What Are Adaptogens?
Adaptogens... maybe you have read this somewhere on your favorite blogger’s website or heard about it in a Tik Tok recipe, but what’s all the hype for? Adaptogens have earned their spotlight for doing some pretty amazing things, especially to your biggest enemy: stress.
Let’s give adaptogens the introduction they deserve. Soon they will be a must-have in your plant wellness routine.
Adaptogens 101
Adaptogens are actually a class of herbs used to support your body to resist all types of stressors: physical, emotional, chemical, or biological. The term adaptogen was coined in 1947 as they help your body adapt to meet the regular stressful requirements that make up your busy day-to-day.
These powerful herbs work to bring balance and control to your life, helping you adapt to the unexpected bumps of life. We’ve all experienced life pulling us in so many different directions. When we get off track, adaptogens help center us.
Not just any herb can be an adaptogen. They must follow the following test:
- Non-toxic to the body
- Reduce & regulate stress by helping the body adapt
- Benefit overall wellbeing
Adaptogenic herbs aren’t nearly new — they have been used for centuries in Chinese and Ayurvedic healing traditions. Today, Ayurveda and Chinese medicine are practiced almost everywhere without much recognition or knowledge of where these techniques came from.
Adaptogens were used as a preventative remedy for many issues that we still deal with today (think hormonal imbalance and stress).
Your Complete Adaptogens List
There is a pretty extensive list of adaptogens, all with specialized health benefits. We’ve rounded up a couple of the best adaptogens to show you why they are crucial ingredients in our Winged Wellness formulas.
Medical Disclaimer: All information, content, and material of this website is for informational purposes only and is not intended to serve as a substitute for the consultation, diagnosis, and/or medical treatment of a qualified physician or healthcare provider. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health providers with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
Ashwagandha
We knew love, at first sight, was real with this one. We love it for so many reasons!
First off, it kicks stress to the curb. Stress is a normal part of life, we’ve all felt it, but Ashwagandha can be key in managing stress. Ashwagandha has been studied for its ability to reduce stress in adults. Ashwagandha is so powerful we used it in more than one of Winged Wellness products.
We knew Ashwagandha was crucial in our Chill Out Powder (a stress-reducing tonic). Formulated by a holistic nutritionist, our combination of ingredients helps support a positive mood, relieve stress, and relax your muscles.
We love Ashwagandha so much we also included it in our mood-boosting adaptogenic powder: Happy Start!
Last but not least, we couldn’t skip out on Ashwagandha in our brain-boosting nootropics Focus gummies. We knew Ashwagandha would support focus as it helps control the stress of the day while boosting healthy energy levels.
Maca
Maca is a Peruvian root and we love it as it is a female-specific adaptogen. It is loved for its potential to increase libido, balance hormones, and boost energy.
We knew Maca was perfect for our Relaxation CBD Chocolate Dark Bites as it works seamlessly with CBD to help you unwind and rest. We also use Maca in our Happy Start formula to help start your morning with energizing and stress benefits.
Schisandra
Schisandra is another adaptogen we can’t get enough of. It is a berry from vines that grow native in China and Russia and has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for many health issues.
Fun Fact: It’s Chinese name wu wei zi means “five-flavor berry” as its taste contains a variety of components: bitter, sweet, sour, salty, and hot. It is traditionally taken in the form of an herbal tea, creating the ultimate adaptogenic tea.
Schisandra is a lifesaver when it comes to stress relief, ultimately carrying over to skin health long term. Stress can actually do a lot of damage when it comes to your skin, causing inflammation and collagen breakdown.
Schisandra is a core ingredient in our Glow Up Collagen + Stress Power Formula. This stress-fighting adaptogen minimizes cortisol to protect the delicate collagen matrix. Schisandra is also a powerful skin-specific antioxidant for an even skin tone.
Reishi Mushroom
Reishi is an adaptogenic mushroom along with lions mane, chaga mushrooms, and shiitake mushroom as it has antioxidant properties. It is also known as the “mushroom of immortality” and was traditionally used in Chinese medicine.
Reishi mushroom has a reputation of longevity. It’s biggest strengths? It may boost the immune system, relieve stress, ease anxiousness and holds it’s own when it comes to anti-aging.
We included Reishi Mushroom in our Happy Start Powder as it helps with combating stress and supporting adrenal gland health, so your body’s temple is prepared to handle the stresses of the day.
Aloe Vera
Surprise, surprise, aloe vera is an adaptogen! Your probably already know about aloe vera if you’ve ever forgot to re-apply sunscreen. This little succulent plant packs a whole lot of benefits!
Aloe vera not only provides hydrating and soothing properties in skincare, but has been studied to have an effect on the immune system helping you adapt stresses that can trigger inflammatory responses. This superfood is has been commonly showed to have antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral and antioxidant properties.
We used aloe vera as a core ingredient in our Radiance Calming Body Lotion, working with other hydrating ingredients to completely nourish and refresh skin.
Harness the Power of Adaptogenic Herbs
Check Out all our products that use the superpowers of adaptogens! We love multitasking—you can customize your destress ritual to support all your other needs from a gentle energy boost or to uplift your mood.