Frugally Sustainable

A Resource for All Things Frugal and Sustainable

Adaptogenic Herbs For Stress Relief ~ And a Recipe for Homemade Smoothie Mix

Share on Pinterest

The miracle of adaptogenic herbs

I have to share with you my new favorite supplement!

Recently I started making a blend of adaptogenic herbs that we have been adding to our smoothies, drinks, and various breakfast foods — whenever we’re feeling the need for a little support.

My journey into adaptogens began shortly before formulating this Uplifting Loose Leaf Herbal Tea as a way to cope with “the winter blues.”

It’s been fun testing out and trying new ways to incorporate these nourishing plants into our diet! Note: Keep an eye out, I will be sharing our favorite recipe very soon…

And I know now that — without a doubt — this blend of herbs will have to remain on hand at all times, forever!

What are adaptogenic herbs?

The research on this class of herbs is really extensive and not to mention the findings are incredible!

The word “adaptogen” was coined by a Russian scientist by the name of N.V. Lazarev in 1947. He defined them as “agents which help an organism to counteract any adverse effects of a physical, chemical or biological stressor by generating nonspecific resistance.”

This basically means that adaptogens are herbs/plants that help the body:

  • maintain balance — specifically in the immune, endocrine, nervous, and hormonal systems
  • reduce the effects of stress — and increase the body’s resistance to it
  • boost immunity
  • encourage liver detoxification
  • combat the signs of aging
  • stabilize moods

Most of the research agrees — in order for the body to respond optimally — adaptogenic herbs should be consumed daily for at least three months. It is encouraging to note, in general, these plants can be taken safely for an indefinite period of time.

For literally hundreds, if not thousands, of years the following herbs — just to list a few — have been well-known to possess the power that comes with the definition:

  • Eleuthero (formerly Siberian Ginseng)
  • Ginseng
  • Holy Basil (Tulsi)
  • Maca
  • Licorice Root
  • Ashwagandha
  • Turmeric
  • Rhodiola
  • Amla
  • Astragalus

So how do we incorporate these plants into our diet?

This is how…

Adaptogenic Herbs For Stress Relief ~ And a Recipe for Homemade Smoothie Mix

Adaptogenic Herbal Smoothie Mix

Ingredients

  • 3 parts Maca powder
  • 2 parts Eleuthero powder
  • 1 part Tulsi powder
  • 1 part Ashwagandha powder
  • 1/2 part Turmeric Root powder

Method

1. Simply measure and mix all ingredients in a large bowl until well combined.

2. Transfer to a glass mason jar and store in a cool, dark place.

3. To use…take 1 teaspoon of the powder daily. It’s super yummy in smoothies, nut milks with a touch of honey (click here and learn how to make your own almond milk), or mixed into your favorite foods.

Tip: Encapsulating this herbal powder mix is another GREAT way to include adaptogens into your family’s diet. Click this link and I’ll teach you how to make your own herbal capsules

Note

-While this supplement is good for all of us…seriously consider taking this powder daily if you experience: chronic fatigue, anxiety, depression, fibromyalgia, decreased libido, hormone disruption, hypothyroidism, or adrenal insufficiency.

-Above all, it’s especially good for those looking to stay centered and connected when things are stressful.

-Looking for more information? I highly recommend reading this book:

Where Can I Get This Stuff?

-I prefer organic essential oils like these as the sourcing is very important.

Share on Pinterest
Category:

Reader Interactions

Comments

    • Great question Laura! I like to use Holy Basil — Krishna simply for the medicinal value. And I really like the taste:)

      • Thanks for you reply! The description of the three over at Mountain Rose Herbs is so brief that it was hard to tell which one to use. I will try that one.

  2. How about taking the tsp daily in capsule form? That may be the only way I could get my hubby to do it. ….and do you recomend this for adults only?

    • Alyssa! That is another great way to take these herbs! Encapsulating them is super easy and very effective…I really should modify the post to reflect that:) And honestly, our whole family takes this supplement.

