What are Adaptogens & why do we use them in our products?

Adaptogens are herbs, roots and other plant substances (like mushrooms) that help our bodies manage stress and restore balance. They are rich in antioxidants, & when applied topically they help protect the skin against environmental aggressors, improve skin texture, appearance & help improve barrier function! Many of the antioxidant-rich adaptogens we utilize also are very calming & soothing to the skin/scalp & they protect the hair cuticles against sun damage as well. They may reduce hair shedding, improve growth and help tame frizz,  making them a great addition to our hair care products!

Our products feature an expansive range of adaptogens featuring:

Ashwagandha, Burdock Root, Marshmallow Root, Nettle Leaf, Sea Buckthorn, Moringa, Aloe, Ginkgo Biloba, Chamomile + Rosemary. This list will continue to expand as we launch our upcoming products :) 

 People take adaptogens as herbal supplements in capsule form, drink them in teas or in a powder added to soups, smoothies and other foods.

 Stress, whether physical, emotional, hormonal, or from our diet and beverages, impacts the body's systems. Adaptogens are believed to interact with the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, which triggers the body's stress response and helps maintain balance.

Not all herbs work as adaptogens. To be considered an adaptogen, an herb or plant substance must:

  1. Be nontoxic at normal doses
  2. Support the entire body’s ability to cope with stress
  3. Help the body return to a stable state

There are many herbs and mushrooms that qualify as adaptogens, and what experts know about most of them is still limited, but growing research shows that adaptogens help the body regulate in many ways, including improving mood, balancing hormones, fighting fatigue and boosting the immune system.

 While some adaptogens like ashwagandha and Asian ginseng have a number of studies on their varied actions, supplements are not regulated by FDA, and FDA approval does not equate to safety.

If you plan to add plants with adaptogenic qualities to your diet, talk with your healthcare provider to discuss how they could impact your health and if they are right for you!