THE HEALING POWER OF ADAPTOGEN HERBS
[PART 1]

Custom Blending Your Own Adaptogens

Powdered adaptogen blends do everything from lower stress and soothe irritated skin to boost immunity and promote sleep. Each blend is a little different, so it’s helpful to pick one that specifically works for you. The blends can be a tad on the expensive side. Luckily you can make your own with just a few of the right herbs and a coffee grinder–and it will only cost you pennies per scoop!

In this five-part series we will be covering the topics below with recipes.

Part 1 – Custom Blending Your Own. Do you want to make your own adaptogen blends?

Part 2 – Adaptogen Blend + Energy. Are your tired and stressed out?

Part 3- Adaptogen Blend + Beauty. Do you want beautiful glowing skin?

Part 4 – Adaptogen Blend + Clarity. Are you looking for more mental clarity and alertness?

Part 5 – Adaptogen Blend + immunity. Are you feeling depleted?

How to Make Adaptogen Powder

Buying herbs in bulk is one of the easiest ways to make your own adaptogen blend. You can simply pick them up from the bulk bins at your market or buy them online. I get mine form Rebecca’s Apothecary in Boulder, Colorado. I always try and shop local/small business when I can.

Add a teaspoon or two to coffee, tea or a smoothie. If you find the taste a little too strong, start with 1/4 a teaspoon in the morning and work your way up.

Simple!

Below are some roots and superfoods to help customize your blends after our 5 part-series.

REISHI

Immune strengthening
Stress relieving
Liver protective
Improves circulation
Protects against radiation, free radicals, and other environmental stressors.

TOCOS

Promotes healthy skin and connective tissue.
Supports healthy muscle function.
Facilitate the removal of toxins from the body.

RHODIOLA

Increases stamina, longevity and focus.
Helps to balance the stress hormone, cortisol.

ASTRAGALUS

Strengthens, protects and improves the appearance of skin.
Helps boost the immune system.
Acts as anti-aging.

HE SHOU WU

Tonifies and nourishes hair and skin.
Libido booster.
Promotes spiritual energy.

ASHWAGANDA

Increases vigor and strength.
Restores sexual wellness
Effective and gentle sedative. Helps normalize the sleep cycle.
Anti-inflammatory.

MUCUNA PRURIENS

Provides L-Dopa – turns into dopamine which improves mood, sense of well-being, mental clarity, better sleep, and brain function.
Gentle and balancing effect on the hormonal system.

CORDYCEPS

Anti-aging.
Improve stamina and athletic performance.
Increases immune function.

PINE POLLEN

Potent aphrodisiac.
Supports hormonal balance in both men and women. Rich in DHEAs.
Natural mood enhancer.
Powerful anti-inflammatory.

Adaptogen Blend + Energy: Are you tired and stressed out?

We continue with Part 2 today. Are you tired and stressed out? We are all beautifully human and take on way too much creating unwanted stress and fatiguing our bodies in the process. I am currently training for my second figure competition and really need the extra energy right now.

I have a couple of blends that help with energy levels and keep you grounded when feeling a little stressed.

*Remember to review Part 1 to get more blending ideas for your recipes.

Adaptogen Blend + Energy Recipe

Yield: 15 servings (this is a bulk powder recipe)
Ingredients: 1 tablespoon each (ground)

Astragulus
Goji Berries
Reishi Mushroom
Cordyceps Mushroom
He Shou Wu
Ashwagandha

Instructions

In a small bowl, combine approximately 1 tablespoon of each herb. Ensure to grind each herb separately in coffee a grinder before combining. Whisk to remove any clumps and mix everything together. Store in an airtight container.
To use, add 1 teaspoon of moon dust to coffee, tea, smoothies or the drink of your choice in the morning.

Adaptogen Blend + Grounding Recipe

Ingredients

1 cup nut or seed milk
1/2 tsp ashwagandha
1/2 tsp he shou wu
1/4 tsp mucuna pruriens
1 Tbsp The Coconut Butter
1/2 Tbsp tocotrienols
1/2 Tbsp bee pollen

Instructions

While warming milk, add the rest of the ingredients to a high powered blender. When milk is warm, not boiling, pour and blend for one minute.
Pour in your favorite mug and top with Bee Pollen.

Adaptogen Blend + Beauty.Do you want beautiful glowing skin?

We continue with Part 3 today. Do you want your skin to glow? Do you get acne during your menstrual cycle? Do you have hormonal fluctuations (both men and woman here)?

I recently discovered Tocotrienols (Tocos) and it’s one of my favorites! Toco’s are high in vitamin E, and are exceptionally good for hydrating and nourishing the skin and connective tissue. Next on the list is He Shou Wu which is a favorite for longevity, beauty and rejuvenation. He Shou Wu may tonify and nourish the hair, skin, nails, nervous system, Yin (feminine energy), and Shen (Spirit). Ashwaganda is just one adaptogen to keep in your home at all times. It is great for hormone balance, thyroid support, normalizing sleep cycles, and harmonizing your mood.

Here is a recipe to help you glow from the inside out!

*Remember to review Part 1 to get more blending ideas for your recipes.

Adaptogen Blend + Glow Recipe

This warming latte helps with outer beauty and hormonal fluctuations, thanks to tocos, a superfood made from rice that promotes healthy skin and connective tissue, he shou wu, which tonifies and nourishes hair and skin and ashwaganda, which helps balance hormones in both men and women.

Ingredients

1 tablespoon tocos + extra for garnish
½ teaspoon he shou wu
½ teaspoon ashwaganda
½ teaspoon schisandra berry + extra for garnish.
12 ounces (1 ½ cups) almond milk

Instructions

Combine tocos, he shou wu, ashwaganda, and schisandra berries in a powerful blender.
Heat the almond milk in a small saucepan over medium heat until just simmering, then add to the blender with the herbs.
Blend on high for 30 seconds, until frothy.
Pour into a mug and sprinkle with extra tocos and berry powder to garnish.

Stay tuned for part 2!