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Katherine Smith, a local from Pinebluff, is
an Alaskan greenhorn and accidental poet.
She’s currently working in Chugach National
Forest, living to make life that is art.
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Medicine For Tense Times
by Katherine Smith
Of all doctor visits in the United States, 75
to 90 percent are prompted by a stress ailment.
Headache, muscle tension, acne, peptic ulcers
and compromised immunity are the most
common manifestations, with cardiovascular
disease, osteoporosis, diabetes and lupus
manifestations rising. These statistics, reported
by the Journal of the American Osteopathic
Association, are wrought of the very cloth of
modern day America. Money, work, and the
economy are the top reported stressors, with
relational and health concerns following, and
shelter and personal safety, the base of actual
needs, reported last, according to the American
Psychological Association.
Despite the bleak statistics, stress is poisonous
only when imbalanced. “Fight or flight” refers to
the tingling intensity of adrenaline and cortisol
flooding your blood, slowing time, brightening
colors, crisping sounds, and numbing pain as
your body buzzes in the sharp focus of fear. Your
heart rate and blood pressure increase and air
passages expand; blood sugar is mobilized for
energy and the immune system is activated to
protect from infection during the struggle.
Too little stress causes depression, the
functioning ideal generates interest and flow,
and the adrenal stress response at the right time
empowers you to use every drop of “absolute
strength” while outrunning a predator or
lifting a car off a baby. But modern Americans’
overindulgence in stress is making us sick,
dissatisfied, unproductive, and overweight. The
mainstreaming of stress is killing us.
Quick fixes for this epidemic only postpone
the inevitable, like pouring water
into a cracked cup. No plant or pill
can melt stress like nourishing food,
exercise, sleep, rest, community,
prayer and nature can. But for the
sake of allostasis in (hopefully)
limited spells of inevitable stress,
there are adaptogens.
Adaptogens balance the central
nervous system and the endocrine
(hormone) system. Specifically,
they target the hypothalamicpituitary
adrenal-axis. This is
where the body’s primary regulating
organs — the hypothalamus, the
pituitary gland, and the adrenal
glands — interweave in their
causes and effects. This axis is the
utmost collaboration for body
equilibrium. It regulates everything
from digestion, immunity, sexuality, mood, and
energy storage and expenditure.
Adaptogens regulate the regulators of the
HPA axis, and perplexingly, do so bidirectionally.
The same adaptogen can heal poor immune
function or hyperactive immune function, raise
low blood pressure or lower high blood pressure.
They were appropriately named by the Soviets,
who researched their effects on Olympians,
soldiers, astronauts, and factory workers during
the Cold War.
In Western, Ayurvedic and Chinese medicine,
adaptogens are classed by their intensity and
application to sooth or nourish or uplift. From
this list, choose an adaptogen whose help you
need, and try taking it every day for three months.
The herbal medicine model assigns the
lowest, gentlest dose first. So let’s start with my
favorite adaptogen and food herb, ashwaganda.
The earthy-smelling root can be taken at any
time of day, as it improves both energy and
sleep, memory and learning, libido and calm.
It prevents premature aging, reduces anxiety,
inflammation, and oxidative stress. Ashwaganda
is often used in the treatment of arthritis, fertility
challenges, and hypothyroidism (specifically,
Hashimoto’s). To prepare, pour boiling water
over a tablespoon of the dried root and steep as
tea, or take 3-6 grams as a daily capsule, or 1-4
milliliters of tincture three times a day.
Caution: Ashwaganda is a nightshade, so
speak with your primary provider if that plant
family causes you sensitivity.
The more poor, infertile and sunbaked the
soil, the better and more potent the root of
astragalus. Like a long taproot into reserves of
nourishment, astragalus is used for low energy,
manifested as frequent sickness, poor slow
digestion, edema, respiratory infection, and
fibromyalgia. Astragalus is best used as a daily
tonic over several weeks. With its sweet beany
flavor, astragalus is a food herb ideal for flavoring
stocks. Because astragalus’s polysaccharides are
immunomodulating and polysaccharides are
water soluble, a tea made from the decocted, or
long, slowly simmered, roots is more effective
medicine than a tincture. Take 9-15 grams of root
in tea or stock in divided doses throughout the day.
