FT Questions....

[Scott Stevenson]

Also regarding supplementation, what do you think about adoptogens? Are there any you use on a daily basis? And reasons why/why not one should use them. I use phosphatidylserine and occasionally others for adrenal support.

In asking about "adaptogens" you're asking about a host of different supplements. Its sort of like asking about nutritional "ergogenic aids."

I'm taking Granite Supplements' Adamantium Aminos, which contains PeakO2, a blend of 6 adaptogenic mushroom species.

Your question about adaptogens to generic, but yes, there are reasons for not taking one, e.g., you have an allergies or an intolerance to the substance. In Chinese Medicine, taking ginseng is contraindicated in those who do not have overt Qi deficiency, as it can cause insomnia. (I have seen this clinically.)

Many adaptogens are formal medicinals in various forms of traditional medicine (e.g. ayurvedic or Chinese) and are prescribed under circumstances (signs and symptoms) that match the actions / indications of the herb / substance. So, they'd not be used when someone does not have the particular condition. (Ginseng is an example above.)

It's a Westernized approach in many cases to consider something an adaptogen, i.e., a global "tonic" that can be used universally without finer consideration of medical context, although this is not always true. (Jiao Gu Lan tea is a general tonic in Chinese medicine, for instance.)

(BTW, if you have questions not related to FT specifically, it would be best to just those in a different thread in the appropriate forum. This will make it easier for folks to find stuff.)

-S