Adaptogens: Natural Protection for Stress Maladaptation and
Recovery
by Ben
Tabachnik, Ph.D. and Ward Dean, M.D
Stress and stress-related disorders are a significant cause of
disease in modern man, contributing to perhaps 75% of all illnesses. Western
medicine has developed multiple approaches to coping with stress, including
pharmaceutical drugs, exercise, and relaxation techniques like meditation.
While these methods can provide some benefits, results are mixed and often
unsatisfactory. In the East, researchers have also struggled to find
solutions to stress-related problems. In Russia, after years of scientific
investigation, scientists developed a unique approach to stress reduction and
the prevention of stress-related symptoms.
The
"Information" Curtain
Prior to the fall of the "Iron Curtain," information was a
carefully regulated commodity in the Soviet Union. Ideas of a political or
social nature were severely restricted from entering the USSR. On the other
hand, Soviet scientists had unlimited access to the latest scientific ideas
and breakthroughs from around the world. In a manner of speaking, the iron
curtain was more like a one-way mirror - Russian researchers could look out
and observe everything, but the West, looking inward, could only see itself.
In fact, special Soviet scientific information centers were dedicated to the
collection, analysis, and translation of a wide variety of international
scientific publications. Vital information was immediately rushed to leading
Soviet scientists, helping the Soviets to develop new advances in space
science, weaponry, and other scientific fields. This dedication to the
acquisition and dissemination of data meant that in many cases Soviet
researchers had better access to western science data than their western
counterparts.
Hans
Selye and Stress
One important western name that caught the attention of Soviet scientists was
that of Hans Selye. Dr. Selye, a Canadian professor and leading pioneer in
stress research, is internationally acknowledged as "the father of
stress." Prior to his death in 1982, Dr. Selye had written more than
1700 scholarly papers and 39 books on stress, and he is still by far the
world's most frequently cited author on the topic. Selye's research was to
have a profound influence on Soviet scientists doing research for the
military, sports and space programs.
Russia
Embraces Selye
Whereas western scientists were slow to accept Selye's ideas of the General
Adaptation Syndrome (GAS), his concept was readily accepted by leading
Russian researchers, perhaps because they shared common educational
backgrounds. Selye had earned his medical degree in Czechoslovakia, and later
studied under a number of famous Russian physiologists, including luminaries
like Pavlov, Vedenski, and Orbeli.
Consequently,
Selye's name became well known in the Soviet medical community following the
publication of his first article on stress in 1936. In Russia, Selye's name
is as closely related to the subject of stress as Freud's is with psychology.
General
Adaptation Syndrome
Among the most memorable of Selye's work was his General Adaptation Syndrome
(GAS). Selye first described GAS in 1936. The GAS involves three progressive
stages (Adrendal Maladaptation Syndrome,
VRP Nutritional News, Vol. 12, No. 5, June, 1998). The first stage,
the alarm reaction, is characterized by surprise and anxiety when exposed to
a new situation. During this stage the body reacts by producing epinephrine
and norepinephrine Ñ the "flight or fight" hormones. Additionally,
the adrenal cortex is stimulated to produce additional hydrocortisone and
related hormones.
The second
stage, resistance, is characterized by adaptation, whereby the body learns to
efficiently cope with the stressor. Ideally, this adaptive stage continues
until the stressful situation is resolved, leading to a rapid return to the
resting state.
Unfortunately,
our capacity for adaptation is limited and highly individualized (i.e. what is
stimulating to one person may be devastating to another). Just as a chain
breaks at its weakest link, so too can exhaustion of our adaptive capacity
result in stress-induced disease. In the presence of long-term exposure to
the same stressor, we enter the third stage of GAS, exhaustion. Exhaustion is
characterized by a depletion of energy reserves and loss of adaptational
ability, leading to fatigue or other symptoms or diseases.
This third
stage is sometimes referred to as the adrenal maladaptation, or hyperadaptosis
(Dilman and Dean, 1992). Adrenal dysfunction may be manifest by (1) an excess
or inadequacy of cortisone, DHEA, ACTH and/or CRF; (2) relative imbalances of
these hormones and releasing factors, and (3) loss of sensitivity of the
hypothalamus and pituitary to the normal inhibiting effects of these
hormones.
Dr.
