Your nervous system is vital for your body—whether in fight or flight mode during an emergency, allowing your body to relax on vacation, or operating your body’s daily functions. But a dysregulated nervous system can leave you feeling stressed, anxious, and fatigued. Read on to understand how to recognize the signs of a dysregulated nervous system and how to naturally restore regulation. What Is the Nervous System and What Does It Do? The nervous system is your body’s communication network made up of the brain, spinal cord, and nerves carrying messages from the brain throughout your body. Messages sent through the nervous system regulate virtually everything we do, including movement, thoughts, feelings, and our response to stressful situations—and things we do without even thinking about it, like breathing, digesting food, healing wounds, and keeping our hearts beating. The nervous system is divided into two parts: the central nervous system (CNS) and the peripheral ...
Adaptogens: A Balanced Response to Stress
Adaptogenic herbs such as ashwagandha, amla and holy basil are increasing in popularity because of their ability to support the body’s response to a variety of stressors. These centuries-old staples of Ayurvedic and Traditional Chinese Medicine (which is likely a product of Ayurveda; hence why the two share so many ingredients) help the body literally adapt to physical and emotional stress in order to manage everything from sleep to energy. This means if you’re feeling flustered, they’ll calm you, or if you’re feeling sluggish, they’ll provide pep. They also help to balance and regulate the body’s immune response.
Studies Showing Adaptogens Support Many Other Mind and Body Functions
In addition to their traditional uses, the popularity of adaptogens is partially thanks to the vast amount of recent research showing their effectiveness. In a culture conditioned to pharmaceutical trials and premarket approval, many consumers want to see hard science—and new science—before they’re convinced to try a natural remedy. Current studies indicate that ashwagandha, for example, has antioxidant effects that can support healthy inflammation response, a strong immune system and a clear mind, all while keeping energy steady.
More Than Just Herbs
But in Ayurveda, adaptogens far transcend the benefits of the individual herbs. Adaptogens have long been part of an Ayurvedic practice of Rasayana, or “regenerative therapies,” said to support a long and happy life. While in Western herbalism, adaptogens are just a category of herbs, in Ayurveda, it’s the herbs plus therapies, formulas, topical remedies and detoxification practices that are all aimed at increasing allostasis, which is the “flexibility to the demands of life.”
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