Holy Basil-Rhodiola Adaptogen Combo
The daily trials incidental to modern life have an impact on every one of us without exception. The stresses of a daily commute, pollution, strenuous mental or physical exertion, poor diet, and a host of other factors all add up to take a toll on our health. These stresses can influence immune and adrenal functions, not to mention our mental and emotional equilibrium.
Herbal medicines can help to reduce the negative effects that stress places upon the body. St. Francis Herb Farm® has established the essential adaptogens and combined them in a single, easy-to-take, and affordable product. Strest® is one significant answer to the stresses of modern life.
Adaptogen — a term coined by Russian scientists in the 1950s — refers to herbs that act to increase energy levels, promote a general sense of well being, reduce sickness and diminish the negative physical impacts of excess stress. For many decades, elite athletes in Russia, Germany and China have used adaptogen herbs as training aids. These herbs can significantly shorten recovery times between workouts, enabling athletes to train harder, longer and more intensely with fewer repercussions. St. Francis Herb Farm’s Strest® formula is a premiere adaptogen combination that aids in exercise recovery and improves physical endurance, stamina, and energy levels.
Strest® increases motivation, energy levels and well-being, and improves one’s ability to function effectively during stressful periods. It is an adrenal tonic; the adrenal glands produce adrenaline — the hormone that stimulates the flight-or-fight response. Prolonged stress tends to weaken the adrenal gland, leading to decreased immune function, mood and energy levels, and increased inflammation.
Adaptogen formulas stimulate adrenal function and can be used safely over the long term to enhance energy and motivation, and promote detoxification. A World Health Organization review confirmed that adaptogens improved physical and mental performance under stressful conditions and reduced the incidence of illness .
Holy basil - Herbalists often state that this plant has a “centring effect”. There is an initial 20-30 minutes of stimulation, followed by relaxation. Holy basil reduces anxiety and helps a person focus.
Singh and Hoette explain in their text that, out of 50 adaptogens screened for anti-stress activity, holy basil, ashwagandha and eleuthero all exceeded the effectiveness of Panax ginseng.
Rhodiola - This herb increases work capacity - mentally and physically - under stressful conditions. It can boost brain function and memory and has significant antifatigue effects. Rhodiola improved sleep in 67% of patients with chronic sleep-related problems. Rhodiola had the most pronounced effect on the ability to prolong work as compared to other adaptogens. Within 30 minutes of administration, rhodiola induces a stimulating effect that continues for at least 4-6 hours. Sixty-four percent of 128 depressed patients recovered with rhodiola.
Ashwagandha - This is a first class ‘tonic herb’ and an ingredient in many traditional Ayurvedic formulations prescribed to improve overall health, enhance mental function, increase fertility and libido, and prevent disease and infections in athletes and the elderly. , Ashwagandha increases vitality, energy, endurance and stamina, while promoting longevity and strengthening the immune system without depleting the body’s reserves. It has an ability to nurture the nervous system, counteract anxiety and stress, and promote a calm state of mind.
Eleuthero - Russian scientists seeking to find an alternative to expensive Chinese ginseng discovered the adaptogenic properties of eleuthero in the 1950s. Since then, eleuthero has established itself as a premier adaptogen. Germany’s herbal authority, the Commission E, approves it “as a tonic for invigoration and fortification in times of fatigue and debility or declining capacity for work and concentration; also during convalescence.”
At least 35 Russian clinical trials involving over 2100 healthy subjects, demonstrated that the tincture improved physical and mental work performance under stressful conditions and reduced the incidence of illness. A further 35 trials in 2200 patients with various health disorders found a normalizing trend for blood pressure, serum prothrombin and cholesterol levels, while overall well-being and physical work performance improved.
Oats - Although not generally classified as an adaptogen, oats traditionally held a place of honour in the west for the same indications as the more recognized herbal adaptogens described above. Eclectic physicians like Petersen and Ellingwood, for example, used oats for debility and for general prostration from overwork, anxiety and worry. ,
Schisandra: Schisandra is a premier TCM adaptogen. Studies reveal that schisandra: improves running time in athletes; increases muscular working capacity and ability; activates the adrenals; improves the function of the respiratory and cardiovascular systems; increases quality and quantity of mental work performed; improves accuracy in error correction tests; reduces mean running time, fatigue, muscular pain, shortness of breath and dryness of mouth in 20km ski marathoners; improves accuracy in the work of telegraph operators at exhaustion compared with controls; improves night vision; and increases physical working capacity by up to 222% compared with controls.
Combination rationale:
It is our view that Strest® represents the best adaptogen combination available. Many authors, researchers and clinicians believe that adaptogens should be taken by all individuals at all times, to reduce the detrimental effects that stress has on the body, to improve immunity and to reduce susceptibility to the deleterious effects of a toxic environment.
Other combinations to consider:
Consider taking Strest® with ValeriCalm™ if anxiety or insomnia is present.
Administration:
Take continuously or as needed during stressful periods, 1-2 capsules twice daily with a little water on an empty stomach.
There are several reasons that St. Francis Herb Farm® began to produce a dry, vegicap version of its popular Strest® liquid extract:
• Many people prefer the taste and convenience of capsules.
• Some people avoid products that contain alcohol (a component of most liquid herbal products) for a variety of reasons.
• Twice-daily capsules provide an optimal daily dose of a high-quality, organic, affordable product.
Food-grade alcohol and water are the ideal solvents for extracting the full range of medicinal qualities for most herbs. The resulting tincture extract is concentrated and dried to create a powder for encapsulation. Drying can damage sensitive volatile ingredients, however, such as those found in holy basil. That is why the essential oils have been reclaimed and added back after extraction, yielding an essential oil-enriched extract.
Rosavin is the currently accepted chemical standard for Rhodiola rosea identification, which is why we have guaranteed 1% Rosavin content in this product. This ensures that the product is authentic and potent.
Contra-indications and Cautions:
Consult a health care practitioner prior to use if you are taking other medications or if you have a medical condition. Do not take when pregnant or breastfeeding.
Ingredients:
Certified Organic Holy Basil (Ocimum sanctum)
Highest Quality Rhodiola (Rhodiola rosea)
Certified Organic Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera)
Certified Organic/Highest Quality Eleuthero (Eleutherococcus senticosus)
Certified Organic Milky Oat Seed (Avena sativa)
Certified Organic Schisandra (Schisandra chinense)
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