Adaptogens are medicinal herbs that help your body respond to occasional stress and navigate the modern world with grace, resilience, and balanced energy.* One of the easiest ways to understand the benefits adaptogens provide is to compare them to an exercise program. Adaptogens engage the stress responses systems of our cells, organs, and regulatory pathways (such as the brain-adrenal axis) much the same way that gentle exercise does. Have you ever gone for a short walk, even if you felt tired, and returned feeling refreshed, less on-edge, and more engaged? Some adaptogens, such as Asian ginseng root (Panax ginseng), can provide similar effects, for similar reasons.* And have you noticed that enjoying regular, gentle exercise helps build your stamina, defuse occasional stress when it comes up, and keeps you creative and healthy? Regular use of adaptogens such as Eleuthero root (Eleutherococcus senticosus) similarly provides benefits for endurance and energy, mood when under stress, and overall resilience.* In sum, adaptogens provide an array of biochemical compounds which challenge our system in much the same way exercise does.* With regular use, we become more “fit” to handle stressful situations.* As a result, it is no surprise to see such a wide array of benefits associated with these herbal allies: energy, mood, and vitality are all likely to remain in positive balance when we are more fit to handle stress.*