AdaptaPhase II

Purchase AdaptaPhase II

Based on Russian research, this formula by adaptogen research expert Dr. Zakir Ramazanov enhances the stress-fighting characteristics of AdaptaPhase I.

Name: AdaptaPhase II
Description: 120 capsules
Supplement Facts
Serving Size:1 capsule

Amount Per Serving % Daily Value

Ajuga Turkestanica (root) 100 mg *%
(2% turkesterone)
Aralia Mandshurica Extract 100 mg *%
(root) (20% aralosides)
Rhaponticum Carthamoids Extract 100 mg *%
(5% ecdysterone)
Rhodiola (rhodiola rosea) extract 50 mg *%
(root) (5% rosaving and 1% salidrosides)
Myricetin 30 mg *

*Daily Value not established

Other Ingredients:
Hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (Vcap)

Recommended Dosage: one or two capsules twice per day.

Contains no added starch, salt, wheat, gluten,
corn, coloring, or dairy products.

Keep container tightly closed in a cool,
dry and dark place. Keep out of reach of children.

AdaptaPhase® II: New, Improved Formula

James South, M.A.

AdaptaPhase® I and II are VRP’s companion products, based on Russian adaptogen research, that are designed to increase our biological/psychological resistance to the debilitating effects of prolonged or intense stress.

Russian research has also shown that adaptogens help body and mind to more quickly and efficiently recover from the many and diverse negative effects of stress. In our quest to offer the public the most up-to-date and beneficial nutritional/herbal supplements, VRP’s AdaptaPhase® II has just been reformulated.

This new formula was enhanced for VRP by Russian adaptogen research expert Dr. Zakir Ramazanov, a world-renowned scientist with more than 140 published papers and the co-author of several books, including one on the premier adaptogen Rhodiola rosea.

Soviet researchers I.I. Brekhman and I.V. Dardymov first defined adaptogens in 1969.1 Adaptogens are plant extracts that meet three criteria.

First, an adaptogen must be harmless and not cause significant disturbance of normal, healthy physiological functions. Second, the action of an adaptogen must be nonspecific, increasing resistance to a wide range of adverse influences of diverse chemical, physical or biological nature.
And finally, an adaptogen must possess normalizing influence regardless of the direction of pathological changes. If a variable (e.g., blood pressure, heart rate, blood sugar level) is too high, an adaptogen must lower it, and if it is too low, the adaptogen must raise it back to (more or less) normal.

Whenever we are subjected to stress in any form, our bodies react in a stereotypical way. The “fight-or-flight” nervous system (the sympathetic branch of the autonomic nervous system) becomes activated. This, in turn, causes the adrenal glands to release the hormones adrenaline and noradrenalin, allowing the body/mind to go into “hyperdrive,” to escape a tiger or do battle with an enemy. The brain’s hypothalamus releases corticotrophin-releasing factor (CRF), which in turn triggers the pituitary gland to release adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), which then triggers the adrenal cortex to release cortisol (the “state of siege” hormone).

These hormones can help us survive life’s dire emergencies; however, they are “dual-edged swords” that also have extremely toxic downsides, especially if we are exposed to them on a chronic, long-term basis, as many people are in our fast-paced, toxic, stressful modern world.

With prolonged stress and/or aging, the sensors in the hypothalamus that monitor/control our stress hormone levels become ever less sensitive. This is called “loss of hormone receptor sensitivity.” (For more information, see Dr. Ward Dean’s articles on the neuroendocrine theory of aging on VRP’s website at www.vrp.com/art/997.asp.) This receptor sensitivity decrease allows us to become chronically “flooded” with stress hormones, which greatly increase the “wear and tear” on our organs, tissues and physiology. Excess levels of adrenaline/cortisol can cause heart attacks, strokes, bone loss, immune weakness, weight gain or loss, over- and undereating, memory loss, insomnia, ulcers, muscle loss, skin aging, etc.

Adaptogens to the Rescue
Adaptogens work in part by restoring hypothalamic receptor sensitivity, thereby reducing body levels of CRF, ACTH and cortisol. Thus, Rhodiola rosea extract has been shown to reduce CRF release under stress,2 thereby reducing levels of cortisol, the body’s chief catabolic (tissue breakdown) hormone.

