(NaturalHealth365)  Did you know that stress, often overlooked and underestimated, is directly linked to a staggering 6 of the leading causes of death, as reported by the American Psychological Association?  It’s a chilling revelation, yet when we visit the doctor’s office, stress rarely takes the spotlight as a potential root cause of illness.  But here’s the truth: chronic diseases will only continue to surge if we fail to address stress and its impact on adrenal function.

But don’t despair just yet, because there’s hope!  By taking charge of our well-being, we can unlock the power of natural remedies, like the incredible adaptogenic herbs, to conquer chronic stress and fortify our adrenal health.  Empowering ourselves to tackle chronic stress is not just a nicety; it’s necessary for our overall health and well-being.  In fact, it could be the very key to slowing down the aging process and preventing premature death.

Fact: 75-90% of doctor’s visits are linked to chronic stress

Did you know that an astonishing 75-90% of doctor’s visits can be directly traced back to stress?  That’s right – those frequent headaches, sleepless nights, and acute anxiety may all have chronic stress lurking beneath the surface.  But here’s the unfortunate reality: more often than not, doctors opt for a quick-fix approach, prescribing medications that merely mask the symptoms without delving into the underlying stress triggers.

It’s time to recognize the truth – stress might just be the insidious root cause of more diseases than we could ever imagine.  To take control of our health, we must understand how stress wreaks havoc on our bodies.

Sadly, when we endure a chronic state of stress, physical harm is done to the body through an imbalance in the HPA axis, otherwise known as the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis.  This HPA axis is in control of our bodies’ response to external stress, commonly known as the fight-or-flight response.  When the body is under a chronic amount of stress, the HPA axis may not be able to respond to stress appropriately.

How stress increases inflammation and creates hormonal imbalances

An impaired HPA axis can influence the development of autoimmune diseases and even inflammatory conditions.  According to Thomas G. Guilliams, Ph.D., and Lena Edwards, M.D., repeated exposure to chronic stress can lead to more than one form of HPA axis dysregulation.

Cortisol secretion is another major reason why stress is causing many modern-day diseases.  While it’s normal to experience moderate amounts of stress in life, chronic everyday stress is going to lead to a steady release of cortisol, leading to cortisol overload.  When cortisol is relentlessly released, the body becomes desensitized to this hormone, which can cause large amounts of inflammation.

What we know about inflammation is that inflammation is responsible for 8 out of 10 of the leading causes of disease today.  What you have here is a domino effect; chronic stress causes constant cortisol secretion – which results in inflammation and chronic disease symptoms.

And finally, throwing the body out of a state of harmonious biochemical balance can lead to chronic disease.  Stress causes an imbalance in both the parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous systems and causes an imbalance in nearly every other process in the body.  An imbalanced body leads to opportunities for disease to strike.

How adaptogens help to eliminate chronic stress and support adrenal health

Adaptogenic herbs have been around for thousands of years and have been used to help the body restore a natural balance and help combat the negative effects of stress.  Research has shown that adaptogens can improve mood and energy levels and even reduce the number of chronic diseases while improving longevity.

It may be nearly impossible to remove every source of stress from our lives, but it’s possible to supply our body with what it needs to combat the negative effects stress has on the body.  There are a handful of different adaptogenic herbs for stress, each with its unique benefits.

Defeat stress and support adrenal health with these 4 adaptogenic herbs

1.  Ashwagandha:  This is probably one of the more popular and well-known adaptogenic herbs and has been known to improve overall strength and endurance.  Ashwagandha has been traditionally used in Ayurvedic medicine as a healing tonic.  This powerful herb has been known to help improve endurance, stamina, and immunity and even promote longevity.

Studies have shown that this adaptogenic herb is particularly helpful for physical stress due to high-intensity exercise.  While exercise is essential for living a healthy lifestyle, it can also cause inflammation and muscle damage.  This is where ashwagandha comes in; it helps to counteract the stress intense exercise can put on the body.

2.  Cordyceps:  Cordyceps is a medicinal mushroom used in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM).  Mushrooms have been known for their immune-supporting properties for centuries, so it’s no surprise that cordyceps may be helpful in boosting immune function for those facing chronic stress.  Chronic stress significantly impairs immune function, so doing everything in your power to rebuild a healthy immune system and prevent chronic stress from becoming a chronic disease is essential.

3.  Holy basil:  Holy basil, also known as tulsi, has been used for thousands of years in Ayurvedic medicine.  This adaptogenic herb is one of the most widely used adaptogens to help the body cope with chronic stress.  Holy basil can help protect the body from oxidative stress and help the body maintain a healthy cortisol balance.  This adaptogenic herb is incredibly calming and may even help those suffering from anxiety and depression.

4.  Rhodiola:  Here is another popular adaptogenic herb commonly used to help balance the body’s stress-response systems.  During times of chronic stress, the body’s sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems can be thrown out of balance, putting you on edge and burning out your adrenal glands.  Rhodiola helps to balance these systems and helps the body reach a state of homeostasis.

If you want to take control of your chronic stress and restore homeostasis for an optimally functioning body, then consider one of the four adaptogenic herbs above.  These herbs have been around for thousands of years and may just be the answer to controlling the negative effects of chronic stress in your life.

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Sources for this article include:

NIH.gov
Pointinstitute.org
Lifeextension.com
Lifeextension.com