It may sound like the latest health trend, but in fact, traditional medicine has employed the use of adaptogens for thousands of years.

Internal and external stress on the body such as; a busy work schedule, emotional challenges, exercise, even the weather - can all play a huge role in our bodies ability to self-regulate. When we face multiple stressors on a daily basis (a la modern life) we often end up feeling rundown, fatigued and overwhelmed as our body struggles to maintain homeostasis.

This is where adaptogens come in... When consumed, adaptogenic plants interact with the complex system of glands, hormones and receptors in the body know as the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, which is central to the body’s homeostasis, stress responses and energy metabolism.

The organic properties and compounds contained within adaptogens work with the HPA axis to help balance our systems. If there’s too much of one hormone, for instance, the adaptogens help to lower it. On the flip side, if there isn’t enough of a hormone, adaptogens can help replenish it.

Studies also suggest adaptogens interact with the immune-neuro-endocrine system, which helps the body regulate its use of energy, maintain strong immune defenses and a state of equilibrium.

When a herb is classified as a tonic, it implies the plant has a toning effects on the body's organ systems. Similarly to how we tone our muscles with regular exercise and stretching, tonic herbs are meant to be taken regularly over the long-term with the purpose of toning and strengthening our vital systems.

Gentle, safe and nourishing - the use of tonic herbs can be traced back over 2000 years ago to classical TCM text. Where it was traditional to consume tonic herbs daily to enhance longevity and prevent illness.

Herbal extracts differ from dried herbs in that they go through a process of extracting the plants naturally occuring phytochemicals (the therapeutic compounds) away from the solid plant matter. Leaving a consentrated extract that is able to bypass the need for digestion and is easily absorbed. Extracts are also much more convenient to consume. Since the concentration can be adjusted, a smaller quantity is required compared with dried herbs.

Our herbal extracts use a combination of purified water and alcohol to decoct full-spectrum extracts. When possible, our extracts will only use purified water for this process, however with some plants alcohol is also required to extract oil-based phytochemical, where water alone is unable to do so.

We prefer our herbs the way nature intended, which is why we use full-spectrum extracts, rather than standardized.

Full-spectrum means the highest percentage of the plants phytochemicals have been extracted in their naturally occuring ratios. Plants contains a large amount of chemicals and compounds that work synergistically to enhance bioavailability and therapeutic effects. Full-spectrum extracts allow us to obtain the full benefits of what nature has to offer.

Standardized extracts undergo a process of selectivity to extract a specific phytochemical or active compound in a desired amount. This method is often used to ensure uniformity from one batch of extract to the next, where full-spectrum extracts can show variation. Standaridsation can be beneficial if only a certain active component is require for a specific need. However it usually does not acknowledge the innate intelligence and complexity of what plants have to offer.