In today's modern world, living with a certain degree of daily stress is almost an inevitable part of the human experience. This may explain why herbal adaptogens have been getting so much praise and attention in recent years.
With their unique capacity to work intelligently with the body and adapt to what it needs most, adaptogenic herbs offer a wellspring of energizing and stress-relieving support for the body and mind.
Elevated Adaptogens was born out of a desire to harness the power of adaptogens and offer their benefits in an easy-to-use formula for whole body support.
Packed with rejuvenating herbs, this caffeine-free blend fortifies the body with natural, balanced energy. It empowers you with the foundational strength and support needed to feel your best, perform at your peak, and glide through your days with ease.
In this article:
- The Ayurvedic Perspective on Adaptogens and Superfoods
- A Closer Look at the Benefits and Ingredients
- Ways to Use Elevated Adaptogens
- Elevated Tahini Dressing Recipe
- Superfood Sipping Cocoa Recipe
The Ayurvedic Perspective on Adaptogens and Superfoods
In modern scientific terms, adaptogenic herbs are understood to support the healthy function of the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis, which is responsible for stress messaging in the body.1 By bringing balance to this system, they enhance the body's inherent ability to respond to stress in whatever way is most supportive in the moment.
Rasayanas—and adaptogens—are known for building healthy tissues, supporting immunity and longevity, promoting balanced energy, relieving stress, and providing stability and nourishment to the body and mind.
Because of these profound benefits to the body, many traditional adaptogens and rasayanas are also referred to as superfoods in today's more trendy wellness terms. But whatever the name, the shared understanding is that these herbs pack a powerful punch of health.
According to Ayurveda, rasayanas are believed to provide these benefits by way of nourishing and rejuvenating the dhatus, or seven tissue layers of the body. These layers include the lymph (rasa), blood (rakta), muscle (mamsa), fat (meda), bone (asthi), nerves (majja), and reproductive (shukra or artava) tissues.
Each of the dhatus is understood to be deeply interconnected and reliant on the health of all the others, meaning that each and every one needs proper nutrition and support in order for our overall health to flourish and thrive.
A Closer Look at the Benefits and Ingredients
Each of the ingredients in Elevated Adaptogens was carefully chosen to support a specific tissue and its function in the body with rejuvenating and adaptogenic properties. Together, the formula promotes overall health and well-being while enhancing performance and providing calm, sustained energy to the body and mind.
From an Ayurvedic perspective, the formula is calming and nourishing for all doshas—vata, pitta, and kapha. However, it may increase pitta if taken in excess. The overall taste (rasa) of the blend is bitter, pungent, and astringent. The energetic potency (virya) is warming, and the post-digestive effect (vipaka) is sweet.
Packed with adaptogens and nutrient-dense super herbs, this blend supports the body's natural homeostasis and builds a foundation of balanced energy to keep you soaring through your days.
The Ingredients
Moringa is considered a superfood and known for being rich in nutritious vitamins and minerals. Moringa brings a cleansing and tonifying action to the formula, helping to clear ama (toxins) while also enhancing vitality and supporting optimal energy levels. It supports many tissues in the body, and has a particular affinity for the blood and fat tissue layers.
Ashwagandha is one of the most well-known Ayurvedic adaptogens and also commonly referred to as a superfood. In this formula, ashwagandha targets the muscle tissue by supporting a healthy response to stress and strengthening muscle tone. It also nourishes and strengthens the bones and skeletal system, including the nails, teeth, and hair. Ashwagandha supports balanced energy levels, promotes restful sleep, and contributes to overall vitality.
Eleuthero is renowned for its adaptogenic and tonifying properties. Commonly used in traditional Chinese medicine to strengthen qi or life force, this herb supports a healthy immune system, promotes longevity, improves sleep, and enhances the body's ability to cope with stress. From an Ayurvedic lens, eleuthero supports the health and function of the lymph, muscle, and nervous tissues.
Amalaki is an adaptogenic rasayana herb that has also often been recognized as a superfood. Amalaki benefits all of the tissue layers, but has a special affinity for the blood. In this blend, its impressive nutrient profile and high vitamin C content acts to nourish and rejuvenate the body and support immune function. It also promotes sustained, balanced energy and supports proper digestion.
