Now Astragalus Extract 4:1 500mg (2,000mg Equivalent) - 90 V-Caps

Uses for Astragalus

For more than 2000 years, Chinese herbalists have valued Astragalus for its adaptogenic properties, as well as for its ability to tonify the body's "vital force" known as the Qi. More recently, Astragulus has been found to support healthy immune function through numerous mechanisms. Non-clinical studies using Astragalus have demonstrated its ability to stimulate the production of and increase the activity of specialized white blood cells, such as T-Cells and Natural Killer Cells. Astragalus has also been studied for its role in the support of healthy liver and vascular function. Herbalists recommend the use of Astragalus both seasonally and year-round to support a healthy immune system.

All human beings experience stress and its effects throughout life. Some handle stressful events better than others do. Continual stress over time produces a variety of symptoms such as low energy, insomnia, depression, nervousness, and impotence. In fact, these are some of today's most frequently experienced symptoms. Supplementation with adaptogenic herbs is a safe and popular way to help support a healthy stress response.

-Helps support a healthy, normalized response to stress
-Adaptogenic herbs possess unique antioxidant properties
-Essential for healthy immune system function
-Manufactured at NOW's state-of-the-art, GMP certified facility
-Tested in-house to ensure safety, freshness, and potency

Adoptogenic Stress Support
When we hear the word stress, we automatically conjure images of bad traffic, work-related deadlines, screaming children, and towering piles of bills. And while each one of these can certainly be stressful, there is more to stress than the events that leave us worried, frustrated, and disheartened. Despite how commonly we associate it with mood, stress is actually defined as an imbalance in the body's state of healthy equilibrium. Simply stated, stress interrupts mental and physiological balance.

Understanding Stress
Stress can be acute or chronic in nature. Acute stress, such as realizing that you've just missed an important meeting, is temporary. Chronic stress, however, is more long-term and prolonged. Losing a job, being audited, or watching a loved one suffer through a life- threatening disease are all examples of chronic stress. And while the impact of stress varies greatly from person to person, the methods in which we cope biologically have not changed.

When the body perceives a threat, it responds by releasing chemical messengers that enable us to deal with the situation a process more formally known as Fight or Flight. This is the first step in general adaptation syndrome, and is employed as a method of defense. At the biological level, the sympathetic nervous system responds to perceived threats by releasing acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter that regulates memory, muscle contraction, learning, vasodilatation, cardiac rhythm, and nerve impulse. Upon detecting an increase in acetylcholine, the adrenal glands secrete adrenaline, epinephrine, and norepinephrine-powerful mood-influencing neurotransmitters.

The Physiological Side of Stress
It's important to note that stress affects more than just a person's mood. The changes that take place during Fight or Flight can have a serious impact on homeostasis, or balance. In order to ensure that the body continues to function properly, other major systems are forced to make changes in order to adapt. Simple stressors typically yield simple stress responses that have very little biological impact on the rest of the body. Upon resolving a minor or expected threat, the body's homeostasis is restored to normal and neurotransmitter secretion levels off.

Chronic stress is another story, though. When the sympathetic nervous system is constantly in a state of stress response, it can greatly affect the body's ability to maintain balance and healthy neurotransmission. These ongoing changes can suppress immune system function, interfere with digestion, and reduce sexual response. Because of the continual fluctuation in brain chemicals, chronic stress may result in mood bipolarity, lost motivation, sleep cycle changes, and an increase in violent, destructive, or aggressive behavior.

Hormonal Response to Stress Perceived threats also have an effect on the body's hormonal system. When threatened, the adrenal cortex kicks in by increasing Cortisol production. As the body's primary steroid hormone, Cortisol is released when the body is confronted with any measure of perceived stress. And although Cortisol is an important biological tool that the body relies on for protection, prolonged stress triggers the adrenals to produce more than the body can naturally contend with. Excess Cortisol increases glucose production, which can lead to weight gain, metabolic interference, lethargy, and fatigue.

Adaptogenic Herbal Support
Which brings us to adaptogenic herbs. When we speak of adaptogenics, we are really speaking of compounds that reinforce the body's ability to adapt not only to stress, but also to the many biological and physical changes that take place in response to stressful situations. Some of their key functions involve balancing the body's stress response, countering the inflammatory agents that trigger Cortisol production, and supporting healthy, normalized immune system response.

NOW Foods carries a complete line of safe and effective Adaptogenic Herbs, derived from premium botanicals and herbs. When taken as directed, they may be just what you're looking for to help keep things at a comfortable calm.