Stress Relief*

Balancing the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal Axis (HPA Axis) - Cordyceps Cs-4 Cordyceps extracts provide immuno-modulating beta glucans that support immune health. Cordyceps extracts also contain other actives including adenosine, cordycepic acid, cordycepin and other related compounds. It is the adenosine and the other related compounds that may help to balance the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA axis), acting primarily through the adrenal glands, and by doing so, can be helpful to people suffering from prolonged exposure to stress. The HPA Axis (or HTPA axis), is a complex set of direct influences and feedback interactions among the hypothalamus, the pituitary gland and the adrenal glands. The interactions among these organs constitute the HPA axis, a major part of the neuroendocrine system that controls reactions to stress, and regulates many of the body’s processes including digestion, the immune system, mood and emotions, sexuality and energy storage and expenditure. The ability to respond to stress is essential and a normal part of human physiology. Stress can be psychological stress, or physiological stressors such as such as hypoglycemia, illness, fever, trauma, surgery, fear, pain, physical exertion, or temperature extremes. However, whether from a charging lion, or a pending deadline, the body's response to stress can be both helpful and harmful. The stress response gives us the strength and speed to ward off or flee from an impending threat. But when it persists, stress can put us at risk for a number of health problems. Prolonged exposure to stress can also lead to a persistent feeling of fatigue, and can affect everything from mood to sleep, the immune function and the digestion of food and the absorption of nutrients from the diet. This prolonged exposure to stress can also create an imbalance in the HPA Axis that becomes self-reinforcing, causing the negative symptoms to persist and get worse. Regular use of Cordyceps, by replenishing the adrenals, may help to break this self-reinforcing imbalance, leading to a balanced HPA Axis and better health by reducing the negative effects of prolonged exposure to stress. Cordyceps Cs-4