What Are Adaptogens?

Adaptogens are non-toxic, naturally occurring remedies derived from certain types of plants and mushrooms. When taken as a supplement, they may provide various soothing and health-boosting benefits. Adaptogens can be taken in various forms, like capsules, teas, liquid extracts and more.

Because the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) doesn’t regulate supplements, adaptogens haven’t been reviewed or approved by them. This only means that they aren’t officially recognized as a medical treatment. They are still regularly sold and used as a natural remedy and supplement.

Adaptogens are perfectly safe for human consumption, and they’re safe to combine with other supplements, foods and herbal ingredients. Some prescription medications may interact with certain adaptogens at certain dosages, so a conversation with a doctor is important before combining them.

Different Types of Adaptogens

Adaptogens have actually been used for centuries by various cultures, though they didn’t realize quite how they worked. Science would eventually begin to explore how the natural chemicals in adaptogenic plants worked in the body, and people continued to use them for wellness throughout the years. Today, these time-tested folk medicines are still go-to sources of relief.

Adaptogenic ingredients that are commonly used as supplements include:

• American Ginseng (Panax quinquefolium): A leafy, herbaceous plant with rich green leaves and clusters of small red berries. Both the root and leaves of the plant have been used as traditional medicine by Native American tribes. It’s commonly taken to combat pain, stress and inflammation.
• Asian Ginseng (Panax ginseng): Another leafy perennial plant with red berries and a potent medicinal root, similar to American ginseng. Asian ginseng is often considered the original or “true” ginseng, and has been used throughout history in Chinese traditional medicine. It’s taken to increase energy, relieve fatigue and boost resilience.
• Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera): A short shrub with lantern-like green flowers and red-orange fruits. It grows in places like India and the Middle East, and the finger-like roots of the plant have been used as a medicinal herb in Ayurvedic medicine. Ashwagandha, or “winter cherry,” is said to have various stress relief and bodily support benefits.
• Rhodiola (Rhodiola rosea): Also commonly called golden root or rose root, rhodiola is a high-altitude North American crop with short leaves and yellow flowers on individual stalks. As a medicinal herb, the root is usually either dried and powdered or processed to produce an extract. Rhodiola is said to help relieve stress and ease symptoms of depression and anxiety.
• Eleuthero (Eleutherococcus senticosus): Sometimes called Siberian ginseng, eleuthero is a small shrub with dark indigo-colored berries. Dried, ground eleuthero root is often taken for similar reasons to ginseng, including stress relief and energy boosting. It’s also said to help modulate the immune system.
• Licorice Root (Glycyrrhiza glabra): The root of the herbaceous licorice plant—the same one that gives us the unique flavor of licorice candy. The sweet, aromatic liquid extract of the root has been used for food, tobacco flavoring, traditional medicine and more. When taken as a supplement or added to a tea, licorice root can help with stress relief, respiratory issues and stomach upset.
• Holy Basil (Ocimum tenuiflorum): An aromatic plant tipped with spikes of tiny purple flowers. As a popular ingredient in both Ayurvedic medicine and Thai cuisine, it can be taken as a powdered supplement, steeped as a tea or eaten as a culinary herb. Holy basil is commonly used for its potential anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial effects.

The Benefits of Adaptogens

Scientific research into the effects of adaptogens in the body is still ongoing, and current literature makes few hard statements. However, those who use and research adaptogens as a natural supplement report a variety of positive effects.

Restored Bodily Balance

Adaptogens work by helping to regulate certain chemical processes in the body. If these processes are out of balance and the body produces too much or too little of something, adaptogens help to correct them. This brings things back into equilibrium and eases symptoms caused by the imbalance.

Reduced Stress Response

Adaptogens might be best known for their ability to relieve stress by regulating cortisol (the “stress hormone”). A healthy amount of cortisol is valuable for warning us against potential harm, but too much cortisol can lead to uncomfortable stress and anxiety symptoms. Adaptogens help keep the cortisol production process in check, lowering the overall amount of cortisol and reducing stress response symptoms.

Studies have already documented notable stress-relieving and energizing effects in both humans and animals. Data trends show that adaptogens lead to greater measures of stress protection and fatigue resistance throughout the phases of stress response.

Improved Energy and Overall Well-Being

Along with a reduction in stress and a return to balance, people tend to report feeling more energized and feeling better overall. When a person is in the middle of a difficult task, adaptogens help the body adjust to the stress and resist exhaustion. This means more stable energy to push through without feeling drained.

Improved Immune System

Many adaptogenic herbs have anti-inflammatory and immunogenic effects that support the body’s natural ability to resist illness and infection. Not only do adaptogens help prevent chronic stress from weakening the immune system, but they can help to regulate the processes related to immune response and brain-body communication.

VISO Energy Combines Adaptogens with Other Natural Ingredients for a Powerful Boost

While adaptogens are impressive on their own, they can also be combined with a variety of other ingredients for a wider range of benefits. To complement this body-balancing supplement, VISO Energy drinks have a purposeful mix of other energy-boosting ingredients.

VISO Energy drinks contain four all-natural key ingredients:

• 300mg of pure caffeine
• Nutrient rich, premium fruit juice (cold pressed, never heated)
• A plant-based blend of vitamins, minerals and adaptogens
• Unfiltered raw honey

Combined, these four components provide nourishing energy and calm the symptoms of stress and anxiety. Unlike other stimulant drinks with short-lived effects, VISO Energy acts as a support system for the body’s natural processes.

Find your favorite VISO Energy flavor for stable, all-natural support that will keep you feeling great through your next workday, workout or weekend.