For starters, what is stress? 

Stress has many meanings but essentially, in its unembellished form, stress is the body’s natural response to a challenge, threat or simply a demand. And we say “simply” because it really can be as simple as staying alive - things like ingesting, digesting and metabolizing food into energy, or breathing, or recovering cells during your beauty sleep all require some sort of demand - conscious or unconscious - on the body to function optimally. Stress, by nature, is a healthy cog in the wheel of life. 

In its more embellished form, stress is a sympathetic nervous system response (popularly known as the fight-or-flight response). The brain's fine-tuned wiring and firing of the amygdala activates this fight-or-flight response without any initiative from you - it’s all happening behind the scenes, in perfect orchestra-style synchronicity, without a single conscious thought. When that particular part of your brain senses danger or perceives a threat, it signals your brain to pump stress hormones, preparing your body to either fight for survival or to flee to safety. This physiological response also has its own cycle, one that can be broken down into three distinct stages: alarm, resistance, and exhaustion. It’s the body’s natural way of not only protecting and preserving itself, but also releasing tension and trauma post stressful situations. Picture a buck frantically tremoring after being chased by a lion - they’re quite literally shaking it off, releasing the tension after a life-threatening event. 

But in our modern world, where we aren’t fighting or fleeing from saber-toothed tigers or fellow cave dwellers trying to knock us out with a club like our braver ancestors, stress can become an inconspicuous trickster because it’s less about the stress and more about the perceived stressor. Perceived being the operative word here. Stuck in traffic? Late for work? Can’t afford this month's rent? A loved one passed away? Your sister lost her job? Kids are off to college? Or your daily to-do list is growing by the second? While these aren’t saber-toothed tigers, imminently threatening your very survival, your brain perceives them as a threat - and therefore, triggers the exact same intrinsic stress response. The problem? These perceived stressors have become part-and-parcel of everyday life but our bodies are not designed to sustain stress long-term. The other problem? Unlike the buck shaking it off, we’re not developing coping practices to mindfully alleviate the tension and move through the full stress cycle. Wreaking havoc on our physical, mental, emotional and even spiritual well-being. 

The knock-on effects of an unregulated nervous system. 

It’s safe to say that the perpetual release of stress hormones (cortisol) in our day-to-day lives slowly but surely chips away at the body’s overall health and wellness. And while we may hear many people casually sweep their afternoon headache under the rug with “it’s just been a stressful day”, the culmination of many stressful days can be a serious, life-draining culprit that diminishes vitality, well-being and our ability to experience the full spectrum of joy. In fact, chronic stress is the sneaky root-cause to many undiagnosed ailments such as insomnia, cognition and memory issues, adrenal fatigue, depression and/or anxiety, slow digestion, poor metabolism, cardiovascular health risks and many more. The list goes on. So, amidst the hustle and bustle of our demanding lives (including our demanding chores, bills, bosses and grocery trips), how can we ease our mind, nurture our body and gently regulate our nervous system as a means to manage and move through the full stress cycle? Well, there are many ways - sometimes it’s about prioritizing Sunday self-care, enforcing boundaries with friends who demand too much of your time, going for a stroll, meditating for 10-minutes a day, rising with the sun, venting in your journal, going to bed a little earlier, stomping your feet, punching a pillow or soaking in a long, hot lavender bubble bath. And sometimes, it’s about digging deeper, beneath the skin's surface, and infusing herbal remedies within your wellness routine to help your body synergistically repair and restore back to its innate balance. 

The power of adaptogens.

Adaptogenic herbs are wondrous, willful plant allies that help the body adapt to stress by supporting the production of stress-related neurotransmitters and hormones. They are nifty, hard workers that intuitively increase or decrease the function of any particular system based on what the body needs most. Some adaptogens are stimulating and energizing while others are balancing and calming - no matter their end score, their primary role is to always alleviate stress and enhance prana - the vital life force energy - within the body. While adaptogens have become all the rage within modern wellness, they’re much more potent than just an added ingredient on a supplement label. Their sacred healing powers have been medicinally harvested, prescripted and revered for thousands of years - and for good reason. Let’s look at the ancient systems - Chinese medicine used adaptogens as qi tonics and Ayurveda used them as rasayana herbs, all with the intention of returning the body back to equilibrium and maintaining optimal health and happiness.

Adapotogens 101: Balancing, calming & stimulating

Here at Transitions herbal, it’s tough to single out an absolute favorite adaptogen. They’re all so dynamic, ingenious and divinely special in their own way with a tendency to care and cure when you need it most. Whether you’re looking to balance, calm or stimulate your system, we carefully blend specific adaptogens to support every state of being. 

Balancing adaptogens are multidisciplinary herbs because they have the power to simultaneously energize and calm. Ashwagandha, an earthy-meets-nutty root, is our ultimate ally to super-boost your energy levels while gently nurturing your nervous, adrenal, thyroid and immune function.

Calming adaptogens are nature’s lullabies that take the edge off, soothes anxiety and makes the everyday load feel lighter and brighter. Holy Basil and Gotu Kola are among our favourite calming aids, inducing a zen-like state without the groggy brain fog. 

Stimulating adaptogens are the powerhouse for generating physical and mental energy. Whether you’re feeling exhausted, deficient, depressed or as though you’re trudging through mud, consider Rhodiola, a rose-scented root that helps the body make adenosine triphosphate, which essentially provides energy on a cellular level. Giving you the strong (yet always-loving) kick that you need. 

So, no matter your age and no matter your stress levels; our time-tested and contemporary adaptogenic remedies are meticulously crafted to work with you, bringing you the support, nourishment and TLC your body needs to shield you from stress while also preserving your joy, vigor and head-to-heart well-being.