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exercise tones our muscles. Working the bodysubjecting it to graduated tension followed by relaxationincreases natural resilience, an essential quality of health, because it determines our responsiveness to environmental stress. The more resilient we are, the greater our ability to bounce back from any kind of stress or injury.
Adaptogens are supplements for healthy, active athletes. They promote wellness, enhance resistance, help you adapt to stress and aid in quicker recovery.
Ginseng
Ginseng, one of the more popular herbs in America, is touted for its ability to increase vitality and provide antistress benefits. The root of this plant contains active compounds (ginsenosides) that are known to reduce stress, enhance the immune system, relieve mental and physical fatigue and help normalize body systems. Many athletes claim ginseng increases overall vitality with no negative side effects. It has been used by Russian athletes for years to improve endurance and speed recovery.
Ginseng is an old-time restorative. It works by improving general health, resistance and energy. Traditionally, Western medicine puts all types of products that claim to have restorative power in the snake-oil category. Eastern medicine is more holistic in its approach, and also is more interested in preventative medicine.
The Soviet scientists initially used the word adaptogen to refer to Asian ginseng (Panax ginseng) and so-called Siberian ginseng (Eleutherococcus senticosus). American ginseng (P. quinquefolius) is also considered adaptogenic.
In traditional Chinese medicine, American ginseng is used to cool and soothe, quench and reduce fevers; Asian ginseng possesses warming properties and is used to revitalize, especially after long illnesses. In Germany, Asian ginseng products are approved for use as a tonic to take during times of fatigue, reduced concentration and diminished work capacity.
Since the early 1960s Siberian ginseng has been studied and used extensively for medicinal use. Effects on mental alertness, work productivity, and work quality have been studied

 
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