Adaptogens may also promote anabolism (building new tissue), thus increasing repair of the tissue damage caused by chronically high levels of the catabolic stress hormones. Extracts of Rhaponticum carthamoides and Ajuga turkestanica, two highly prized Russian adaptogens, have been shown to significantly increase anabolic activity in animals and humans.3

New and Improved AdaptaPhase® II
VRP’s new AdaptaPhase II contains five synergistic ingredients. Each capsule contains 50 mg of Rhodiola rosea extract (five percent rosavins); 100 mg Rhaponticum carthamoides extract (five percent ecdysterone); 100 mg Ajuga turkestanica extract (two percent turkesterone); 100 mg Aralia manchurica extract (20 percent aralosides); and 30 mg myricetin. The product is intended to be used as a synergistic complement to AdaptaPhase® I, but either product can be safely and effectively used separately.

Rhodiola Rosea: The Ultimate Adaptogen
Dr. Ramazanov has remarked that “Brekhman and Dardymov and all Russian researchers since consider [Rhodiola] rosea to be the model of an adaptogen that met all three [adaptogen] criteria to the fullest extent.”4 Rhodiola rosea extract has been shown to:

Improve memory and mental performance, and to have antifatigue, antistress, and antidepressant properties; improve physical performance, reducing exhaustion and accelerating recovery after heavy training workloads, and increase muscle energy production, protein synthesis and anabolic activity; prevent or reduce stress-induced heart damage; reduce liver toxicity from various anticancer drugs while enhancing their anticancer action;
enhance thyroid function without causing hyperthyroidism, improve thymus gland function while reducing the thymus shrinkage that normally occurs with stress and aging, and increase adrenal gland reserve without causing adrenal hypertrophy (overgrowth); have strong antioxidant and anticarcinogen effects; and be incredibly safe, with clinical Rhodiola doses being hundreds of times less than potentially toxic doses.2

Rhaponticum carthamoides
Rhaponticum, also called “Leuzea,” is a plant that grows throughout eastern Siberia. Traditionally the Siberians consumed Leuzea and Rhodiola in tea form as a natural “stimulant,” in cases of tiredness and general weakness after illness, and as an energizing remedy after the long Siberian winter.

In the 1970s Russian scientists were working to find alternatives to anabolic steroids, since many Russian athletes were being barred from international athletic competition due to use of banned anabolic steroids. They soon discovered that various plants (including Leuzea and Ajuga) contained compounds called “ecdysteroids.” Ecdysteroids were previously known from research on insects and invertebrates, for which they serve various hormonal/growth functions.

Compounds such as 20-beta-ecdysteroid (also called “20-hydroxyecdysone), turkesterone, ponasterone A and cyasterone were found in Leuzea and/or Ajuga. Research with animals showed them to have a broad-spectrum anabolic action. Ecdysteroids were found to promote growth, muscle protein synthesis, wound healing, heart protection, liver function, kidney protection from toxins, immune activity, red blood cell formation, blood sugar normalization, and improved lipid metabolism.3 They also opposed stress-induced thymus shrinkage.3

Based on the animal research plus the experience of Russian athletes using ecdysteriods, Rhaponticum carthamoides extract was added to the official Russian Pharmacopoeia as a remedy for increasing work efficiency under stressful conditions, improving athletic performance, and promoting recovery after intense muscular workloads. Leuzea extract has been shown to considerably increase the working capacity of tired muscles and increase their content of ATP, glycogen and creatine phosphate, three chief energy-producing factors for muscle strength and endurance.5

Ajuga turkestanica
Ajuga has been a traditional folk remedy in ancient Bactria (a region of Central Asia that includes Afghanistan and Uzbekistan) for thousands of years. It has been used there to enhance muscular strength and physical endurance under harsh, exhausting conditions (e.g., trekking long distances through high mountain deserts). Like Leuzea, Ajuga t. contains a broad array of ecdysteroids. According to Dr. Ramazanov, only Ajuga t. extract contains turkesterone, perhaps the most potent single ecdysteroid. Dr. Ramazanov also points out that Ajuga t. extract is the best source of “full spectrum” ecdysteroids. Thus Ajuga t. extract possess properties similar to Leuzea. In Russia, where adaptogen tonics are widely used just as vitamin supplements are in America, the most popular tonic has been a combination of extracts of Rhodiola rosea, Rhaponticum (Leuzea) and Ajuga turkestanica.

Aralia manchurica
Aralia manchurica (also called “A. mandshurica” or thorn tree) is a shrub that grows throughout Russia, China and Korea. Aralia is botanically related to Eleutherococcus (formerly “Siberian ginseng”) and Panax ginseng. According to Dr. Musa Abidor, Siberians traditionally preferred Aralia m. to ginseng for immune health, to reduce stress/depression, and to improve physical and mental performance. Siberians would often combine Aralia manchurica, Leuzea and Rhodiola rosea for maximal stress reduction/performance enhancement benefits.

