Adaptogens

Adaptogens — group of biologically active agents of an artificial and plant origin which have tonic influence on an organism stimulate the central nervous system, increase endurance and increase resilience to harmful effects. The word "adaptogens" comes from the word "adaptation". In a broad sense, adaptogens are agents which raise adaptic opportunities of the person.

The effect of adaptogens is bound to influence on work of nervous, endocrine, immune and cardiovascular system though the exact mechanism of action is still not clear. As a rule adaptogens have complex structure therefore action mechanisms considerably differ. Adaptogens of a plant origin influence DNA synthesis, regulate exchange of hormones, change the CNS function, activate a metabolism, increase immune protection due to activation of cellular and humoral immunity.

Vegetable adaptogens contain such biological active agents as flavonoids, glycosides, polysaccharides, fitosterola (ekdisteron), terpenoida, gidroksilirovanny fatty acids and glycopeptides.

Synthetic adaptogens are hardly applicable in sport as they don't exert appreciable impact on athletic indicators therefore the main attention will be paid to vegetable adaptogens.

Now there is a large number of vegetable adaptogens, the most popular of them: ginseng, eleuterococcus, magnolia vine, rhodiola pink. Also flower pollen, a uterine milk, a perga are ranked as adaptogens, however their efficiency isn't proved. One of the Best drug is Meldonium.

Effects in sport

• Considerably increase physical working capacity, especially increase power endurance;
• Rising of a threshold of a fatigue, an acceptability of loads and restoration after the volume physical trainings raise;
• Participate in elimination of a post-load acidosis (shift of pH of internal medium of an organism in the acidic party);
• Promote accumulation of a glycogen in muscles, a liver, heart;
• Activate phosphorylation of a glucose, improving thus exchange of carbohydrates, fats, proteins;
• Increase mental working capacity.
• Prophylaxis of an overtraining
• Activation of a metabolism
• Mental concentration
• Improve mood
• Increase appetite
• Increase adaptability (adaptation) of an organism to the complicated living conditions - frame fastness to various adverse factors (a heat, cold, thirst, hunger, an infection, psychoemotional stresses, etc.) and reduce terms of adaptation to them.
• Promote antioxidatic action, preventing toxic effects of free radical oxidation of unsaturated fatty acids, started at a long exercise stress.
• Possess anti-hypoxemic action - increase fastness of tissues to an oxygen disadvantage.
• Exert the immunostabilizing impact on humoral and cellular immunity.
• Possess anaboliziruyushchy action.
• Improve microcirculation.

Adaptogens practically don't change normal functions of an organism.

Vegetable adaptogens applied in sport

It was proved that after acceptance of extract of a ginseng or an eleuterococcus the number of mistakes in the text at typists decreases twice. Vegetable adaptogens were researched also in sport. Several cyclists accepting an eleuterococcus within 12 days could improve considerably the results, in comparison with control group.

As the most effective adaptogens in sport are recognized: ginseng, eleuterococcus, rhodiola, levzea and araliya. These adaptogens have the largest evidential base, more than one thousand researches, confirmatory are executed now that they are really effective.

Adaptogens can freely be applied in sport as aren't dope. The effect occurs in several hours after the first use.

How to accept vegetable adaptogens

Ginseng tincture

10-15 drops 2-3 times a day in 30-40 min. prior to food within 2-3 weeks, (if there are problems with falling asleep to accept till a lunch).

Eleuterococcus extract

30-40 drops 1-2 times a day in 30-40 min. prior to food within 2-3 weeks

Rhodiola extract

7-10 drops in 15-20 min. prior to food 2-3 times a day within 3-4 weeks

Tincture of a magnolia vine Chinese

20-25 drops 2-3 times a day (in the first half of day) in 30-40 min. prior to food within 2 weeks.

Araliya tincture

till 10-15 drops 2 times a day (in the first half of day) within 3-4 weeks

Zamanikha tincture

20-30 drops in 30-40 min. prior to food in the first half of day within 3-4 weeks

Levzea extract

20-25 drops in 30-40 min. prior to food in the first half of day within 4 weeks

Sterkuliya tincture

20-30 drops 1-2 times a day in 30-40 min. prior to food in the first half of day within 2-3 weeks

Pantokrin is liquid

25-40 drops in 30 minutes prior to food 2-3 times a day

General references

Don't accept adaptogens constantly, observe the recommended duration of a course and dosages, otherwise the organism adapts to their action, and the effect considerably will decrease. For the maximum effect, it is possible to accept two drugs at the same time.

As adaptogens except the general properties have the features, they variously influence an organism. Therefore recommend to combine and alternate various adaptogenny drugs, considering these features.

For example. Araliya considerably enlarges permeability of cellular membranes for a glucose. Intensity of oxidation of a glucose in a cell is also enlarged.

Zamanikh on a range of the action on an organism and force of tonic action it is close to a ginseng.

Existence of anabolic activity distinguishes levzea from other adaptogens.

Distinctive feature of a magnolia vine is that it most (from adaptogens) strengthens processes of exaltation in the central nervous system.

Feature of a rhodiola is that it makes strong impact on sceletal muscular tissue, and also on a heart muscle.

The eleuterococcus is used for rising of level of power return during the competitions.

Sterkuliya possesses the tonic and fortifying action similar to action of an eleuterococcus prickly.

Evening reception of adaptogens isn't recommended. Pharmacological properties of adaptogens provide effect of a cumulation, they are applied by no more than 30-45 days.

Side effects

Vegetable adaptogens practically don't cause side effects. They aren't toxic even in very high doses. Sometimes such side effects as sleeplessness, an allergy, an individual intolerance, rising of a tonus of a myometrium meet. All listed side effects have reversible character, that is disappear after drug withdrawal.