“Herbs are medicine in the natural world.”

– Josh Gitalis

I am sure you have heard the idea that “food is medicine,” and this is very true. But often times, in the SAD and in other Western cultures, we are missing much of the real food that can actually act as medicine for your bodies. Herbs are an example of real food that we often miss out on. Herbs can be added to so many different meals to boost their flavor AND their health benefits. They can also be added to drinks as a tea base to enhance the healing properties that they offer even more… this is an elixir.

Elixirs v. Smoothies + Juices

What makes an elixir different than a juice or smoothie that has herbs added to it? The main difference is that elixirs start with a base of tea and this tea acts as a decoction. A decoction is when you boil an herb in water, this allows the water to contain soluble constituents of principles from the herb boiled. You can also use different methods of extracting the active components from herbs with a tincture, infusion or maceration, but a decoction is the easiest way to do this in your own kitchen.

This tea base is used to incorporate herbs for therapeutic benefits, meaning elixirs have a medicinal quality. The first step to creating an elixir is deciding what you want the elixir to do, then from here you can decide what herbs, spices and superfoods will do this job. Next, you will make your decoction with the herbs that you choose. You can follow the graphic below to create the composition of any elixir.

3 Brain Boosting Elixirs

For each of these elixirs, you will need a small pan, a blender, a medium sized bowl and a nut milk bag.

Happy Hot* Cacao | Mood boosting, great for depression

This elixir contains sooo many powerful foods for the mind. Both cacao and dates contain tryptophan, which is a precursor to serotonin and found in conventional medications used to treat depression, such as Prozac. Cacao also contains more antioxidants than blueberries, açaí, and most other foods! Hemp seeds provide the perfect balance of omega-3 to omega-6 fatty acids, which is crucial for a healthy mind. St. John’s Wart is an herb that is known to be very effective for the treatment of mild depression and is often prescribed as a supplement in holistic medicine for treatment. Turmeric is proven to decrease cortisol, and has anti-inflammatory properties. Lastly, cinnamon is known to be warming and uplifting! This is just a few ways the these foods benefit the brain, but there are sooo many more!

Ingredients

2 inches turmeric root, peeled and sliced

2 cups of water (+ more if needed, see recipe)

1 cup of almonds

3 tbs raw cacao powder

1 tbs hemp seeds

1 tsp pure vanilla extract

3 dates, soaked (+ raw honey, liquid stevia or pure maple syrup, to taste if desired)

1/2 tsp cinnamon

10 drops St. John’s Wart (optional)

pinch of sea salt

Recipe

  1. Begin by preparing the turmeric tea. Bring 2 cups of water to a boil, then lower the heat and add the sliced turmeric root. Cover and let simmer for 30 minutes to an hour.
  2. Once the tea is made place in the fridge for 10-20 minutes to chill. Once chilled add it to a blender making sure it equals 2 cups, if it does not add more water until you have two cups. Then add the almonds. Blend for 60 seconds on high speed.
  3. Place the nut milk bag over a medium sized bowl and pour the blended liquid into the bag. Gather the top of the bag and twist it a few times to close it. Using your hands, begin to “milk” the bag, allowing the liquid to drip into the bowl. Continue this process of milking until all of the liquid is removed from the almond pulp.*
  4. Clean your blender and add the almond milk and the rest of the ingredients. Blend until smooth. Taste and add more sweetener of choice if needed. (I recommended using liquid stevia because it does not adversely affect glucose levels, while dates, honey and maple syrup will).
  5. You can enjoy this elixir cold* or pour it in a pan and heat on medium heat until it begins to froth, stirring regularly to prevent it from sticking to the pan. Remove from heat immediately, allow to cool a bit and enjoy!

*You can save your almond pulp by storing it in an airtight container and adding it in smoothies, oatmeal or make almond flour with it!

Relaxing Remedy | Stress and anxiety relief

Vanilla, chamomile, lavender, oats and cinnamon are all known to reduce stress and anxiety and promote relaxation. Coconut oil is added to this elixir for healthy fat. The brain is made up of 60% fat, this is needed from our diet in the form of healthy fats. If the brain does not receive these healthy fats, mental health conditions such as anxiety can occur. This elixir is great to have before bed or before/during stressful and anxiety producing situations.

Ingredients

2 tsp dried chamomile flowers OR 2 tbs fresh

1 tsp dried lavender flowers OR 3 tsp fresh

2 cups of warm water (+ more if needed, see recipe)

1/2 cup rolled oats 

1 tbs raw honey (sub 3-5 drops liquid stevia if desired)

1 tsp pure vanilla extract

1 tbs coconut oil

1 tsp cinnamon (+ more if desired)

pinch of sea salt 

Recipe

  1. Start by making chamomile lavender tea. In a small pan bring 1/2 cup of water to a boil. Once boiling, lower to simmer and add the chamomile and lavender flowers. Cover and let simmer for 15 minutes then strain.
  2. While the tea is simmer, add the remaining 1 1/2 cups of warm water to a blender with the oats. Blend on high for 60 seconds.
  3. Place the nut milk bag over a medium sized bowl and pour the blended liquid into the bag. Gather the top of the bag and twist it a few times to close it. Using your hands, begin to “milk” the bag, allowing the liquid to drip into the bowl. Continue this process of milking until all of the liquid is removed from the blended oats.*
  4. Clean out your blender and then add the oat milk., the tea and the rest of ingredients to the blender. Blend for another 60 seconds. Taste and adjust cinnamon and sweetener if desired. (I recommended using liquid stevia because it does not adversely affect glucose levels, while honey will).
  5. Enjoy warm or place in the fridge* to enjoy chilled.

*You can save your blended oats by storing it in an airtight container and adding them in smoothies, mixing in with oatmeal or make oat flour with it!

*This elixir will become a gooey texture if reheated afterwards. I do not recommend this as it will not be very enjoyable.

Iced Matcha Latte | Improve focus, great for ADHD

This elixir has mint which is proven to increase concentration and improve productivity. Matcha, which is added in this recipe, has caffeine which is used to improve focus, even in those with ADHD. Lion’s Mane is a mushroom that can be found in a powdered format health food stores and has been proven to increase cognitive function.

Ingredients

15-20 fresh mint leaves

2 cups of water

1/2 cup rolled oats

1 – 1/2 tsp matcha powder

1 1/2 tbs raw honey (+ more/3-5 drops stevia, if desired)

1/2 tsp pure vanilla extra

1 tsp lion’s mane powder (optional)

pinch of sea salt

3-5 cubes of ice (optional)

Recipe

  1. Start by making mint tea. In a small pan bring the water to a boil. Once boiling, lower to simmer and add the mint leaves. Cover and let simmer for 5 minutes.
  2. Once the tea is made, strain the leaves and set aside (these will be used later) place in the fridge for 10-20 minutes to chill. Once chilled add it to a blender making sure it equals 2 cups, if it does not add more water until you have two cups. Then add the oats. Blend for 60 seconds on high speed.
  3. Place the nut milk bag over a medium sized bowl and pour the blended liquid into the bag. Gather the top of the bag and twist it a few times to close it. Using your hands, begin to “milk” the bag, allowing the liquid to drip into the bowl. Continue this process of milking until all of the liquid is removed from the blended oats.*
  4. Clean your blender and add the oat milk and the rest of the ingredients, plus the leaves from the tea. Blend until smooth. Taste and add more sweetener of choice, math and mint leaves if desired. (I recommended using liquid stevia because it does not adversely affect glucose levels, while honey will).
  5. Serve as is or pour over ice.