Bacopa is a powerful rejuvenative herb featured in this formula for its benefits for the nerve tissue, including the healthy function of the brain. Bacopa is known to promote energy, combat the effects of stress, and balance vata in the mind and nervous system.
Hibiscus has a special affinity for the blood, bringing both nourishment and strength to this dhatu. The cooling properties of hibiscus work to pacify pitta while its cleansing qualities help to balance kapha.
Tulsi is an herbal adaptogen revered for its uplifting sattvic energy. In this blend, tulsi rejuvenates and nourishes the nervous tissue while also calming and supporting the mind. Its warm and comforting quality makes it a favorite for relieving stress.
Gokshura is a tonifying herb with a special affinity for the reproductive system. Within this tissue layer, gokshura promotes the health of the reproductive organs and nourishes ojas.
Hawthorn Berry is well known in Western herbalism for its ability to strengthen and support the proper function of heart. From an Ayurvedic lens, the heart is made of muscle tissue and hence hawthorn acts as a rejuvenative for mamsa dhatu.
Turmeric, another herb considered a superfood, supports as a digestive and antioxidant. Turmeric is also known to cleanse ama, remove excess kapha, and help to break down fat. While not typically considered a rasayana of its own accord, when combined with other herbs in this blend it enhances their tonifying actions on each specific tissue.
Ways to Use Elevated Adaptogens
Elevated Adaptogens was created with convenience and versatility in mind, with the intention that the blend can be easily added to your daily routine.
The sky's the limit on how you choose to incorporate Elevated Adaptogens! You can start with the following suggestions, taking up to two teaspoons daily, or have fun experimenting on your own.
Keep It Simple with a Carrier Substance
For a simple way to boost your day on the fly, Elevated Adaptogens can be taken with a an Ayurvedic anupan, or carrier substance, such as honey, milk, or ghee.
Mixing powdered herbs with anupans is one of the most traditional ways to take herbs. As carriers, anupans take the herbs deeper into the tissue layers, enhancing the efficacy of the formula. It also allows the taste of the herb to be a part of the experience, which is said to activate and enhance the body's natural digestive mechanism.
- Honey: Mix Elevated Adaptogen powder with a teaspoon of honey and enjoy. This is a great option for kapha dosha especially.
- Ghee: Add a small spoonful of ghee to Elevated Adaptogens, mix well, and imbibe on its own or with warm water. A wonderful choice for vata dosha.
- Milk: Warm your milk or milk alternative, then blend in a serving of Elevated Adaptogens and sip away. Milk is balancing for pitta and vata.
Power Up Your Meals
Elevated adaptogens is packed with nutritional value and easy to add to a variety of meals once or twice daily to start your morning with a burst of energy or soar gracefully into your afternoon.
- Add to your oatmeal or warm breakfast cereal.
- Mix it into yogurt, cottage cheese, or chia pudding.
- Try it in soups, broths, or veggie stir-fries.
- Add it to a baked apple with cinnamon and ghee.
- Whip it into sauces and salad dressings, like this tahini dressing.
| Elevated Tahini Dressing Recipe |
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Ingredients:
Directions: Make the sweet tahini dressing. When you add all ingredients to the jar, add in Elevated Adaptogens. Drizzle on steamed veggies, over rice, or roasted vegetables of choice. |
Boost Your Beverages
Whether you're a coffee-lover, tea drinker, or smoothie aficionado, there are countless ways to incorporate Elevated Adaptogens into your favorite drinks to enhance their benefit and nourish your body and mind.
- Add a teaspoon to your coffee or favorite coffee replacement.
- Mix it into spiced chai tea for an extra boost of goodness.
- Add to warm milk with a touch of ghee and honey for a creamy treat.
- Blend it up with your juice, shakes, and smoothies.
- Make this easy and delicious superfood sipping cocoa.
| Superfood Sipping Cocoa Recipe |
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Ingredients:
Directions: Simply warm the milk to a comfortable temperature and blend all of the ingredients together. If desired, use a milk frother. Then sip and savor! |
