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| The Energy Crisis, Part 2 |
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In the previous article I discussed the herb known as “yerba mate” (or just mate more commonly) as a healthy alternative to coffee or tea. Caffeine, however, no matter the source, is only part of the answer to the question, “What can I take to boost my energy levels?”
Stimulant herbs such as mate, tea and coffee force the body to burn whatever energy reserves are available, but there comes a time when the piper has to be paid. This is where the currency of adaptogenic herbs proves to be most valuable.
Adaptogens are substances which facilitate the body’s recovery mechanisms and promote the restoration of energy reserves. The subjective effects may indeed be stimulating, but in ways which increase overall vitality rather than decreasing it.
The four herbs I have used personally and have found to be most effective in this regard are Korean ginseng, Maca Root, Astragalus, and Suma. There are quite a few others, but these I know from first hand use and use by my customers, to be helpful and safe.
Korean ginseng (Panax ginseng) is probably the best known of the adaptogenic herbs, with a history of use dating back thousands of years in Asia*. It has the longest history of use, most people have heard of it and yet in terms of scientific research, it is poorly understood at best.
Several forms exist on the market including “white” ginseng, which is the peeled and sun-dried root and “red” ginseng, which is the unpeeled root which has been steamed. The steaming appears to inhibit the breakdown of active ingredients, producing a more stable and potent product.
Ginseng can give you quite a boost, to which I can personally attest. Paradoxically, if you take it while fully rested you may not notice any effects, but if you take it while deeply fatigued, you will invariably notice a boost in energy, lasting several hours.
Ginseng also enjoys a long history of use for its purported aphrodisiac effects, which is actually supported by some studies on lab mice and their romantic escapades, which you can read about here: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12076988
