Plant adaptogenes
The most effective for athletes are plant adaptogens, which include: ginseng, lemongrass, eleutherococcus, rhodiola rosea. Beekeeping products, such as flower pollen, royal jelly, pergus and tartar brood, are also listed, but efficiency has not yet been proven.
The efficacy of Eleutherococcus and Ginseng has been proven, with its use, attention is doubled. As for sport, a bicycling experiment proves that the use of adaptogens for 12 days leads to an improvement in performance, in comparison with the control group.
The above adaptogens are the most effective in sports, their evidence base is the most impressive. Adaptogens are not doping, which is why they can be used freely in sports. You can feel the effect of them after a couple of hours.
Reception of adaptogens
When accepting plant adaptogens, one should maintain such recommendations:
Tincture of ginseng, use 2-3 times a day for 10-15 drops. Take should be 30-40 minutes before eating. The duration of the course is 2-3 weeks. In case of problems with sleeping, take it before lunch.
Extract eleutherococcus – 30-40 drops for 1-2 doses per day, not more than 2-3 weeks.
Radiol extract – 7-10 drops, 2-3 times a day, 15-20 minutes before meals. Duration of 3-4 weeks.
Tincture of Schizandra – you need to take 20-25 drops 2-3 times a day. Important! In the morning, 30-40 minutes before meals, the duration of the course is 2 weeks.
General recommendations for the intake of adaptogen:
It is important to follow the course duration. Otherwise, the organism will adapt to the drug, and the proper effect will not be observed or will be weakly expressed.
Combine and alternate adaptogens are necessary, given their characteristics, since their properties are different, and this must be borne in mind.
It is not recommended to take adaptogens in the evening.
They have the effect of cumulation. Therefore, the duration of the reception should not exceed 30-45 days.
Side effects and contraindications
Contraindications for taking adaptogens are:
Insomnia and increased excitability of the nervous system.
Myocardial infarction in the acute phase and high blood pressure.
Childhood.
Pregnancy and breastfeeding.
Acute infectious diseases, high fever.
Concerning the side effects, there are practically no plant adaptogens. They do not give a toxic effect even in large doses. Not frequent but likely side effects:
Allergic reactions and individual intolerance.
Insomnia.
Increased myometrium tone.
All these side effects are reversible, which means that after the end of the drug, they disappear.