“All plants contain adaptogenic / tonic compounds, because plants have to content with a good deal of stress themselves. James Duke, PHD. Scientist and Ethnobotanist
Adaptogens do exactly what their name says: they help our bodies adapt to stress, support normal metabolic process and they help restore balance within us.
Adaptogens also help us regulate our immune systems, so in regards to cancer care from a holistic standpoint, these herbs are essential in helping our bodies maintain strong immune systems while we are battling the fight of cancer treatment.
Good herbal medicine treats people, not diseases, and one of the best ways we can do this is to use adaptogens to support the functions of our body while it is going through stressful times.
Adaptogens provide a defense response within us, that response to acute or chronic stress, and with this response it supports the restoration and balance of our hormones, immune systems, and other bodily systems. With regard to cancer care, adaptogens help balance our internal workings, allowing our body to maintain immune function, and fight the stress that will undoubetbly be there.
In the book “Adaptogens: Herbs for Strength, Stamina, and Stress Relief” by David Winston and Steven Maimes, we learn: “It is also known that most if not all adaptogens have antioxidant properties. many adaptogens also have hepatoprotective (protects the liver), cardioprotective (protects the heart), chemo-radiation protective (protects from effects of chemotherapy and radiation therapy), anticarcinogenic (anticancer, and anti-inflammatory properties. In fact, as we examine these herbs closely, we find many healthful and diverse attributes of adaptogens.”
“For example, astragalus has tonic effects not only on the immune system but also the respiratory and cardiovascular systems and directly and indirectly on the inhibition of the growth of tumors.” That is amazing!
Even through all of that, I think the most important aspect of an adaptogen, especially when it comes to helping our body’s cope with stress of cancer care or other debilitating disease, is the effect that they have on our stress response. We need all the strength and support we can find, when our body is fighting disease, because stress can directly affect our immune response, our cariac, and our gastro functions. Why not use adaptogens, to strengthen our systems and responses every day as we fight for health and healing.
In short, adaptogens have a normalizing influence on our body, which allows our body’s to maintain what we call homeostatis, the balance of our internal systems.
David Winston says: “he wouldn’t think of working in his clinical practice with patients who have autoimmune diseases, immune deficiency conditions (cancer, chronic fatigue immune deficiency syndrome, fibromyalgia), depression, anxiety, allergies, infertility, type 2 diabetes, and a host of other heath problems without using adaptogens.”
