Goldroot Botanical Medicine - | Olympia, WA. Nootropics: The new adaptogens. “Technologies are morally neutral until we apply them.” – William Gibson A significant portion of my 2014 was spent developing a nootropic product. As a mushroom supplement company, we were looking to break out of the immune section, as medicinal mushrooms can do so much more than support immunity. Cognition-enhancing mushrooms and botanicals had long fascinated me, so this project was a dream come true. The concept was solid: combine Lion’s Mane and Reishi with organic herbs to support brain health and cognition.
We used Ginkgo, Gotu kola, and Bacopa–all have great-quality research support. I have since been enveloped by a kaleidoscope of ponderings and philosophical considerations about our product. Anything that offers enhanced performance is seductive to the Western imagination. Here to fill this niche are the nootropics, or substances that increase cognitive function. The rise of nootropics closely parallels the development of adaptogens in the Soviet Union following WWII. Are plants intelligent? New book says yes | Environment. Plants are intelligent.
Plants deserve rights. Plants are like the Internet – or more accurately the Internet is like plants. To most of us these statements may sound, at best, insupportable or, at worst, crazy. But a new book, Brilliant Green: the Surprising History and Science of Plant Intelligence, by plant neurobiologist (yes, plant neurobiologist), Stefano Mancuso and journalist, Alessandra Viola, makes a compelling and fascinating case not only for plant sentience and smarts, but also plant rights. For centuries Western philosophy and science largely viewed animals as unthinking automatons, simple slaves to instinct. “Today’s view of intelligence - as the product of brain in the same way that urine is of the kidneys - is a huge oversimplification. As radical as Mancuso’s ideas may seem, he’s actually in good company. Plant problem solvers Plants face many of the same problems as animals, though they differ significantly in their approach. Humans have five basic senses. Herbal Honey: Ancient, Magical & Medicinal | gather.
Yarrow & lavender herbal honey Herbalists talk a lot about their favourite medicines, menstrua and methods, but it is my unsolicited opinion that herbal honey doesn’t get near the attention it deserves. I have recently been turned on to the joy of medicine-making with unpasteurized honey through my herbalism apprenticeship with Jessy Delleman of Fireweed Farm. She’s a(n) herbal honey master. She makes medicine go down a whole lot easier, teaspoon of sugar be damned! Seriously. Take her classes, peruse her herbs, buy her tinctures, order her herbal honey—you will not be disappointed.
Over the last couple of months I’ve made medicinal herbal honeys with red elderflower, grand fir tips, nettles, wild rose, linden, lavender & yarrow, grindelia and pineapple weed. So, why do I have such a thing for herbal honeys. 15,000 year-old cave painting, Honey Hunting Minoan Bee Goddess, golden plaque, Camiros, Rhodes, 7th century BCE The Indian Bee goddess, Bhramari Devi Slow ‘n easy (2-4 weeks) Decant. Dandelion Lotion Bars. I originally made these lotion bars for my husband. His primary job is as a rock mason and the mortar and rough stone often leaves his hands dry, cracked, and bleeding.
At night, I put salve on them, and while that helped a lot, it just wasn’t enough. Lotion bars have a long history of helping the toughest cases of cracked, dry skin while dandelion oil is particularly useful for alleviating the chapped skin and soreness that comes along with manual labor. This combination has been excellent for his skin. He rubs the bar over his hands several time while watching TV each evening. There’s no messy salve to deal with and he can use it on the spots that are most bothering him. To make these you’ll need to first made a dandelion flower infused oil. Gather flowers from places that haven’t been sprayed with chemicals or used as a bathroom site for animals. Spread your dandelions out on a clean dishtowel or paper towels in a single layer.
Want more body care projects? Master Tonic 101. Also check out Whole Food Probiotics 101! LOVE the "Master Tonic" recipe? Pin it on Pinterest! Master Tonic looks like it cures everything and is easy to make and have on hand. [I did not peel my garlic this time --- MUCH EASIER!!] (photo credit: Simi Amiet) Master Tonic Ingredients 1 part fresh chopped garlic cloves (antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, antiparasitical) 1 part fresh chopped white onions, or the hottest onions available (similar properties to garlic) 1 part fresh grated ginger root (increases circulation to the extremities) 1 part fresh grated horseradish root (increases blood flow to the head) 1 part fresh chopped Cayenne peppers, Jalapenos, Serranos, Habeneros, African bird peppers....any combination of the hottest peppers available Preparation · Fill a glass jar 3/4 of the way full with equal parts of the fresh chopped or grated ingredients.
. · Close and shake vigorously and then top off the vinegar if necessary. . · Shake the tonic daily a couple of times. I was brave. P.S. 4 DIY Adaptogenic Herbal Tea Blends. FTC Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links which means if you make a purchase through one of these links, I may earn a small commission on your sale which allows me to cover a portion of the cost of running the Delicious Obsessions site and free content we provide every week. This has no effect on your price and is simply a cost of doing business from the company you purchase from. I only recommend products or services that I have personally tried and love. You can view it like leaving a tip. Thank you for your support! Over the last year, I have been doing a lot of experimenting and research on herbs. I have found the teas are the best way for me to get my herbs into my body. If you’re new to adaptogens and want to learn more, check out my posts on the subject.
Tea recipes are super flexible, and nothing is set in stone. Rosehips: I add these to everything! Basic Herbal Preparations Delicious Obsessions Trusted Product Recommendations How to Brew Your Adaptogenic Teas (decoction) Elderberry Gummies with Ginger and Turmeric. As much as most of us would like to deny it, cold and flu season is around the corner. I’m a firm believer that a clean diet, a little stress management, and some common sense (wash your hands!!) Can go a long way towards avoiding those bugs. But, sometimes even those steps are not enough to keep one from catching a cold. That’s when a little extra help can come in handy. I love turning to natural alternatives to not only boost my immune system, but to help me recover if I do fall ill.
The recipe I’m sharing with you today is filled with five of my favorite feel-better ingredients. Plus it’s tasty, so it’s a win-win! Some of our favorite treats are homemade gummy snacks. Speaking of upset stomachs – ginger is my go-to for nausea. Turmeric is a relatively new love of mine. Turmeric contains curcumin, which gives turmeric it’s beautiful golden yellow color. Elderberries are also pretty new to my kitchen. Finally, honey! Delicious Obsessions Trusted Product Recommendations Recipe type: Snack.