Without following the above criteria, you will end up with an inferior and, usually, ineffective formula. The Soviet scientists discovered over 20 different adaptogenic botanicals with hundreds of different active ingredients. Active ingredients are the compounds within each plant that actually do the work to heal your body or strengthen your immune system and the Soviet researchers discovered that it takes at least 300mg per day of these extracted active ingredients to produce the beneficial results. If the adaptogenic formula you are considering taking contains less than 300mg per dose of these active ingredients, it's not a worthwhile product.

Proper harvesting is also critical because the plants contain different concentrations of active ingredients, in different parts of the plants, at different stages of their growing season. That is the nature of all botanicals so it's important for the manufacturer to source not only the highest quality adaptogenic botanicals but to ensure that they are harvested at peak concentrations and that those ingredients are then extracted so as to retain their full-spectrum health benefits. The extraction of the active ingredients is a critical step and the best, most effective, extraction process was invented by a Russian plant molecular biologist by the name of Dr. Zakir Ramazanov. He patented a technique using water and vacuum to extract the active ingredients in botanicals thus preserving over 80% of the potency and bioavailability. The standard extraction method used by most manufacturers uses alcohol, heat and pressure which destroys the majority of the beneficial compounds.

While the Soviets studied many adaptogenic botanicals, it was determined that two plants in particular were the most potent and beneficial, Rhodiola Rosea and Ashwagandha, and that the Rhodiola growing in the Siberian Taiga (or high-altitude forest) is the most potent of all due to the altitude, climate, soil and amount of solar radiation. In response to these harsh conditions, the plants have evolved and developed adaptogenic compounds to ensure their own survival. It is important to note that these same two plants growing in other areas of the world, such as Tibet and China, do not have the same potency as those from Siberia. It's very much like terroir with wine -- the quality of the product depends on the special characteristics that geography has bestowed upon them.

It is common knowledge that certain herbs (and drugs) can have interactions, both good and bad. The Soviet scientists found that certain combinations of adaptogens complimented each other and were much more effective when used together. They also found that combining potent full-spectrum antioxidants greatly increased the absorbtion and bioavailability and biopotency of the resulting formula. That is why the ideal formula has multiple adaptogens and multiple antioxidants.

As noted above, it is crucial to get enough of the active ingredients into the formula but it is equally important to get the right mix and balance of the other synergistic ingredients if you are to have a truly effective product. Determining the optimal formula requires a careful study of the scientific data, expert knowledge of human health, and experience in nutritional product formulation. One misstep in the entire process can ruin the effectiveness of the formula.

In order to make their products palatable, many companies use pasteurized fruit juices, sugar, or even worse, high fructose corn syrup -- all of which are extremely bad for our bodies. Pasteurization is a heating process used to sterilize a product in order to kill germs and bacteria; unfortunately, it also kills all of the beneficial enzymes resulting in a useless product. It is critical that any botanical/herbal health supplement be unpasteurized. If the product is properly sourced, stored and manufactured in a clean environment, i.e., an FDA approved manufacturing facility, you may not have to pasteurize it to be safe. If the manufacturer is using inferior ingredients such as moldy fruits or improperly harvested and stored plants, then pasteurization is required. Just keep in mind that anything pasteurized is devoid of the beneficial compounds you are looking for.

Products that are properly formulated and manufactured, then bottled in glass containers do not require preservatives. Preservatives are nothing but a low-dose poison and their main use is to extend the shelf life of the product. These poisons are very bad for you, building up in your organs and compromising your immune system, health and longevity. Recent research proves sodium benzoate and related chemicals, prevalent in today's mass produced foods, are extremely bad. For an informative website on this and other chemical preservatives, visit Mercola.com to learn more. If you can avoid putting a preservative in a product, you will have a much better and healthier product.