STRESS

Ashwagandha is an adaptogenic plant with multifaceted bioactivity,
which is likely why it’s been an important part of traditional medicines
for at least 6 millennia. Historically, ashwagandha was used as a
vitality tonic used to combat the mental and physiological effects of
illnesses and environmental stress.

This stalwart of Ayurvedic
medicine effectively supports stress response through its moderation of
the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis, the network of brain structures
that regulate stress response.¹ Ashwagandha also appears to help
control  toxic byproducts of chronic stress, including heat shock
proteins (Hsp70), cortisol, and stress-activated c-Jun N-terminal
protein kinase (JNK-1) ²

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Affron® is a pure extract of saffron, an ancient nootropic herb with
powerful health benefits. Most of saffron’s bioactive properties come
from two key compounds: crocins and safranal. These compounds are known
to support learning, memory, concentration, and stress response.


Clinical research specifically on Affron® has demonstrated that it’s
just as effective as eating a handful of this aromatic herb – but way
less expensive. Regular use of this premium saffron extract promotes
mood health, stress resilience, and sleep quality without side effects,
offering a natural alternative to standard treatments.³

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L-theanine is an amino acid that can be found in tea leaves. When
this nootropic was first isolated, it became apparent that it was the
compound responsible for many of green tea’s health benefits. L-theanine
acts on the serotonergic and dopaminergic systems, which are two of the
main players in mood and alertness. At the same time, because it
doesn’t act on the adrenals, these effects are not accompanied by spikes
in heart rate or blood pressure.

Likely one of the reasons a
cup of green tea helps you relax is that theanine does more than support
stress response. This amino acid significantly increases activity in
the alpha frequency band (alpha brainwaves), which are responsible for
feelings of relaxation without drowsiness.⁴

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GABA is a nootropic, neurotransmitter, and amino acid all at once.
This unique compound acts to promote a calm focus through regulating the
traffic of several neurotransmitters associated with mood, memory,
arousal, and rest. GABA is well-known in the medical field and is used
in modern psychiatry to treat several mood, affect and psychotic
disorders.

GABA is the body's main inhibitory neurotransmitter,
which means it prevents overexcited neurotransmitters from
communicating with the central nervous system, literally blocking
stress. GABA works by reducing the ‘noise’ of overthinking and allowing
the brain (and the mind) to relax.⁷

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Also known as Siberian ginseng, eleuthero’s bioactive properties are
similar to those of Panax ginseng. Eleuthero has shown an ability to
suppress the hormonal changes that chronic stress causes. Eleuthero
promotes resilience and recovery from both the psychological and
physiological effects of stress.

When a person faces a
stressful environment, this nootropic ginseng cousin can improve their
response by regulating the function of the HPA axis.⁸ ⁹ It also promotes
improved physical performance and cognitive performance in stressful
situations.

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