Stress is an important part of life. When acute, stress can trigger important reactions in the body that help us get out of harm’s way. Without it there would be less impetus to problem-solve and evolve. We understand, however, that illness in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) results from restricted Qi and that chronic stress blocks and restrains the flow of Qi. Chronic, ongoing, relentless stress can trigger serious imbalances including stagnation, dampness, and heat, and can lead to health challenges such as insomnia, hypertension, eating disorders, pain, cognitive decline, and depression.
For centuries, practitioners of TCM have been prescribing herbal formulas for chronic stress management, and they have witnessed their benefit. Ganoderma (reishi; ling zhi) enters the heart, liver, and lung meridians, where it calms the spirit, tonifies Lung Qi, and nourishes the blood. In Chinese legends, it is associated with longevity. Ginseng (ren shen) enters the lung and spleen, and it is said to powerfully tonify the true, primal Qi – the Qi of all the organs, especially the Lung and Spleen. Astragalus (huang qi) also enters the Lung and Spleen to tonify the middle burner Qi. It complements Ganoderma and Ginseng in CordySeng Powder, a warming formula that includes Cordyceps (dong chong xia cao) and deeply supports the protective Qi and removes stagnation. Astra Essence includes Astragalus and Asian Ginseng in a harmonizing formula that nourishes without digestive cloying effects, so it addresses stress and also relieves dampness. Power Mushrooms is tonifying and adaptogenic, and it is an effective formula in cases of fatigue, stress, and immune/ autoimmune conditions. Adrenosen includes adrenal glandular tissue (bovine), along with Pyridoxine Alpha-Ketoglutarate (a compound with Vitamin B6 and glutamine), and Chinese herbs to support endocrine function and chronic stress.
Western studies have shown that adaptogens such as Ganoderma, Ginseng, Cordyceps, and Astragalus help stabilize the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis in response to external stress.1
Lifestyle factors can add to stress too, and deep breathing, eating earlier, meditation, exercising daily, and sleeping for 8 hours each night can be important adjuncts to herbal formulas in managing excess stress levels.
1 See, for example, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6240259/