Ok so, we know modern life is stressful and is causing us all sorts of imbalances. We also know this isn’t good for our health or for a healthy conception. Dealing with the root cause of stress is of course primary goal, however, there is nothing wrong with giving a bit of an extra helping hand where the science suggests there could be a real potential benefit:

This is where Adaptogens come in….

So – what are they and how can it help us conceive?

Adaptogens are plants – but not just any plant – Adaptogen status is restricted to those plants which have shown the ability to help restore balance to the body. Stress being a major source of imbalance of course….

To get to the science bit:

Adaptogens are: “a … class of metabolic regulators which increase the ability of an organism to adapt to environmental factors and avoid damage from such factors.”

The criteria?

(i) It must cause only minimal disorders in the body’s physiological functions

(ii) It must increase the body’s resistance to adverse influences not by a specific action but by a wide range of physical, chemical, and biochemical factors

(iii) It must have an overall normalizing effect, improving all kinds of conditions and aggravating none.

So – a tall order…..

Good news is: they do exist! (Whoot!)

My favourite two for conception are Maca and Ashwagandha which have both been granted ‘Adaptogen’ status post clinical research trials (click on each to read more). I personally found they had a really positive effect on my body, particularly for reducing my Cortisol and helping out my PCOS. Weirdly enough, also helped reduce sugar cravings (bonus!)

Word of warning: of course with any new supplement you should discuss with your doctor. We would also strongly advise against taking these if you are pregnant, breastfeeding or taking any medications (as these too could interfere) – always speak to your doctor about this. You should also make sure you buy from a reputable source and read the dosage instructions. Finally: listen to your own body and start dosage small.

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