Today's podcast is our "Feel Good" show where we will be joined by Adriene Mishler who is the co-founder of the website findwhatfeelsgood.com, she also leads a Yoga community of over a million people on YouTube with her weekly class called Yoga with Adriene.  

When we talk about herbs and extracts on the show we often talk about how it makes us feel. It's important to have a sense of connection with your body and this goes for anything you do, whether it's things you put into it or things you do with it. 

If you have questions regarding herbal nutrition or are looking for a natural solution to something that ales you, please give us a call at 512 853 9005 and we will try our best to answer your question.

This show is sponsored by Dr. Vim's Herbal Nutrition. Dr. Vim's herbal formulas are designed for men and women to mental focus, physical energy, stress reduction and a healthy libido. They use only filler free high potency botanical extracts. ensuring that every batch delivers a full dose of the most powerful phytonutrients on the planet.  

 

Herbs make you feel good!

The modern lifestyle can be overwhelming stressful.

• We end up overworked
• We are overstressed
• We are over-critical
• We are restless and sleep deprived.

The result:

• Improper Stress Response
• Cortisol is out of balance -constant release of cortisol and fight or flight hormones can have harmful results:
  • weakened immune response
  • problems with sleep
  • over-stressed mind
  • general fatigue
  • harmful inflammation.

 

Adaptogens and Nervines help you feel good:

• Adaptogens help us to decrease stress and fatigue, while promoting healthy levels of energy and boost mood.
• Herbal nervines can help calm the nerves allowing us to relieve stress and tension by calming the nervous system. Some nervines even act as nervous system tonics, strengthening and restoring the nervous system over time.

Adaptogens - Rare herbs that are safe, non-toxic and generally normalizing to various systems and organs in the body. The help the body adapt to stress weather is be emotional, physical, or environmental.

Nervines - Herbs that are nutritive to or generally support the nervous system with varying effects.

Sedatives - Herbs that relax the nervous system and promote restful sleep.

Tonic - Herbs that strengthen or tonify an organ or system in the body.

Ayurveda - The traditional Hindu system of health and medicine, based on maintaining balance among the five elements earth, air, fire, water, and ether.  The word Ayurveda is derived from the Sanskrit words "ayur," meaning life, and "veda," meaning knowledge.

Holy Basil (Tulsi) - Referred to as "The Elixir of Life", Holy Basil is a Ayurvedic herb famous for its ability to promote positive mood and relaxation.  It's and adaptogen associated with adrenal health, respiratory tract function, and celebrated for its ability to help the body cope with stress and inflammation.  It has a clove like aroma and makes a tasty herbal infusion. It's one of our favorite sipping herbs at the Power Plant podcast.

• Vana - known for its aromatic fragrance, Vana Tulsi is a powerful plant with green leaves and stem and white flowers. It's been used for centuries and can be found in the Himalayas as well as India, Asia and Africa.
• Rama- Know for is sweet aroma and great taste, Rama Tulsi has been used for centuries to promote a calm, alert mind, promote relaxation, and to support strength and stamina.
• Krishna - known to be the most "medicinal" of the Tulsi family, Krishna Tulsi has an aromatic, sweet, and clove-like flavor. It is named after the blue skinned God, Krishna, because is dark purple leaves resemble the color of the widely revered Hindu God.

 

Adaptogenic Herbs that help combat stress and boost energy:

• Ashwagandha - A key herb in Ayurveda, the traditional medical system of India, that is known as a Rasayana or herb that gives strength. It is one of the most popular adaptogens on Earth because of its ability to safely improve the bodies resistance to stress, restore youthful energy, combat inflammation, and balance the stress hormone, Cortisol.

• Ginseng (American, Chinese, Korean) - There are 3 popular types of Ginseng used around the world; Chinese, Korean, and American. Chinese Ginseng (Ren Shen) is considered the "king of herbs" in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and is celebrated as THE premier tonic herb. Ginseng's active compounds, referred to as ginsenosides, are known to restore qi (pronounced "chi") or energy levels and to support a calm, alert mind. Korean Ginseng has similar properties, of course the Koreans report that Korean Ginseng is more potent than Chinese Ginseng. American Ginseng, known as the 'Yin Ginseng', has similar ginsenosides to its Chinese and Korean counterparts, although is traditionally viewed as a gentler tonic better suited to people with excess metabolic heat, including but not specific to menopausal women.  It can also help promote a relaxed, calm attitude among those prone to stress and overwork.

• Rhodiola Rosea - A favorite among athletes and herbal practitioners, Rhodiola has a reputation as one of the world's greatest mood and energy tonics. It's unique array of phytochemicals have been researched for their ability to regulate key neurotransmitters like dopamine and serotonin. Rhodiola Rosea is a versatile herb that can help you manage stress, boost your mood, restore your energy, and invigorate your workout.

• Tongkat Ali - Decoctions of Tongkat ali roots have been utilized for centuries in Malaysia and Southeast Asia to support energy levels and mood. In modern times body builders and athletes love it for its ability to promote lean muscle mass. Although commonly taken by men, Tongkat ali can also support women's libido, mood, and energy.

