Demystifying Nutrients for Holistic Wellness

Let’s start with an invitation to hit the pause button. Take a moment to tune in to your body, and simply take notice.

What does your body want right now? What does it need?

Are you feeling tired? Are you feeling stressed or anxious? Are you feeling a lack of focus or mental clarity? 

When answering these questions, try to reserve any judgment. This is an opportunity to just observe and acknowledge with love and awareness. Let’s listen and take action to honour the body and that intuitive wisdom.

As we call to attention what your body needs most in these moments, we offer some lesser-known tools and allies to support:

1. Better Quality, More Restful Sleep
2. Stress Reduction
3. Boost Cognition & Focus
4. Aid in Healthy Digestion

All of the nutrients mentioned in this article can be brewed into tea, added to your food, or used in tinctures or capsules. Before using any herbal products, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, or on any medications, please consult with a qualified healthcare practitioner. With that disclaimer out of the way, let’s dive in!

Better Quality, More Restful Sleep

If you lie awake at night unable to stop rethinking the events of the day or planning what you will do tomorrow, adding a dose of one or both of these herbs to a tea before bedtime will help quiet the mind and provide a sense of peace, a natural aid allowing you to fall asleep more easily.

Valerian is a perennial plant, native to Europe and parts of Asia. The root system consists of an abundance of smaller rootlets which are harvested and dried. Valerian root is an herbal treatment that is praised to promote relaxation and sleep.

Skullcap is another perennial herb that grows two-lobed flowers that resemble the military helmets worn by early European settlers, hence the herb's name. A hardy plant, it grows 1 to 4 feet high, thriving in the woods and swamps of eastern North America. It’s a potent antioxidant, anti-viral and anti-inflammatory agent containing neuroprotective compounds while you sleep, giving your immune system a chance to rest and renew itself. 

Stress Reduction

Ashwagandha root is an herb of the ages. In Ayurvedic medicine, the traditional medicine of India, it’s considered an 'adaptogen', a term used to describe herbs that improve physical energy and athletic ability. Ashwagandha has been shown to promote healthy levels of cortisol and the healthy inflammatory processes that are stimulated in the response to stress. It can also support the area of the brain that is responsible for communication between different systems in your body to achieve balance and support the body's response to stress.

Lotus Pollen has a sweet vanilla flavour, making it easy to enjoy when added to desserts or beverages. Considered nursing to the heart and calming to the mind, research has shown parts of the Sacred Lotus plant can have anxiolytic effects by activating functions of the brain, including the development of feel-good hormones like serotonin and dopamine. By balancing the endocrine system it can reduce anxiety, calm the mind and promote a healthy metabolism. In some parts of Asia, Lotus has been used as a traditional medicine for various central nervous system disorders including stress, fever, depression and insomnia.

Boost Cognition & Focus

Fo-ti root (Polygonum multiflorum) is a plant native to China, Japan, and Taiwan that has been used for hundreds of years for its many health benefits. It's also known as Chinese knotweed, climbing knotweed, and tuber fleece flower. Rich in flavonoids, it can help support sleep, mood, and improve cognition. Fo-ti also contains natural anti-inflammatory properties promoting a healthy mood.

Gotu Kola is a flowering perennial that is native to wetlands in Asia used for its nutrient richness, and to add flavor to food. It is a treasured herb in traditional Chinese medicine as well as in Ayurvedic medicine for its effect on mental focus, memory, and cognitive function. It is known throughout Asia for its calming effect and its ability to soothe mental agitation.

Aid in Healthy Digestion

Triphala powder is actually a blend of herbs, containing equal parts Amlaki (Emblica officinalis) Haritaki (Terminalia chebula) and Bibhitaki (Terminalia Belerica). Triphala has been used in traditional Ayurvedic medicine since ancient times as a multi-purpose treatment for digestive system related ailments ranging from stomach aches to dental cavities. With Haritaki and Bibhitaki containing dietary fibres that serve as a natural laxative, combined with Amalaki which reduces inflammation in the stomach lining, they are a great tool to relieve constipation and heartburn.

Cats Claw is a vine commonly known as Una de Gato, traditionally used in Peruvian medicine for the treatment of a wide range of health problems, particularly digestive related issues. This herb's anti-inflammatory properties help relax and smooth the muscles in the intestines which may help to relieve stomach ulcers and dysentery. The oxindole alkaloids found in the bark and roots of Cats Claw have been documented to stimulate the immune system. 

Embrace your Curiosity

We hope to serve as an educational platform and expand awareness on our vast collection of esoteric herbs and nutrients! Curious to learn more? Send us your questions on Instagram or by email at info@alter8.com and we’ll answer your questions in our next post or article!

 

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About The Author

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