Adaptogens, Medicinal Mushrooms and Wellness

Ashwagandha is subtle, camel chino coloured and uber calming… even the name of this Indian shrub sounds like a lullaby.

Medicinal mushrooms claim to prop up immunity and feed good gut health. Maca wants to flirt with your libido and give you energy to work out (in the bedroom OR your online Zoom boxfit class depending on the willing other parties of course).

Cacao is so silky and velvety, she makes you feel like nothing else matters in the moment but love. Spiritually awakening and heart-warming I use cacao A LOT and I will talk about her a lot too!

Skip this if you know these facts already….

Adaptogens are non-toxic plants and mushrooms that claim to work with your individual body to increase stamina and build the body’s resitance to stress of any kind (physical stress, nervous system frazzles, mental and even emotional stress).

Plant medicines like this have been used to enhance the productivity of soldiers historically and they originate in places like Africa and South America. The thinking behind their science is that these particular plants (adaptogens) pass on their resiliency as they typically grow in challenging environments and conditions where in order to survive they need to be tough themselves.

Check out some Google images of maca root, it looks like an elderly potato fighting for its life on the edge of a sun-drenched cliff. Fortunately for us, it is typically sold as a powder or in capsules.

Mushrooms are not actually plants…..they have their own category ‘fungus’ and have been used in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) since the beginning of time for their health benefits and to flavour food. Look out for the finest of the fungus: reishi, lions mane, cordyceps and shitake.

Fast forward to me standing bleary-eyed in my kitchen in the early a.m brewing some coffee to pick me up. There I go adding a teaspoon of powdered ashwagandha root to soothe my scatty nervous system during lockdown (I know I could omit the coffee altogether but it’s a 30-year-old habit that I’ll give the flick when and if it ever suits me).

Hear this! Adaptogens aren’t a magic pill for an out of balance lifestyle and they aren’t a one-off Red Bull kinda helper either.

Adaptogens are supplementary measures to a healthful lifestyle.

I’m a mama and a nana so I’ll be the first to harp on about doing these things as much as you can cope with wherever you are at in your life: sleeping well, eating nutritious food, hydrating yourself, moving in joyful ways and managing stress #selfcare. Nourishing your mind and soul with activities, dreams and thoughts that bring excitement and purpose and light into your heart matter more than you think you know.

I try to do all these things most of the time - honestly, I do! Aaaaaaand I use adaptogens to supplement my mostly healthful lifestyle. I reckon I have noticed an improvement in my anxiety levels and my overall sense of calm with adaptogens in my life.

I throw these adaptogens into my oats, my coffee, dinners and I get creative with them in mylky tonics. These things aren’t for everyone - I get it. My constant curiosity about natural medicine and how the body can heal itself leans me in close to plant-based support because it comes from nature, it comes from the earth and so do we.

Message us if you would like links to reputable and fair suppliers of ashwagandha, maca, medicinal mushrooms and cacao.

Be well,

B x