Efficacy of adaptogens in preventing and correcting stress-induced conditions

Abstract

The accumulated evidence base confirms the effectiveness of adaptogen use in depression, fatigue, psycho-emotional burnout, metabolic syndrome, cardiovascular and sexual dysfunctions, cognitive disorders, memory impairment, sleep disorders, anxiety and behavioral disorders, headaches, decreased immune defense, and other conditions, the main etiological factor of which is chronic stress. However, despite the urgent need within Ukrainian society for the development of adequate stress management mechanisms and the expansion of the arsenal of tools for controlling stress and its consequences, exacerbated by post-COVID and wartime realities, this gap in the field of public health and promotion of healthy and quality living remains unfilled. Adaptogens, despite their accessibility and proven effectiveness, have not become widely known and frequently used means of controlling chronic stress in the population. An analytical review of information was conducted on resources such as PubMed, PubMed Central (PMC), Bookshelf, and MEDLINE, which are databases of scientific literature provided to the public by the National Library of Medicine of the United States (NLM), as well as domestic scientific sources. Since practically the entire population of Ukraine is potentially at risk of developing stress-induced conditions and illnesses due to the conditions of war, the article explores the possibilities of their prevention and correction through the use of adaptogens. The research results include a review of the most commonly used health protection adaptogens in global practice, such as Rhodiola Rosea, Panax Ginseng, Eleuthero, Ashwagandha, Cordyceps Sinensis; summarizing information on the evidence of using phyto-adaptogens. The article serves as a promotion of mental health and justification of evidence-based therapeutic and preventive approaches.