Aralia m. extract was included in the official Russian Pharmacopoeia in 1983 as a treatment for the symptoms of stress overload, such as fatigue, weakness, headache, lost libido, depression, immune weakness, etc. G.P. Gubina reported in 1988 a 90 percent success rate with 106 patients treated for various “asthenic” (stress overload/weakness) conditions using Aralia m. extract standardized for aralosides.6

Myricetin
Myricetin is a flavanol (bioflavonoid) closely related to quercetin. It occurs naturally in many fruits, berries, wines and fruit juices.7 It is easily absorbed, so small doses are needed. Myricetin has useful antioxidant, anticarcinogenic, antihyperglycemic and detoxifying properties, yet its real interest in the context of stress is its ability to inhibit the brain enzyme serotonin N-acetyltransferase (SNAT). SNAT converts the calming, antidepressant neurotransmitter serotonin to N-acetylserotonin, and then another enzyme (HIOMT) converts N-acetylserotonin to melatonin.

The stress hormone cortisol increases liver tryptophan degradation, in turn reducing brain serotonin production.8 By inhibiting conversion of serotonin to N-acetylserotonin, myricetin can, in effect, act to conserve brain serotonin. Serotonin is an essential neurotransmitter for maintaining a calm yet cheerful mood state under stressful conditions.

People who suffer from “winter depression” are often overconverting serotonin to melatonin during the daytime, due to the low light conditions (especially in the northern regions) prevalent in the late fall, winter, and early spring. Bright light prevents conversion of serotonin to melatonin, while dim light or darkness enhances melatonin production. Low serotonin/high melatonin in the daytime promotes depression, fatigue, weakness, the “winter blues.” For those with serotonin balance problems, myricetin may be a simple natural remedy.

AdaptaPhase® II: Use and Cautions
AdaptaPhase II is meant to be taken at a dose of two to four capsules daily on an empty stomach. In the morning and afternoon are the appropriate times to take one to two capsules. AdaptaPhase II is useful for anyone trying to maintain health under strenuous training workloads or stressful life conditions.

It may be useful to combat the muscle wasting (sarcopenia) that occurs with chronic stress and aging. It is a natural mood-elevating, antifatigue adaptogen, without being a true stimulant like caffeine or amphetamines. It may improve
both physical and mental energy and performance.

While the ingredients in AdaptaPhase II have a long history of use in their natural form and are generally quite safe, there are a few precautions for use.
AdaptaPhase II should not be used by those suffering from hypertension, manic-depression (bipolar disorder) or over-excitation. It is also not for use by pregnant women. AdaptaPhase II should not be taken after dinner or in the evening, as it may promote insomnia if taken late in the day.

Because some people may be more sensitive to this formula than others, it is best to start with one or two capsules daily for the first five days, and then increase dosage if desired, and only if no overstimulation has occurred. Some of the ingredients in AdaptaPhase II have been shown to lower high blood sugar, so diabetics who use insulin should use AdaptaPhase II with caution.

References:
1. Brekhman I, Dardymov I. New substances of plant origin which increases non-specific resistance. Ann Rev Pharmacol 1969, 9:419-30.

2. Brown R, Gerbarg P, Ramazanov, Z. Rhodiola rosea: A phytomedicinal overview. HerbalGram 2002, 56:40-52.

3. Lafont R, Dinan L. Practical uses for ecdysteroids in mammals including humans: an update. J Insect Sci 2003, 30pp. Available online: www.insectscience.org/3.7.

4. South J. Rhodiola rosea: An adaptogen for all seasons. Vitamin Research News June 2004. Available online at www.vrp.com.

5. Petrov V et al. Pharmacological investigation of Rhaponticum carthamoides. Planta Medica 1984, 205-09.

6. Gubina G. Clinical Applications of Aralia mandshurica Tincture. In: Medicinal Preparations from Plants. Ed: A Turova. Moscow: Science Press, 1988, 263-69.

7. Hertog M et al. Estimation of daily intake of potentially anticarcinogenic flavonoids and their determinants in adults in the Netherlands. Nutr Cancer 1993, 20:21-29.

8. South J. Tryptophan: Nature’s answer to Prozac®. Vitamin Research News April 2004. Available online at www.vrp.com.

Information courtesy of and copyright Vitamin Research Products, James South M.A. Used with permission. VRP: 775-884-1300

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