The King of Adaptogens: Ginseng Reigns Supreme
If you are on the holistic path to healthy living, you are likely to hear about the benefits of ayurvedic herbs and particularly adaptogens. Among the most recommended adaptogens are ashwagandha, holy basil and red ginseng. Some may be good for long-term stress, others can help with anxiety, some with sleep problems and even physical stress.
Ironically, as many of us add herbal supplements and natural remedies to our daily self-care practices, trying to wade through the endless amounts of information is enough to trigger stress itself; there are so many choices! Which adaptogen is right for you? Let’s take a look at what sets these three apart.
Are All Adaptogens Created Equal?
As it turns out, the question is not whether one is better for you than another. It really depends on your particular situation and needs. According to experts, each of these adaptogens functions slightly differently. That’s because while they all can be classified as stress resistors; stress shows itself in the body in different ways and comes from different sources for every person. These sources can include emotional, physical or chemical stressors.
Immune System Support
Because of its antioxidant properties, ashwagandha (sometimes referred to as Indian Ginseng) is believed to support the immune system, which may be compromised by stress.* The name ashwagandha translates to “scent of a horse,” because when it was first discovered, the adaptogen was believed to give the strength and stamina of a stallion. The antioxidant properties are believed to help your body stay healthy. So, if you’re looking for an adaptogen to boost your immune system and fight off illness, you may want to consider adding ashwagandha to your routine.
Physical Effects of Stress
Holy basil is an ancient Hindu herb, sometimes used to depollute the atmosphere or as an insect repellent. Holy basil is sometimes also used to help with physical stress because it can have endurance enhancing properties.* Some swear by it for improving sexual performance, and others say it helps with sleep issues, forgetfulness and exhaustion.*
As an ointment, some find this adaptogen can help with skincare, which may come as no surprise considering how stress can physically manifest as a rash or redness. If this sounds familiar to you, adding holy basil to your routine may help you keep stress from taking a toll on your body. You can find holy basil essential oils, teas, or even add the leaves to cooking.
Overall Wellness
In our opinion, red ginseng could be considered the king of all adaptogens because of its ongoing use as a primary energy tonic by Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioners for more than 5,000 years. While other adaptogens are known for treating more specific ailments, evidence-based research shows ginseng’s broad benefits include boosting the immune system, fighting fatigue, increasing energy levels, boosting mood, improving cognitive wellness and more.* So, if you’re going to pick just one adaptogen to add into your lifestyle for general wellness, ginseng can provide the broadest scope of benefits.
Getting Your Daily Serving of Red Ginseng
As ginseng grows in popularity, so has the ways you can consume it. You can pop a pill, mix powder into your favorite smoothie, drink tea, or even add it to your favorite recipes. At NuTraditions, we’ve come up with an easy and effective way to add a daily dose of ginseng to your daily morning ritual without adding yet another thing to your to-do list.
To make our Good Morning SunshineTM Coffee, we start with organic ginseng, harvested from China’s pristine Changbai Mountains, where each root is sustainably hand-harvested and transformed into a potent extract optimizing the herb’s benefits. We infuse this organic red ginseng extract into the organic, Fair TradeTM certified, single-origin Arabica coffee meticulously grown on small-scale farms in Guatemala and Colombia.
A daily cup of our Good Morning SunshineTM Coffee can give you sustained energy, help you stress less, and let you naturally power through your day to better handle all that life throws your way. We recommend savoring a cup daily for a few weeks to feel its full adaptogenic effects. We believe organic red ginseng is something you’ll want in your cup each morning.
Tell us what you think! We would love to hear how you feel after a week or so of drinking our coffee. Feel free to reach out on our Instagram or Facebook.
*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.