Nicholai Lazarev
One of the first Soviet scientists to embrace Selye's ideas was Dr. Nicholai
Lazarev, a pioneer in the then-emerging fields of toxicology and preventive
medicine. Lazarev grew up in Russia during and following the Revolution.
During this period Soviet leaders were aggressively transforming Russia from
an agrarian to an industrial society. This extreme transition was driven by a
desperate desire to not only catch up with the West, but to dominate the
world - scientifically, politically, and militarily. Accompanying these rapid
advances were many damaging consequences of industrialization.
Shortly after
graduating from medical school in 1928, Lazarev started working on ways to
prevent the damaging effects of new industrial chemicals on humans. Lazarev
and his scientific team identified over 400 previously unknown chemical
compounds in the new factories, and studied the effects of these toxic
industrial byproducts on humans.
In 1932,
Lazarev discovered that different industrial chemicals, even in mild
concentrations and small dosages, can cause similar alarm reactions, and that
if exposure is prolonged, the body will adapt by altering its physiological
response (resistance).
This adaptive
reaction tends to gradually disturb homeostasis, which is damaging to health.
Dilman elaborated these concepts in his Neuroendocrine Theory of Aging,
hypothesizing that similar shifts in homeostasis result in growth and aging.
Likewise, Lazarev documented some 60 years ago that even mild industrial
chemicals that do not have any noticeable short term effect may eventually
result in illnesses and accelerated aging. Lazarev found that Selye's
publication on stress confirmed his own findings. Selye proved that a wide
variety of stressors - not just chemical stressors - can cause non-specific
stress reactions. Selye's work was so influential, in fact, that Lazarev
changed the direction of his work. He began looking not only for substances
that could improve humans' general resistance to toxins, but could also
correct the general adaptation reaction to all kinds of stressors. In the
course of this research, Lazarev switched his emphasis from toxicology to
pharmacology. In fact, by the late 1930s, Lazarev had become the Soviet
Union's leading pharmacologist.
WWII
Research
From the beginning of the second World War, the Soviet government drafted all
Soviet scientist - including Dr. Lazarev - to work on military projects.
Lazarev's efforts again shifted-this time to finding substances which could
help soldiers overcome fatigue and improve their performance on the
battlefield. His research resulted in the discovery of many effective
stimulants. The Soviet military found that these drugs successfully improved
the soldiers' productivity and performance in battle.
With the
soldiers as unknowing guinea pigs for amphetamines and other stimulants,
Lazarev learned that many of the drugs were very effective in improving
performance in response to great challenges in extreme situations for very
short terms. However, he realized that the stimulants were not as beneficial
in a peaceful environment as they were in wartime, and were harmful when used
for prolonged periods.
When WWII
ended, Lazarev resumed his research on substances with non-specific, broad
ranges of action. His search was not limited to the modern conventional
practices used today to develop synthetic drugs. He also investigated
century-old methods of ancient preventive medical systems.
Dibazol
- The First Adaptogen
In 1947, after 2 years of research, Russian scientists produced Dibazol, a
synthetic corticosteroid. Intensive testing conclusively confirmed that
Dibazol enhanced general resistance to a wide range of stressors, and
improved both physical and mental performance. It was tested on mice which
were subjected to a wide range of stressors, including bacteria, radiation,
toxins, and viruses. Dibazol was used by tens of thousands of Soviet people
during flu epidemics with very positive results.
The creation
of Dibazol was a major breakthrough for Soviet medicine. It was the first
drug with a broad range of non-specific actions which could support the
body's ability to adapt to a variety of challenges.
Lazarev was
confident that Dibazol was but the first of a number of similar remedies. He
believed that the answer to improving general resistance lay not in
conventional medicines and drugs but rather in preventive systems.
Traditional
Herbs
Lazarev was especially intrigued by a group of herbs that ancient medical
traditions referred to as "elite" or "kingly." In
traditional Chinese medicine these herbs were classified as effective for
increasing physical and mental capacity, reducing fatigue, improving
resistance to disease, and promoting life extension. In China these herbs
were used by soldiers directly before battle. In Siberia they were used by
hunters before long and dangerous journeys. Despite countless legends,
thousands of years of use by people in China, Russia, Japan, Korea and
Europe, the benefits of these plants had never been scientifically studied.
In 1948
Lazarev and his protege, Dr. Israel Brekhman, undertook the challenge of
researching the utility and effectiveness of this group of plants. Lazarev
named this group of supplements "adaptogens."
