What’s a winter soup without parsley to garnish? And dill is surely the underrated star of the egg and mayo sandwich. Our point: herbs rarely get the appreciation they deserve, especially considering a particular group of them (known as adaptogens) are superheroes at helping your body and mind tackle whatever BS life is throwing your way.
So what are they? Raising you up when you feel flatter than a discarded can of Diet Coke, and chilling you out when your stress levels reach Gordon Ramsay peak, these adaptogenic herbs are thought to cause cells to alter their response to stress, so you produce more protective compounds called heat-shock proteins.
The good news is, while you might not realise it, you’ve probably already dipped your toe into the adaptogen game. Had a turmeric latte? A matcha ice-cream? Of course you have, we’ve seen your socials. Here, Rachel Landon, author of Superherbs, reveals the simplest ways to supercharge your herb and spice rack, today!
1. GINGER
What is it?
A rhizome – aka a stem that grows underground.
Where is it found?
South-East Asia.
Best for:
Boosting digestion. “Ginger is a sialagogue herb, which means it makes you salivate, helping you to break down food in this first stage of digestion, which is often missed when you’re eating on the go,” says Landon. And that’s not all this lovely little root is good for. A study in the Journal of Evidence-Based Complementary & Alternative Medicine found that ginger extract helps boost attention span and cognitive function, making it a potential brain tonic, too. Nice!
How to take it:
Blitz in a smoothie: juice three apples, two sticks of celery, some parsley and a thumb-sized piece of ginger. Drink up!
2. GOTU KOLA
What is it?
A plant and member of the parsley family.
Where is it found?
India, China and Malaysia.
Best for:
Easing anxiety. “Gotu kola has a soothing effect on the nervous system, relaxing the body – especially the brain when it’s in overdrive – but without having a sedative effect,” says Landon. Plus, research in the Nepal Medical College Journal found that it may be useful in the treatment of anxiety disorders.
How to take it:
Drink it in a tea. Ask a herbalist or specialist pharmacy about a gotu kola tincture.
3. NETTLE
What is it?
A stinger that you’re probably all too familiar with from those painful encounters as a kid. But stay with us!
Where is it found?
Asia, North America – and your nearest green space.
Best for:
When you’re feeling burnt out. “Nettle’s cleansing constituents support the whole body, especially the nervous system,” says Landon. Stress-busting aside, it’s packed with iron, vitamin C and calcium.
How to take it:
Buy as a tea or try as a side dish. Don gloves to pick leaves and wash in cold water. Heat 1 tbs of coconut oil in a frypan with chopped garlic. Cook leaves until wilted. Season and add a squeeze of lemon. Enjoy!
4. LIQUORICE
What is it?
A perennial plant in the pea and bean family.
Where is it found?
South-east Europe, Russia, Asia
Best for:
Balance. “Feelings of fatigue and low libido can often be due to adrenal exhaustion,” says Landon. “The active constituents of liquorice contain glycosides, which have a supporting and nourishing effect on the endocrine system, especially the adrenals.”
How to take it:
Swerve the Allsorts and buy liquorice root. Landon suggests a liquorice and dandelion tea.
5. SIBERIAN GINSENG
What is it?
A thorny creeping plant.
Where is it found?
East Asia, China and Russia.
Best for:
When you’re feeling overwhelmed. “I recommend it to students, shift workers and anyone who’s burning the candle at both ends,” says Landon. “It contains eleutherosides, as well as vitamin E and beta-carotene, which are strong antioxidants.”
How to take it:
Consider a ginseng tonic your new G&T. Mix with nettle leaves and chamomile flowers, then add to a pot of hot water and allow to infuse. Keep adding boiling water throughout the day.
6. ASHWAGANDHA
What is it?
A woody shrub and member of the nightshade family.
Where is it found?
Warm climes, such as the Med, Africa and India.
Best for:
Boosting energy levels. “It supports the body when you’re feeling a lack of enthusiasm for life,” says Landon. Plus, a study in the Indian Journal of Psychological Medicine also found that it reduced the cortisol levels of those suffering chronic stress. Ashwagandha is Sanskrit for “smell of the horse” – in reference to its, erm, unique aroma.
How to take it:
Mix ashwagandha powder with nut butter and desiccated coconut, then spread it on your toast.
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