Other soothing adaptogens ideal for daily use
include gotu kola and medicinal mushrooms
such as maitake, reishi, chaga, and turkey tail.
Of the median, nourishing adaptogens,
Tulsi is crowned “the incomparable one,”
translated from Sanskrit. Tulsi, or Holy Basil, is
a relative to our common Genovese Basil, but
is revered as sacred Sattvic herb in India, where
it has been propagated for over 3,000 years.
Holy Basil embodies her name with a long list
of herbal actions, including antidepressant,
immunomodulator, and anti-inflammatory.
Tulsi is proven in studies to be a habit shifter
and is used during respiratory ailments,
cancer treatment for its antimutagenic and
radio-protective qualities, for cognitive issues
in elders, ADHD, and in Type II diabetes for
its favorable effects on blood sugar and lipid
metabolism. Holy Basil can be made into pesto
or pasta, a tincture, or a tea with 10 milliliters
of dried herb per one cup of water sipped three
times a day.
Maca is the mother of hormone nourishers,
used by the Quechua Indians as a food that
promotes mental activity, physical vitality,
endurance, libido, and stamina, while reducing
anxiety and depression. The hardy root is packed
with amino acids, iodine, iron, magnesium, and
sterols that support adrenaline and hormone
function. Along with stimulating changes in the
HPA axis, maca sterols also touch the ovarian,
pineal and thyroid glands. Maca increases
progesterone and luteinizing hormone, which
stimulates ovary function, and is therefore
often helpful for issues of fertility, hormone
imbalance PMS, Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome,
perimenopause and menopause. Because of its
bitter flavor, Maca is often taken medicinally as
a tincture, 75-100 milligrams a day.
Shatavari is a hormone harmonizer,
coined by doctor Aviva Romm “the queen of
women’s adaptogens.” Translated as “having
one hundred roots” and also referred to as
meaning “having one hundred husbands,”
Shatavari’s name refers to its traditional use as
a rejuvenate tonic for the female reproductive
system at all ages. It is hormone balancing, a
fertility tonic, immunotonic, and antioxidant.
It soothes the emotional symptoms of PMS
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as well as menopause, helps with low libido,
sleep problems and vaginal dryness in
perimenopause. Traditionally, about half a
teaspoon of Shatavari powder is mixed with
warm milk and honey. It can also be taken as a
tea or a 2-4 milliliter tincture dose 2-3 times a
day. Caution: people with a history of estrogenreceptive
positive cancer, such as breast or
endometrial cancer, may want to avoid Shatavari
for its mild estrogenetic effects.
In the uplifting category, Rhodiola is
the athlete-championed adaptogen. It was
popularized by the Russians in the 60s and
modern research confirms its ability to lower
heart rate, blood lactate levels (a sign of
overtraining) and decrease skeletal muscle
damage. Its use is no new wonder. Siberian
villagers brewed Rhodiola tea for everything
from anemia to libido and Vikings drank horn
cups full of it before raids. In the modern West,
however Rhodiola is best used as a kind of stress
vaccine for high demand work. It simultaneously
calms the spirit while invigorating the mind and
body, boosts immune function and reduces
inflammation. Caution: Avoid using rhodiola
if you suffer from bipolar depression or manic
behavior.
Other nourishing and uplifting adaptogens
to explore are Eluthero and American Ginseng,
Adaptogens are contraindicated with
pregnancy. The pregnant body purposely
initiates changes in blood sugar, body fat
retention, heart and kidney function in order to
grow a baby. Because adaptogens work to return
these levels back to pre-pregnant normal, they
should not be used during pregnancy. As with
all herbal medicines, speak to your primary
provider if you are taking any pharmaceuticals
to be sure the herb is not contraindicated.☐
No. 133 The Pinehurst Gazette, Inc. p.33