Tired and exhausted - natural substances for more vigour in everyday life

These natural substances provide more vigour in everyday life

You drag yourself through the day, no coffee helps and everyday activities become a torture - a constant feeling of tiredness and exhaustion can become a real burden. The reasons for this can be as varied as they are complex: sleep disorders, overwork, intensive exercise, mental strain or chronic stress are just some of them. First of all: feeling tired after a strenuous day, a stressful situation or an intensive sports session is completely normal! Ideally, the body then gets its rest time to fully regenerate. If you give it this rest, enough sleep and well-deserved breaks and still feel completely drained and exhausted throughout the day, you should take a closer look at the possible causes.

A real way to support yourself naturally in everyday life can be found in nature. We would like to introduce you to our top 3 "pick-me-ups".

Ginseng

In China, ginseng has been one of the most popular roots for more vitality for decades. In the meantime, ginseng has become part of many studies. The results are very promising. According to Reay JL et al (2005), cognitive performance can be increased by taking ginseng (1). Contrary to many rumours, this does not apply to physical performance. A large number of studies refute this widespread opinion (2, 3).

However, ginseng is particularly beneficial as a companion through demanding phases of life. Several studies have attributed adaptogenic properties to ginseng, especially in cases of fatigue and stress (4, 5). Adaptogenic means the body's ability to adapt to increased stress situations.

Ashwagandha

Ashwagandha takes us on an excursion into Ayurveda, which originated in India.
It is praised as the "Queen of Ayurveda" and is particularly praised for its balancing effect during periods of high stress. Ashwagandha is also receiving more and more attention in studies. Here, too, the results are promising. When taken in high concentrations, it is said to increase the body's resistance to stress (6). Ashwagandha is also becoming increasingly popular in competitive sports as an accompaniment to mentally demanding competition phases.

Rhodiola

Rhodiola, also known as rose root, is found in cool, damp mountainous areas. In Russia (Siberia) it has been known for years as a useful root for the harsh winters and hard labour. Like ginseng and ashwagandha, it is an adaptogenic plant. Here too, the valuable substances are found in the root of the plant. These include, among others: Rosavin, flavonoids and terpenoids. These substances ensure that Rhodiola is an excellent choice, especially in stressful times such as exam periods. A Russian study tested this on medical students during their exams. You can find the results here.

All three plants have been used in traditional folk remedies for decades and have been positively emphasised in numerous testimonials. As stress and overload are omnipresent in our everyday lives, we recognise the importance of science in continuing to underpin the potential of these plants with valuable studies.

Sources:

1. Reay JL, Kennedy DO, Scholey AB: Effects of Panax ginseng, consumed with and without glucose, on blood glucose levels and cognitive performance during sustained 'mentally demanding' tasks. J Psychopharmacol 2006; 20:771-781.
2. Kulaputana O, Thanakomsirichot S, Anomasiri W: Ginseng supplementation does not change lactate threshold and physical performance in physically active Thai men. J Med Assoc Thai 2007; 90:172-179.
3. Allen JD, McLung J, Nelson AG, Welsch M: Ginseng supplementation does not enhance healthy young adults' peak aerobic exercise performance. J Am Coll Nutr 1998; 17:462-466.
4. Scaglione F, Pannacci M, Petrini O: The standardised G115 Panax ginsengC.A. MEYER extract: a review of its properties and usage. Evidence-Based Integrative Medicine 2005;2:195-206.
5. Facchinetti F, Neri I, Tarabusi M: Eleutherococcus senticosus reduces cardiovascular stress response in healthy subjects: a randomised, placebo-controlled trial. Stress Health 2002;18:11-17.
6. Chandrasekhar K, Kapoor J, Anishetty S. A prospective, randomised double-blind, placebo-controlled study of safety and efficacy of a high-concentration full-spectrum extract of ashwagandha root in reducing stress and anxiety in adults. Indian J Psychol Med. 2012 Jul;34(3):255-62. doi: 10.4103/0253-7176.106022. PMID: 23439798; PMCID: PMC3573577.
7. Spasov AA, Wikman GK, Mandrikov VB, Mironova IA, Neumoin VV. A double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot study of the stimulating and adaptogenic effect of Rhodiola rosea SHR-5 extract on the fatigue of students caused by stress during an examination period with a repeated low-dose regimen. Phytomedicine. 2000 Apr;7(2):85-9. doi: 10.1016/S0944-7113(00)80078-1. PMID: 10839209.