BUILD YOUR OWN d.i.y POTION

Its nice to have a ready made blend to throw into your cup when you are on the go BUT its also pretty cool to make your own custom blend specifically for you and your needs.

I have thrown together a few ideas for you and a basic recipe for a cup of your own potion blend. Just mix the powders together in your cup, blend together with a little hot water or mylk, sweeten if you like and then add frothed mylk.

Base INGREDIENTS

This will make up around half of your recipe. Have a good think about when you want to drink it - if its a morning potion then you might want something that is a little stimulating - if its evening then you might want to choose a non stimulating base. I would just choose one base but you could blend together coffee and cacao for a mocha type situation (YUM)

Cacao I am a cacao fan - I mean its chocolate. It is slightly stimulating owing to caffeine, is highly antioxidant, mineral rich and interacts with the cannabinoid receptors.. yes those receptors. Although slightly stimulating it also has relaxing attributes and many think it helps to connect to spirit. I use Seleno Health Cacao - its shade grown,organic, fair trade and is well priced.

Carob Cacaos imitator has a bad reputation for all us 80s kids as mums all over the world embraced the carob buzz, trying to pass it off as real chocolate. Anyhoo, its non stimulating, contains prebiotics and antioxidants and also is pretty good at slowing diarrhoea. It has a sweet taste and its pretty good to use if you are wanting to make yourself a night time tonic as many people are overstimulated by cacao.

Coconut Mylk Powder Creamy and delicious coconut or oat or almond mylk powder can be a nice non stimulating base as well if carob just brings back too many sad chocolate less childhood memories.

Coffee Powder Oh coffee. You know it was banned in the 1500s as it was throught that it stimulated radical and revolutionary thinking? I think it actually does. I’m not going to extoll its health benefits here as its so freaking polarizing and I reckon I may have more coffee than blood running through my veins so I am biased. BUT its antioxidant and super stimulating and for most of us only suitable as a base for morning brews…

Dandelion Coffee Powder Its amazing that a lawn weed can give you a pretty spanking coffee alternative. Its has lovely bitter attributes which tone and love your liver and digestive system, thereby aiding in the elimination of toxins AND it is non stimulating, so good for the nervous folks . There are some great powders out there some which include chicory as well which taste pretty good.

Matcha Ahh matcha. The pretty girl of the tea family, matcha is super high in antioxidants and whilst containing a little caffeine, it also contains the amino acid theanine. Theanine helps to create calm focus making matcha a perfect study or work after lunch drink when the slumps come along but coffee might keep you up.

Active INGredients

This is where the real magick happens. Choose a couple of actions that you think you might need in your life and then choose the herbs or shrooms that fit the bill. There will be a bit of cross over between the actions that the herbs have so if in doubt use your intuition or if that aint you then download my Mushroom Guide or My Herbal Helper Guide if you want a bit more info to make your decision.

Ashwagandha: Adaptogen, stamina enhancer, immune modulator, mild sedative, anti-anaemic and thyroid modulator.

Chaga: Potential adaptogen, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, third eye activation, hormonal balance, sleep support, immune stimulant, antiviral, detoxification.

Cordyceps: Adaptogen, antioxidant, physical performance enhancer, energy enhancer, immune modulator, liver & kidney protection, lung support, fertility and libido support

He Shou Wu: Deep energy support, nutritive, rejuvenating longevity tonic, antioxidant, detoxifying, cognitive support

Lions Mane: Nerve system restorative, anti-inflammatory, immune modulator, digestive health, mood support, cognitive support, dream recall

Mucuna: Nervous system restorative, libido support, mood support, dream recall

Reishi: Adaptogen, anti-allergy, anti-inflammatory, heart health, liver function and detoxification, calming, sleep support, digestive health, immunomodulator

Rose: Nervine,emotional and physical heart support, antiinflammatory, astringent

Turkey Tail: Cellular health, antimicrobial, immune modulator, digestive health

Spices

Add in one or two of your favourite spices - these ones are faves of mine and they have benefits in and of themselves!

Allspice: Analgesic, digestive, antiinflammatory, antioxidant

Cinnamon: Blood sugar regulation, stimulating, warming, antimicrobial, astringent

Cardamom: Antioxidant, digestive, mood enhancing, antimicrobial

Ginger: Anti-inflammatory, warming, stimulating, anti-emetic, antimicrobial,

Saffron: Antioxidant, anti-inflammtory, mood enhancing, appetite modulator, libido support

Turmeric: Potent anti-inflammatory, digestive and liver support, antioxidant, antihistamine

Vanilla: Libido and mood support

There you go. Be creative and enjoy your homemade just for you potion!