  3. Thanks for shaing this wonderful piece of information for getting rid of stress. As stress is become the part and parcel of life which you cannot escape, people often take several tablets to get rid of stress which sometime cause serious health issues. But these herbs are perfect for getting rid of stress in a natural and healthy way.

    • These herbs are perfect Ashley! I am a HUGE fan of them…after taking them consistently for about 8 weeks now, I can absolutely feel the difference.

  4. It is so refreshing to see so many of you younger ladies striving to attain good health with natural and organic products for your families. When my youngest daughter became diabetic at the age of 8 (she is now 43, I’m 73), I had to change my way of cooking and baking to accomodate her needs. The rest of my family ate the same as she did. Lots of fresh fruits and veggies (I raised a big garden on the farm and canned and froze most things) and a total change in diet helped all of us. One of my daughters and I live close together and we do as much as organic as we possibly can. I follow Nourishing Traditions as much as possible and smoothies are a mainstay at my house. Also homemade kefir, beet kavass, coconut oil, cultured vegetables and sourdough bread and soaked flour or sprouted grains in breads. I am on no medicine of any kind and am in good health. I have a grinder and we grind all of our flour and with a dehydrator also, it is so easy to dry a lot of veggies for easier storage. I’m happy to say that there is no boxed mixes of anything in my pantry. Everything is made from scratch so that I know what I am eating. LOL. My firm belief in God has been the one thing that has gotten me through many rough times. Without Him, I am nothing. May God Bless each of you in your journey to better health.

  6. This herbal smoothie recipe mix sounds awesome. I just want to remind everyone to make sure they check for possible side effects or drug interactions before they start consuming these on a regular basis. Licorice for one, is very dangerous for anyone with high blood pressure if it is ingested for more than a month at a time.

  9. This is great. I’ve never heard of Adaptogenic herbs before. We’re big smoothie people, so we’ll give it a try. Thanks Andrea!

  11. Hi Andrea. My practitioner said that some herbs, like maca, aren’t to be used when ill as they drive the illness deeper. Wondering if you’ve read that. I have found it to be true about some of the tonic herbs she has recommended to me.

  12. I like using some of these herbs in warm milk (or coconut milk) at night, too. A little ashwaganda, turmeric garam masala and nutmeg (with a pinch of black pepper) is really good, especially on a cold night… I miss my maca smoothies, which I don’t do so much in the winter.

  13. Hi, are these herbs safe to use if you’re on antidepressants and have mild/moderate kidney disease? Thanks.

  14. If I want to make the capsules do I just blend the herbs and place into the capsules? Also how many capsules a day would you take? Would one capsule = 1 tsp.? Many thanks!!

  15. Interesting stuff. I’ve never heard of adaptogenic herbs before. I can feel more research coming on 🙂 My 3 year old and I have a green smoothy for lunch most days (sometimes it’s more brown from the addition of berries!), so they’d be easy to incorporate I think. For us anyway. Don’t know about the big kids or the Dad!

  18. New Earth Resource Company in Huntington, WV, is also an excellent source to order your adaptogenic herbs. Since 1989 New Earth has been one of the largest regionsl suppliers of pesticide-free and certified organic bulk herbs and many hard to get natural products.

  20. I’d like to mention that maca root is a stimulant. Someone had recommended I take maca root a few years back and not realizing it was a stimulant, I tried it in capsule form. I think I took only three capsules and I wasn’t able to sleep for 2 days. So for anyone who can’t drink caffeine or take ginseng, I would recommend either not taking maca root or at the very least proceed with caution and take only a very tiny amount to see how it works.

  21. Adaptogens are by definition herbs that are nontoxic in normal amounts, which stimulate non-specific immunity and balance the HPA axis, which means that your hormonal balance would be restored. (But some people are more sensitive than others and anyone can have an idiosyncratic reaction to a herb that works for others, so trust your body.) Frankly I prefer to find one or two adaptogens that have a profile matching your needs, although a mixed smoothie isn’t bad. Maca btw isn’t by any consensus an adaptogen- I would classify it as a food-grade aphrodisiac or Kidney tonic.