Brekhman's
Contribution
Being a long distance runner, Brekhman choose stamina as an index of
vitality. One cold morning in April 1948, 100 soldiers set out to run a
3-kilometer race. Prior to the race, half of them had been given an extract
of ginseng, while the others received a placebo. Soldiers given the ginseng
extract finished the race an average of 53 seconds ahead of the placebo
group. These results were beyond Brekhman's wildest expectations. For the
first time he and his team had scientifically proven the effectiveness of
this ancient Chinese herb.
Unfortunately,
researchers reported that ginseng had drawbacks, including its poor
availability and high cost. Brekhman also found that its effectiveness varied
among different people. For example, men responded to ginseng better than
women, and the elderly benefited more when compared to the young and
middle-aged. Furthermore, even a variation in dosing could lead to
overstimulation.
Eleutherococcus
Because of these imperfections, Brekhman and his team began to look for
alternative plants. First they selected herbs able to survive in harsh
environments. Russian scientists were convinced that the unique composition
of biologically active substances of these herbs helped them to adapt and
survive for millions of years through many cataclysmic changes in nature.
Soon, one of the members of Brekhman's scientific group brought to his
attention the herb Eleutherococcus.
Preliminary
studies were promising and soon led to a massive testing program with
clinical trials being conducted across the USSR. Testing was performed on
factory workers, long distance truck drivers, sailors on long voyages, and
military personnel under severe stress.(1) Stress studies conducted with this
new adaptogen, Eleutherococcus, included:
Study: Soviet Olympic teams
and other sports teams during challenging training and competition.
Result: Improved stamina and recovery, increased oxygen
intake and better performance.(2)
Study: 1,000 mining workers
in Siberia.
Result: Incidence of cases during influenza epidemic dropped
by two-thirds.(3)
Study: 1,200 long distance
truck drivers.
Result: Improved productivity; the number of influenza cases
during an epidemic was reduced by 30%.(4)
Study: 14,000 auto factory
workers.
Result: 30% decrease in total reported symptoms; 40% drop in
symptoms of high blood pressure and heart disease.(4)
Study: 107 patients
receiving anti-cancer drugs for gastric cancer.
Result: 50% less damage to immunity, 50% decrease in drug
dosage.(5)
Altogether,
more than 1,000 scientific papers were published on the subject of
adaptogens. In 1962, Eleutherococcus (Siberian Ginseng), the prototype
adaptogen, was declared an official herbal medicine by the USSR Minister of
Health and was included in the National Drug Guide, the pharmacopoeia of the
USSR.
Eleutherococcus was soon widely
available and was taken regularly as a restorative by patients, athletes,
astronauts, and soldiers. The Soviet government realized that this new class
of natural remedies could give the Soviets an advantage in many areas,
including sports, the arts, space, military, and medicine. Consequently, they
strongly supported the scientific projects of Lazarev and Brekhman.
Soon,
Brekhman and his growing team of hundreds of scientists introduced a whole
new range of remarkable natural adaptogenic substances such as Rhaponticum
carthamoides, Shizandra chinensis, Rhodeola rosea, and Aralia mandshurica.
(6,7,8)
Mechanism
of Action
The mechanism by which adaptogens achieve their stress-protecting,
normalizing action is well researched (mostly in the USSR and Japan). When
under stress, adaptogens help the adrenal glands to mount an immediate
hormonal response, by manufacturing and releasing more stress hormones.9 But
when stress stops, the adaptogens help the adrenal glands shut down more
quickly. If stress is prolonged and severe, the glands reserve their
resources by reducing the amount of hormones released due to adaptogenic
restoration of hypothalamic receptor sensitivity. This conserved energy is
available to continue the body's response to stressors, thereby delaying
adrenal exhaustion.
A very large
amount of biochemical work was carried out in the USSR by Brekhman's
colleague, Dr. I.V. Dardymov. Dardymov has given further clues as to how the
body becomes more efficient, and especially, how we can achieve the extra
stamina and energy that results from the use of adaptogens. He showed that
the biological machinery that handles energy in the body is stimulated by
adaptogens. Consequently, during challenge or stress, more sugar (glucose) is
released into the blood from the body's storehouses. This glucose is quickly
taken up by the tissues to carry-out their work. Adaptogens help glucose to
cross cellular membranes more easily. In the blood, the levels of sugar
return more quickly to normal, confirmed by studies in Professor Farnsworth's
laboratory at the University of Chicago.
