How to use Adaptogens and Mushrooms instead of caffeine, or alongside it!

We wanted something to cut down on our coffee intake, but we didn’t want it to taste terrible. We actually wanted it to taste divine, so it has this mock coffee flavor from roasted dandelion and chicory roots, with the perfect dash of cardamom. Morning Magic Brew has a tasty blend of nutritionally dense roots, mushrooms, and other botanicals to help you cut down on your coffee or caffeine consumption.

ithinkinrhymes has a few thoughts to share on potential toxins, mold, and pesticides in coffee.

Whether you are sticking with your morning cup of joe or are ready to jump down the mushroom rabbit hole read on to learn all about Morning Magic Brew!

Morning Magic Brew

This is a term coined by the Russians when they were studying herbs for enhancing performance of athletes and soldiers in the 1940s. It can mean different things, but when discussing herbs, it means they help you adapt to stress, either by stimulating your body to put out more energy (drains over time), or helping support and tonify tissues (good long term). Holy basil and licorice are examples.

Adaptogen’s are one of many Herbal Actions students learn in Plant Camp @ Home. Herbal actions are words used to describe a specific medicinal property or quality of a plant or how an herb works in the body. A truer way to think about it is how the body is relating with the herb. In the same way that your intelligent body reacts to weather, movement, and other people, so, too, does it respond to ingesting herbs.

All medicinal mushrooms need to be processed with heat to get the immunomodulating polysaccharides to extract out, and cell walls to break open. This can be done through making a decoction before consuming, or by using a long steam/heat process that helps to release the medicinal properties. Medicinal mushrooms can be added to so many concoctions while dried and in powdered form. Try adding them to chocolates, coffee, chais, tea blends, skin care products, and so much more. They can be taken in supplement or pill form as well.

Because many of the medicinal qualities of mushrooms are best extracted in water, for tincture-making you will need to make a decoction out of the mushrooms first. After the decocted mushrooms are cooked thoroughly in a pot of water with the lid on, the mushroom marc gets strained out and added to high-proof alcohol for extracting. The remaining decocted mushroom water can then be reduced to the appropriate water portion for your tincture needs. A tincture is just one method to get the benefits of mushrooms into your system, we also recommend decoctions, eating them as food, or taking as powdered supplements. Always look for powdered mushrooms that already have a steam-extracted process done before adding to infusions, smoothies, or tincturing.

Here are 6 mushrooms that are specially blended into this brew for their medicinal benefits–this information is taken straight out of Plant Camp @ Home from Week 7.

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Cordyceps

Cordyceps helps to provide energy at the cellular level. It helps with ATP production, as well as giving support with stamina and endurance. Can cause overstimulation in some folks. Like many stimulating herbs, can be abused - use for energy in conjunction with solid sleep and nutrition practices. Usually cultivated for use.

Lion Mane

A delicious delicatessen to find in the wild or as a cultivated gourmet mushroom. Lion's mane is also one of the best mushrooms to reestablish the bits and pieces of the brain and nervous system. It's thought to promote neuroplasticity, helping to clear brain fog and promote focus and clarity.

Maitake

Another yummy mushroom to eat as a culinary delight, or to take in a medicinal way. It has a good store of vitamin D, is immune boosting, free radical fighting and full of antioxidants. There is evidence that it can be potentially beneficial for lowering blood sugar, and in issues of the heart such as hypertension.

Chaga

An immune-boosting, free radical fighter, skin and gut healing mushroom that is full of so much power, and is being studied for its tumor-reducing properties. It has a mild flavor, with almost a hint of vanilla. Chaga grows in the wild on birch trees, and is full of antioxidants.

Reishi

Reishi helps to restore a burnt out nervous system, gently regulating stress and anxiety by bringing in a calming, grounding nature. It also has various immune-stimulating properties, especially as a decoction. There are many varieties of reishi growing wild throughout the world.

Turkey tail

Known for its powers for fighting cancerous cells, this immune boosting mushroom is full of free radical fighters and antioxidants ready to go to battle in your body. This immune boosting mushroom can be cultivated or found in the wild.

Roasted dandelion root

High in valuable nutrients, dandelion root is weedy superfood. It’s full of antioxidants and free radical fighting support. It helps to strengthen organs, such as the liver and bladder. The bitter flavor of dandelion and chicory roots when roasted give them a very similar flavor to coffee. 

Roasted chicory root

Another root that is good for clearing a stagnant liver and supporting the digestive system. Chicory is also highly nutritive like dandelion root, supporting the immune system and fighting free radicals. 

Carob

With a similar flavor to chocolate, carob is an herb that is high in minerals, such as calcium, and vitamins, such as Vitamin E. It is fiber rich while also being easily digestible, and soothing to the digestive tract–it can even help with heartburn. 

Mesquite

An herb used for its molasses-like flavor and nutritional dense benefits. It is high in omega 3’s protein, magnesium, iron, zinc and potassium. It brings forth a touch of sweet richness in the taste of the brew. 

Eleuthero

Also called Siberian ginseng, eleuthero is known for its ability to bring forth clarity and focus while providing a sustainable nudge of energy. It is used as an adaptogenic herb, as it helps to stimulate the body in a way that gives it a productive source of energy. 

Cardamom

A sweet and antioxidant rich spice that can soothe an upset stomach, or lower anxiety. It has a fresh crispness of aromas that can shift a bad mood, or help clear a bloated feeling tummy.

To brew: use in a french press, percolator, brew as a tea using a filter, or try a bit in your smoothie.