Adaptogens

After mentioning the herbs going to Maui, several people wrote about their own fatigue, stamina, and general health issues. I thought I would explain in a little more detail what the strategy is here.

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Going back to 1972, I invested time and energy into what I called “The Cause of Disease”; and this eventually resulted in a book (out of print) and several pdfs, lectures, and even some master classes.

The astrological rule is that if something is not shown in the horoscope, it will not happen. If the potential is there, it will happen (1) when triggered, but only (2) if we hit the point where the proverbial straw breaks the camel’s back.

Worded an entirely different way, stress is cumulative. We are all vulnerable but not precisely in the same ways. For instance, some people find security in ownership and others in relationships or employment. Of course, we are all sensitive to all of these issues, but what is a 45 on the scale for one person could be an 85 for another. On the emotional Richter scale, many people on Maui have hit critical mass. They are not only surrounded by loss and devastation, but even the water is no longer potable. They cannot trust the various agencies that have stepped in, and many questions remain unanswered. They do not know if more survivors will be found, if more bodies will be found and identified, if their losses will be covered by insurance, if anything can ever return to “normal” nor even if what has happened is a singular event or the beginning of the end.

Adrenal secretions occur below the threshold of consciousness. If you believe in spirit guides, auras, and/or intuition, then we realize that an event can be anticipated. In a split second, the body is flooded with adrenaline that provides the emergency power needed to escape or perhaps adjust. We have what is called a fight or flight mechanism. If logic were to prevail, we would only fight if the odds favored winning. Otherwise, flight is wiser, but the spin of the chakras is established when we incarnate so there are basically two generic responses to risks, but we can add fright as a third possibility. It is more paralytic in that the nervous system seems to go silent so there is no action, rather only stillness, like a canary that does not move when a cat comes into the room.

When completely overwhelmed, shock may bring action to a halt. You can think of it as fright carried to the next higher octave. It is protective to a point, but on the outer level, there is inertia.

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To make this as practical as possible, when I was first approached by a long-time subscriber to connect with a relief effort on Maui, I was thinking primarily of rescue workers in hazmat suits. On top of the emotional devastation, they would be working against the odds and putting in very long hours while sweltering in attire that is not suitable to the usual balmy breezes and relaxed life style of Hawaii. What these people most needed was stamina because hope can sometimes be very time sensitive so finding survivors no doubt meant very long shifts, often without adequate hydration or nutrition.

My Yang Elixir was formulated to extend the coping margins so that there would be sufficient endurance to carry on with the tasks. There are, of course, priorities. First, put out the fires, then look for survivors, organize relief, and ultimately do the best one can to rebuild lives and community.

As I listened to the concerns of those on the ground, I realized that there were many people who were utterly incapacitated. Some were elderly, some had suffered immense smoke inhalation, some had been without medications for days and now weeks, and some were used to taking local herbs provided by kahuna la’paaus. So, we added the Yin Elixir to the list.

Though I do have some herbs in my formulas that are sourced from Hawaii, few matched the exact needs that were being described to me. However, we decided to add ginseng and ashwagandha to the list.

Not everything I write is instantly understood, but ginseng is a very important adaptogen. To qualify as an adaptogenic herb, the herb must be utterly non-toxic, safe to consume over the long haul, but most importantly, it must extend the ability to cope with stress. This requires flexibility and adaptability, which can be both physical and psychological.

In Ayurveda, there are additional nuances that we find among the rasayana herbs. These herbs are described as contributing to health and longevity, meaning they support regeneration. Perhaps the most famous of the rasayana herbs is ashwagandha. It has the added value of preventing an increase in cortisol so we have included it in the shipment which is going out tomorrow. All rasayana herbs happen also to be antioxidants, but not all are adaptogens. Ashwagandha is, however, an adaptogen.

My history with these concepts began in my Santa Fe days when worried individuals were shipping herbs to friends and family deployed to combat zones. Some of these people were on ships, but all had watches so several very concerned parents sent enough herbs to supply all those on duty since a single failure to detect danger obviously puts many at risk. In short, I now have more than 40 years of experience with these herbs and am making sure that those with boots on the ground know who needs which formula or herb.

In the days to follow, we will try to conquer some of the issues related to inhalation of smoke and toxic fumes. Though I have not seen any data yet, what burned or melted must have released a horrific amount of vapor, probably equivalent to countless amalgam fillings. In short, I am committed to helping as best I can, and this will no doubt be an ongoing project. If you want to contribute to this effort, please use the button below.

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Copyright by Dr. Ingrid Naiman 2023 || All Rights Reserved

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For more information on the herbs, visit adrenalherbs.com.

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