Top 10 Immune Boosting Adaptogens

Looking for specific adaptogens to boost your immunity? Luckily, you can’t

really go wrong with any adaptogen, as they are all well-known immune boosters. With that said, there are a few that are just a bit better at the immunity part. Plus, each of these offers a variety of other health benefits that will help you narrow down your list!

1. Astragalus Root

Astragalus root is a rather impressive adaptogen! It’s native to Asia and commonly goes by “huang qi, meaning ‘yellow leader'” in the Chinese language, due to its yellow colored root. Traditionally, astragalus root has been used to treat night sweats, diarrhea, fatigue, stamina, and, due to its “diuretic effect”, is used to boost heart health. Yet, one of the most impressive powers of astragalus root is its ability to “improve immune function.” Astragalus root has been found to increase “the production of immune cells” and it may have “mild antiviral activity.”

2. Licorice Root

We’re not exactly talking about the candy, here, even though licorice has been “used mostly as a sweetener in candies and beverages.”

On the other hand, the licorice root — referring “to the root of a plant called Glycyrrhiza glabra” native to Europe and Asia — has been used “for centuries for its medicinal benefits.” The Egyptians were said to have “used it in a tea as a cure-all concoction” and later the root was “imported to China where it became an important herb in Chinese medicinal tradition.” Along with boosting the immune system, licorice root is also used to soothe the stomach, cleanse the respiratory system, reduce stress, protect your skin and teeth, and has even been used in some cancer treatments.

3. Holy Basil

Holy basil is one of the most popular adaptogens in the Western world, yet you may see it marketed as tulsi or it may go by its scientific name Ocimum tenuiflorum. Native to Southeast Asia, holy basil has been widely used in Indian medicine, in part due to its antimicrobial properties. This incredibly versatile plant not only helps boost the immune system but its also known for a wide range of other treatments. Holy basil protects “against chemical stress from exposure to environmental toxins,” as well as “helps normalize levels of blood sugar, blood pressure, and blood fats, and improves memory and mental function.”

4. Ginseng

Ginseng is one of the best immune stimulators in the adaptogen arsenal! With that said, there is lots to learn about this wonderful plant before integrating it into your routine.

First off, there are actually different varieties of ginseng: Asian ginseng and American ginseng. You may also hear reference to “Siberian-ginseng” or eleuthero, “which isn’t, botanically speaking, the same herb,” yet is oftentimes mixed together with the Asian or American varieties. Ginseng is widely popular due to its myriad of health benefits especially its ability to enhance strength and stamina, “[improve] blood sugar and insulin function in type 2 diabetes, [protect] against cancer, and [enhance] immunity.”

5. Schisandra

Possibly one of the lesser-known adaptogens, Schisandra — also called the “five flavor fruit” or Schisandra chinensis — produces “purple-red berries … described as having five tastes: sweet, salty, bitter, pungent, and sour.” Schisandra berries are harvested and the seeds are used for medicinal purposes — primarily in Asia and Russia — as they contain lignans, which are “substances [that] may have beneficial effects on health.”  With that said, Chinese traditional medicine also sourced Schisandra as it is “considered beneficial to qi, the life force or energy inherent in all living things.” While Schisandra helps boost the immune system by helping to manage stress, it’s also been found to be mildly medicinal for Alzheimer’s and liver disease, treating menopause symptoms, and reducing stress.

6. Maca

While Schisandra may be one of the lesser-known adaptogens, maca has experienced a huge resurgence in the Western world. This is mostly due to its similarities to wildly popular ginseng — in fact, it’s called the “Peruvian ginseng” — but it’s popularity also stems from the plants’ affordability and health benefits. Native to Peru, maca has been used in both Peruvian and Chinese medicines to enhance “sexual function and fertility, in both men and women,” as well as in the treatment of “menopausal symptoms,” depression, and to stabilize blood pressure.  Maca is known to help boost immunity by improving your overall health, especially its power to fight free radicals.

7. Ashwagandha

Ashwagandha is an ancient, well-loved, well-used, and incredibly potent adaptogen to consider adding to your natural medicine pantry. This herb has been and is still “used in Ayurveda, India’s ancient healing system” and it happens to be one of the most “scientifically investigated of these herbs.” In fact, the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine noted: “that the herb reduced anxiety scores by 56 percent, whereas psychotherapy reduced scores by only 30 percent.”

8. Cordyceps

Cordyceps are native to the “Himalayan region of northern India, where it grows on caterpillar larvae that lie about [six] inches underground.” These fungi have quickly grown in Western popularity for its ability to improve energy, sexual function, protect again type 2 diabetes, reduce inflammation, improve kidney function, improve endurance, stabilize blood sugar, and, of course, boost immunity. Yet, one of the most stunning health benefits of this adaptogen is its anti-cancer properties. In fact, Cordyceps has been used to help “reduce damage from radiation treatment for cancer.”

9. Rhodiola

Rhodiola — known as an “arctic root or golden root” — is native to the cold mountainous regions of Asia and Europe and has been a traditional natural medicine in these parts for thousands of years. This impressive herb contains “more than 140 active ingredients, the two most potent of which are rosavin and salidroside.” Rhodiola is most widely used to treat depression and anxiety, yet it’s also known to enhance energy, improve mental performance, increase endurance, and reduce a fatigued state. As with all adaptogens, Rhodiola is also able to calm the central nervous system, boosting overall wellness, which makes it easier for your immune system to function properly.

10. Bacopa

Bacopa — also known as “brahmi, water hyssop, thyme-leaved gratiola, and herb of grace” — “grows in wet, tropical environments” and “is traditionally used to treat loss of mental function and memory in older people, and has gained popularity as a memory and learning enhancer.” This adaptogen is unique in that it possesses antiepileptic properties — meaning it may act as an anticonvulsant — and it also contains a “class of powerful compounds called bocasides … believed to be responsible for” its health benefits. Bacopa is a “staple plant in traditional Ayurvedic medicine” and has been around and in use for centuries. It’s most widely used to improve memory, reduce anxiety, and treat epilepsy, yet it’s also a great stress reducer, meaning its also great for your immune system.

https://www.onegreenplanet.org/natural-health/adaptogens-boost-immune-system/