Conclusion
In the seventies, information about these remarkable herbs with adaptogenic
properties began to cross the Soviet border. Soon scientists from Germany,
Sweden, Japan, and the US confirmed their effectiveness, and proved that:
- Adaptogens make
the stress response less damaging
- Adaptogens help
to maintain homeostasis in the face of stress by regu-
- lating the body's
adaptive reactions
- Adaptogens reduce
most signs of the alarm stage of the stress response, and delay or
promote avoidance of the exhaustion stage
- The use of
adaptogens eliminates or significantly decreases the classical signs of
the prolonged stress reaction described by Hans Selye as "the
stress triad"
- Adaptogens help
the body utilize fuel more efficiently, with fewer toxic or waste
byproducts (like lactic acid), which can contribute to fatigue and
reduced function
- Efficient use of
energy means greater reserves are more readily available
- when needed for
performing difficult tasks.(10)
Coming
Next Month: From Russia with Love - VRP introduces two state-of-the-art
adaptogenic formulas based on the ground-breaking work of Dr. Brekhman. In an
exclusive interview with Dr. Dean, Ben Tabachnik, Ph D exposes secret Russian
research programs that enhanced the performance of Soviet athletes, soldiers
and cosmonauts.
The
Authors: Ben Tabachnik, Ph.D., and co-author Ward Dean, M.D, are well
versed in the work of Russian scientists. While conducting research for his
book, "Stress, Adaptation, and Adaptogens", Tabachnik uncovered
research not previously known to western scientists. Simultaneously, and
coincidentally, Dean encountered Dr. Lazarev's work while updating his book
"The Neuroendocrine Theory of Aging", co-authored with Vladimir
Dilman, M.D.
References
- Gubchenko, P.P.
and N.K. Fruentov. "Comparative Study of the Effectiveness of
Eleutherococcus and Other Plant Adaptogens as Remedies for Increasing the
Work Capacity of Flight Personnel." New Data on Eleutherococcus:
Proceedings of the 2nd International Symposium on Eleutherococcus
(Moscow, 1984). Vladivostok. Far East Academy of Sciences of the USSR,
1986, 240.
- Asano, K., T.
Takakhsi, K.H. Kugo, M. Kuboyama. The Influence of Eleutherococcus on
Muscle Work Capacity in Humans." New Data on Eleutherococcus:
Proceedings of the 2nd International Symposium on Eleutherococcus
(Moscow, 1984). Vladivostok. Far East Academy of Sciences of the USSR,
1986, 166.
- Brekhman, I.I.
Eleutherococcus, Leningrad: Nauka, 1968.
- Schezin, A.K.,
V.I. Zinkovich, and L.K. Galanova. "Eleutherococcus in Prevention
of Influenza, Hypertonia and Ischemia in Drivers of the Bolzhsky
Automobile Factory." New Data on Eleutherococcus: Proceedings of
the 1st International Symposium on Eleutherococcus (Hamburg, 1980).
Vladivostok. Far East Academy of Sciences of the USSR, 1981, 93.
- Brekhman, I.I.,
I.V. Dardymov. New Substances of Plant Origin which Increase Nonspecific
Resistance. Annual Review of Pharmacology, v.9.1969,
- A. A. Lebedev.
"On the Pharmacology of Schizandra Chinensis." Materials for
the Study of Ginseng and Schizandra Chinensis, Issue 3. Leningrad, 1958,
170.
- Kurkin, V.A. and
G.G. Zapesochnaya. "Chemical Composition and Pharmacological
Properties of Rhodiola Rosea. Khimiko-Garmatsevtichesky Zhurnal
(Chemical Pharmaceutical Journal), 20(10). 1986. 1231-1244.
- Saratikov, A.S.,
and E.A. Krasnov. Rhodiola Rosea is a Valuable Medicinal Plant. Tomsk,
1986, 85.
- Wahlstrom,
Mikael. Adaptogens: Nature's Key to Well-Being. Goteborg; Skandinavisk
Bok, 1987.
- Blokhin, B.N.
"The Influence of Eleutherococcus Root and Leaf Extract on Human
Work Capacity under Static and Dynamic Workloads." Eleutherococcus
and Other Adaptogens from Far East Plants. Vladivostok: Siberian
Department of the Academy of Sciences of the USSR. 1966, 191.