The term 'adaptogen' was coined in the early 50s by a Russian scientist. The State had ordered science to investigate 'superfoods' that would give Sovjet athletes and soldiers a significant advantage over the competition. (I'm summarizing it very briefly here).
The term was used to describe a group of herbs and other natural substances that would help the body and mind to adapt to stress (meaning almost every external 'extreme' event: severe physical exercise, diseases, pathogens, anxiety, heavy workloads, etc..).
The most well known adaptogen is Panax Ginseng.
Several herbs (ginseng, several rhodiola species, hedysarum neglectum, 'siberian ginseng' and many more) and medicinal mushrooms (Chaga, Reishi, Cordyceps sinensis, Agaricus blazei) are adaptogenic: they have the ability to balance the immune system, are non-toxic and have no side effects. They can compensate the side effects of pharmaceuticals, that can push the immune system into overdrive. They help the body to heal itself, instead of just fighting the symptoms.
Another interesting adaptogen is the Russian Mumijo (or Shilajit as Ayurvedic medicine calls it). It was and is used with great success by Russian Olympic athletes and the Special Forces. A lot of research has been done so far, most of it in Russia and India. It is part of the official Pharmacopoeia.
I use Mumijo myself (the real stuff, a paste-like substance, not the tablets/capsules and tinctures - often these are fake or are inferior to the raw paste due to the processing involved in making tablets etc.).
When doing workouts (I am a martial artist), I was amazed at how little muscle ache one has and how quickly I recovered after a heavy workout.
Example: I was unable to exercise for 3 months and restarted. Usually, it takes at least a week or more before you regain your muscle power, and you will have severe muscle ache. With Mumijo the muscle ache was 90% absent and it took me only 3 days to regain full power. (side note: I am 48 years old, so for a 25 year old this will probably be a lot better)
I found a great deal of background and information at http://shilajit.us.oriveda.com/resources.php - for those interested. They do also sell the stuff and other adaptogenics.
And no, I'm not involved in their business, except as a customer.
When my thyroid levels correctly (was upping dose) I think I'll get another saliva adrenal test ($$) to compare with my old test.. I found and actual hormone clinic that does adrenals (rare around here!).
When my thyroid is hypo it has thrown other hormones off in the past, even blood sugar goes up when I'm hypo.
I have never found an actual endo that will do anything besides blood cortisol testing. Its like doctors pretend adrenals don't matter.
In my case, exhaustion, or fatigue, will throw my thyroid off. It has happened to me before. I agree with everything you have said.
"It may be coincidental, but the thyroid has magically cured itself"
- Yes, since you dont have Hashimoto (Its life long) 'your thyroid is not damaged, and you were one of those cases that had temporary underactive hypothyroid. Underactive thyoid can be caused by many things, even body infection as the thyroid is the weakest gland.
Good that your better.
Hashimoto is more common, so I point out the difference as otheres reading this may not know the difference.
Thyroid , adrenal and other hormones are supposed to work to gether and are 'wired' by the pituitary and hypothumus (spelling).
Further. People with adrenal fatigue are likely to also be hypothyroid and hypoglycemic.
(LazyMoose, I was talking about an underactive thyroid.) As I understood what the doctor said, the adrenals affect the thyroid, not the other way around. Perhaps, to some extent, controls the thyroid? In any case I was treated for the adrenal problem only. I had comprehensive tests taken about a month ago. It may be coincidental, but the thyroid has magically cured itself. Do I understand how any why this happened? No, I am a little short on the science end. But happen it did.
I have Hashimoto hypothyroid, its a real disease, its caused by antibodies physically destroying the thyroid. Low adrenals cannot cause Hashimoto.
The statement you doctor made is incorrect for people whose thyroid is physically broke, mine is almost dead. If I took no thyroid hormone, my body would eventually stop, very , very slowly one month at a time.
If your doc is talking about regular hypothyroidism, which can be temporary (its not a disease), that might be a different story.
So its important to look at both. And unfortunately when it come to adrenals, many are forced to treat them selves as the majority of the medical community knows nothing about adrenals. It a shame!
Hey, don't leave us hanging -- find out why and let us know! And I don't ask this just because my wife has a thyroid problem. Okay, yes I do.
When discussing hypothyroidism and adrenal problems, a doctor who specialized in adrenal fatigue told me it was important to place the emphasis on normalizing the adrenals, not the thyroid. I don't exactly remember why, but it had something to do with the adrenals affecting the thyroid, not the other way around.
Ashwagandha either leveled off the high cortisol, or made me insensitive to it. I don't know which, but I know I am now extremely comfortable and can get to sleep normally. I don't need hours to come down from a high. It is great stuff - at least for me. Most of the adaptogen mixes have schizandra (sp?) which I cannot tolerate.
Oh, they censored D-o-n-g again. And I said ayurveda would necessarily use the term adaptogen when I meant wouldn't. Alas.
Adaptogens are much more than just adrenal aids. The term means exactly what it sounds like, substances that help the body adapt to stress, both mental and physical. The longest use of of adaptogens, at least as far as written medicine, is Chinese medicine. The best known is ginseng, but there are many in Chinese medicine. While ginsengs and aswagandha and rhodiola do support or charge the adrenals (sometimes overcharge it), they also have many other properties, such as supporting the immune system and the sexual organs. So essentially, the class of herbs called adaptogens are those that help the body, as I said, adapt to stress both mental and physical. **** Quai, or example, is a female adaptogen that doesn't particularly affect the adrenals but does help a woman balance her hormones and preserve yin energy. Astragalus helps the body adapt to immune system stress without affecting the adrenals all that much. Lots of adaptogens. Best way to research this is pick up any herb book that covers herbs from all over the world; it'll have a section on adaptogens. Planetary Herbology is a good one, and any book on Chinese medicine will cover this. Ashwagandha, of course, is from ayurvedic, or traditional Indian medicine, and they would necessarily use the term adaptogen, but with herbs having gone global, all systems have been incorporated by herbalists. The book Planetary Herbology was one of the first to do this, written by Michael Tierra, the fellow who with his wife started Herb Pharm, who is an herbalist and a practitioner of traditional Chinese medicine and a student of ayurveda who tried to incorporate the long-written theory of energetics in Chinese and ayurvedic medicine into herbs from all over the world where written history was sporadic and shorter.
Well, Ive been on Ashwaghanda for almost one month. There seems to be a slight difference in roller coaster adrenal feel, but at the same time my thyroid was messed up and I switched med brands
Went off ashwagonda today to concentrate on thyroid med and feel. when that is better I will reintroduce Ashwaghanda + vit C for a few months again and maybe get another adrenal saliva test.
Adaptogens are a treatment for the adrenal glands. If you google "Adrenal Balance" by Newmark you will find a list of the ingredients.
Dont I have excellent spelling?
'decribe' - I meant describe