Aging is a natural process, and although we manage to survive longer than preceding generations did, we often gain time without being healthier in those extra years. In daily practice, our primary job as practitioners of holistic medicine is to help our patients achieve a state of health and well-being throughout their lives. Although we can’t prevent aging or death, with the use of specific botanical and nutritional agents we can slow the aging process and we can help our patients age gracefully while adding healthy years to their life. Please enjoy this in-depth webinar.
On-Demand Webinar: Aging Well: Botanical and Nutritional Support for Vitality and Longevity
Presented and Facilitated by Dr. Jason Miller, DACM, LAc
There are a number of prevailing theories on the cause of senescence in living organisms, and all of them reference a loss of the body’s ability to successfully adapt to environmental conditions. Modern models of aging include: wear and tear, free radical damage, enzyme depletion, and accumulated genetic error. All of these theories involve the shift to a catabolic dominant metabolic process as indicated by declining hormone levels, less efficient hormone response, hormone resistance and desensitization, reduced ability to utilize food for energy, increased inflammation and waste products, and slower recovery time.
When we combine chronic stress with the natural aging process, we see accelerated aging. Chronic stress leads to imbalances in the HPA axis, and a reduced ability of an organism to successfully adapt. Aging is associated with reduced anabolic hormone activity including growth hormone, thyroid hormone and sex steroid axis activity with increased abdominal fat (insulin resistance). Biological age is often assessed through specific measurements: skin thickness, strength, stamina, body composition, reaction time, vision, hearing, as well as blood and neurological tests. All of these evaluations have one common feature: they measure aspects of anabolic and catabolic activity.
Adaptogens combat the negative effects of stress, improve health and well-being, and enhance athletic performance capacity. They increase the body’s vitality and reserve, a key component to any comprehensive longevity program. They are revered because they enhance the life-force, encourage natural harmony, enhance one’s adaptability, and as a result generate “radiant health.”
Botanical Agents for Longevity:
- Eleutherococcus senticosus:
- Ashwaganda
- Panax ginseng
- Bacopa monnieri
- Grape Seed and Skin/Resveratrol
- Tribulus terrestris
- Rhaponticum carthamoides
- Rhodiola rosea
- Mumie “Russian Shilajit”
- Epimedium brevicornum
- Turmeric
Specific Nutrients for longevity:
- Creatine magnesium chelate
- Branched chain amino acids
- Glutamine
- Omega 3 fatty acids
- Alpha lipoic acid
- Arginine
- Carnitine
- CoQ10
Lifestyle Interventions:
- Exercise – anabolic/catabolic balance
- Fasting/caloric restriction