pretty good at mood, but its ability to support memory is lackluster. In contrast, bacopa monnieri excels in supporting mood and memory, but its effects on vigor are relatively modest. Cordyceps is also a more stimulating compound, whereas bacopa is a more calming compound. Combining the two creates a theoretical effect profile, blending the best attributes of both herbs, as depicted in the figure.

The Synergy of Adaptogenic Herbs

The knowledge that adaptogens can combine to create a more comprehensive effect profile has been longstanding. Ayurveda often combines adaptogenic herbs to create formulations like brahmi (bacopa monnieri and centella asiatica) and perment (bacopa monnieri, winter cherry, bluebellvine, and asparagus racemosus).

In our simplified overview, we have two very basic categories of adaptogen supplements: calming and energizing. Within those categories we can expect to see significant variations in effect profiles. When we combine multiple adaptogens, we can expect to see a more rounded effect profile, and when we combine adaptogens with other compounds, such as caffeine, we can balance its effects to our liking. However, at the end of the day we are trying to achieve a balanced biological state, so that we can push our limits in a sustainable manner. Getting to this point might take a little bit of tinkering. Like any other form of supplementation, individual responses to compounds are going to vary based on body and brain chemistry. So a bit of trial and error is necessary to find the ideal combination for you.

How To Develop an Adaptogen Blend That Works For You

Before you dive headfirst into creating an adaptogen blend, we suggest taking some time to write down aspects of your life that you feel are limiting you from performing at your maximum potential in a sustainable manner. For an example, let’s look at an individual who is working a very cognitively demanding job, and has always been a high performer. However, recently they’ve been under an immense workload, and their work capacity has taken a significant hit. This individual reflects on why this could be the case and comes up with the following list:

• Low energy levels are hindering extended periods of focus.
• Memory is not up to par. This causes them to double check things constantly; which slows them down a lot.
• Experiencing excessive stress due to the workload on their new project is their current situation.
• They have a hard time relaxing during their free time.   

Based off of this list a few things stand out. Energy levels are low. Excessive work-related stress could cause this situation. In this scenario, opting for the energizing side of the spectrum can aid stress regulation and add a spring to their step. Considering the individual’s difficulty in relaxing, a focus on the calming aspect of the spectrum might be more beneficial. Low energy levels may result from constant cognitive engagement without relaxation, serving as a compensatory mechanism for the individual.

Adaptogens List 

Noo-tropics.eu offers a number of adaptogen supplements. Below you will find a list of adaptogenic herbs for your consideration:

• Aswhagandha: KSM-66, Sensoril or Whole Plant Extract
• Bacopa monnieri: BaCognize or Synapsa
• Cordyceps militaris Whole Fruiting Body Capsules or Powder
• Panax Ginseng: GS15-4, Root or Leaf Extract
• Polygala tenuifolia
• Red Reishi Whole Fruiting Body Capsules or Powder
• Rhodiola rosea