 

Nervine Herbs that promote GABA:  

GABA (gamma-Aminobutyric acid) - the main inhibitory or calming neurotransmitter in the brain, GABA influences our mood by reducing high levels of the hormones adrenalin, noradrenalin and dopamine. It also affects the neurotransmitter serotonin. Having sufficient GABA in our brain is linked to being relaxed and happy, while having too little GABA is associated with sleep problems, and feeling anxious, stressed, and depressed.

• Lemon Balm - a member of the mint family, this calming herb has been used in Europe, the Mediterranean, Northern Africa, and India for thousands of years because of its myriad benefits. The rosemarinic acids present in Lemon Balm are believed to boost levels of GABA, a calming neurotransmitter, in the brain.

• Chamomile - One of the most famous nervine herbs used to calm the nerves and to promote restful sleep. Passion Flower - A calming nervine that help relax the nervous system, relieving tension and restlessness and promoting restful sleep. It's also a common ingredient in herbal aphrodisiacs. 

• Magnolia - A calming nervine popular for keeping the stress hormone, cortisol, in check. In addition, Magnolia also promotes GABA making it a choice sleep aid as well.

• Valerian (Sedative) - Valerian is a potent nervine and a strong sedative. It is commonly used in herbal sleep remedies and formulas used to relieve tight muscles. There are some people that find Valerian to do just the opposite and act as a stimulant and cause paranoia.

• Passionflower – A nervine herb native to southeastern parts of the Americas, Passionflower is now grown throughout Europe and in the United States as well. It has been treasured historically for its' ability to allay anxiety, insomnia, seizures, and hysteria. It has also been used. It is believed that Passionflower works by increasing GABA levels.

Other useful Nervine Herbs:

• Oatstraw – Although it is not a sedative, Oatstraw is a nervine tonic that is generally beneficial to the nervous system. It has also been used to gently restore vigor libido and acts as a restorative to the Adrenal glands. The amazing plant can get you through a stressful day or help you get a good night's rest.

• Lavender – A herb that's calming to the mind and uplifts the spirit. It's commonly used in Aromatherapy and is used in calming herbal infusions to relieve anxiety and promote restfulness. Some people refer to Lavender as "herbal valium".

 

Herbs that boost immune function and keep you feeling good in the long run:

• Astragalus Root – Adaptogenic herb made famous in TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) that helps boost white blood cell count and helps to normalize immune function. In TCM it is also celebrated as a powerful energy tonic. 

• Lemon Balm - a member of the mint family, Lemon Balm is native to Southern Europe and India. It is classically used to calm the nerves, relieve anxiety, and to boost immune function. It's also used to treat cold sores, herpes, and shingles.

• Medicinal Mushrooms (Ex. Reishi, Corcyceps, Agaricus, Turkey Tail, etc) - Powerful adaptogenic mushrooms that boost white blood cell count and help normalize immune function. Don't get these mushrooms confused with the common variety store bought mushrooms. Button mushrooms and other hybridized mushrooms do not have medicinal value and could be toxic in some cases if not prepared properly.

• Adaptogens - in regards to long run immune health, Adaptogens work by normalizing the immune system. If the immune system is underperforming it strengthens it, but if it's over performing it normalizes it.

 

Herbs that help you feel better when your sick:

 

• Oregano Oil - herb used to remedy the common cold, flu, and bronchitis. It's a versatile plant also used for ear aches, intestinal parasites, allergies and sinus pain. We at Power Plant prefer Wild Mediterranean Oregano in most situations.

• Echinacea Purpurea and Echinacea Angustifolia - an herb native to areas east of the Rocky Mountains, different species of Echinacea are used to fight the common cold, the flu, and other upper respiratory infections.

• Andrographis - plant native to Southern Asian frequently used for preventing and treating the common cold and flu.

• Thieves Oil - Legend has it that during the times of the Bubonic Plague that thieves went from house to house to rob those who had died for Plague. A special blend of oils to protect themselves from getting this deadly disease. The powerful blend of oils they used is known as Thieves Oil and continues to be used in modern times to support immune function.

 

Holy Basil Oatstraw Infusion recipe: Makes 32 oz. of tea

 

Ingredients:

• 1 Oz dried Holy Basil (Krishna, Vana, and Rama Blend)
• 1 Oz Oatsraw
• Pinch of Damiana
• Pinch of Passionflower
• Pinch of ground Vanilla bean
• Pinch of clove buds to enhance flavor

 

Instructions: Separate the Damiana and Passionflower into a separate teabag. Combine the rest of the herbs together and place them and the Damiana, Passionflower teabag into a quart sized ball jar. Pour boiling water over the herbs, and tighten the lid. Steep for 20 minutes, then pull the Damiana, Passionflower teabag out. Tighten the lid back down and steep the Holy Basil, Oatstraw, Clove Buds, and Vanilla Bean for an additional 6 hours. This is done to extract the valuable minerals out of the Oatstraw and to maximize taste!

Chill and Enjoy!