My go-to herbs (adaptogens) for stress support & resilience!

These are my personal go-to adaptogens I reach for each day. I have a genetic SNP called COMT, which makes it difficult for me to break down adrenaline in my body. This means I need to really manage my stress levels by various means: calming the nervous system, getting "just right" exercise, meditating, eating anti-inflammatory foods, and taking supplements that target stress and resilience to it.

As you may know by now, adaptogens are a class of herbs that help your body adapt. It’s really as simple as that. They help your body adapt to stress by supporting the neurotransmitters and hormones that are associated with the endocrine system. It’s like having a soft pillow to bump up against when running into something that is pointy and stressful. Adaptogens are not specifically bound to one plant family or categorized by a specific constituent in a plant, but they are categorized more by how they act in the body.

Note: while these are gentle and safe herbs please don’t take them while pregnant unless you’ve checked with a qualified practitioner.

Reishi:

Reishi mushroom is highly regarded in Chinese medicine for its ability to nourish and support adrenal function. It calms the nervous system and can be taken before bed for deeper, relaxing, and restorative sleep. It is also a powerful herb for your immune system, so if you’re getting sick a lot because of stress, or never get sick and then crash on your first day of vacation, this might be a great choice for you.

Holy basil (the Tulsi tea):

Holy or “sacred” basil calms the mind and spirit and promotes longevity. This herb, called tulsi in Ayurveda, is used to improve energy and relieve fatigue, and it elevates the mood, especially providing relief from mild depression. While this herb is related to common basil, that is not a substitute.

Ashwaganda:

Ashwagandha has over 4,000 years of traditional use in India and is used to heal deep exhaustion, improve sleep, reduce anxiety, and boost memory. It is also very helpful if musculoskeletal aches and pains are keeping you up at night or have started to appear as a result of exhaustion.

Passionflower:

The flowers leaves and roots of the passionflower contain sedative properties that help to ease the body’s response to chronic stress and stressful situations.  I like to take this before bed if I'm feeling particularly jangly.