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| To cope with problems of inconsistency, the herbal supplement industry has adopted a system, called standardization, that records the minimum concentration of active constituents (or those that are closely correlated to activity) that are in a product. For example, Citrus aurantium (green orange), an herb used for weight loss and discussed later, is sold in both standardized and nonstandardized form. |
| Packages of standardized Citrus aurantium indicate the synephrine content on the label. And although synephrine is not the only active component in Citrus aurantium, extracts with synephrine from 1.5 to 3.0 percent have been found to be the most active. Extracts with less than this concentration have demonstrated less efficacy and may be derived from plants that were prematurely harvested, processed incorrectly or grown in poor conditions. |
| We all seem to want more energy for improving training and competition. Within limits, herbs can help provide energy, act as stimulants and provide vitality. When used properly, herbs can bring our energy forces into balance to keep us healthy, improve our recovery and keep us active. |
| Let's first look at a group of herbs known for their energizing and health qualitiesadaptogens. |
| Adaptogens for Energy |
| The term adaptogen was first introduced into scientific circles by Soviet pharmacologists who were conducting scientific experiments with ginseng. They invented the term adaptogen to refer to natural plant substances that were safe to use even in relatively large quantities and produced no or minimal adverse side effects. Adaptogens have a tonic-like effect on the body, helping it to adapt to many types of nonspecific stressors like heat, cold, fatigue, emotional stress, time changes, etc. |
| Adaptogens increase the efficiency of the healing system or help it neutralize harmful influences of stress and overtraining. Tonics (another term often used for adaptogenic-type herbs) are natural products that do just this, and they are one of my special interests. In the sense of a strengthening, the word ''tonic" derives from a Greek word meaning "stretch." Adaptogens or tonics stretch or tone our systems in the way physical |
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