Supernatural News | Herbal Coffee, Nettle Tea, Nervines & The Nervous System, Extended-state DMT, Silence
The weeds I’m in lately ...
Supernatural News is a publication about herbalism and holistic health, the industry of wellbeing, and resources from Pharmakon Supernatural. Aka: The weeds I’m in lately. In inboxes since 2015.
IN THE NEWS
The “Psychonauts” Training to Explore Another Dimension, Meet the Americans who are exploring new frontiers in hallucinogenic research through a nascent technology known as extended-state DMT.
Learn about lavender and the nervous system.
Learn more by listening to one of my favorite teachers’ talk: Nervines, Building a Better Foundation for the Nervous System.
Emmanuel Vaughan-Lee speaking my language (silence), an immersive listening journey into one of the quietest places in North America.
And this just in (thanks mom): Edible Flowers as a Source of Dietary Fibre (Total, Insoluble and Soluble) as a Potential Athlete's Dietary Supplement. Here’s a recipe for that.
SUPERNATURALNESS
It’s spring. Therefore I recommend more nettle tea. (Brew it in this pitcher.) And, wildflowers.
Learn more about why it’s my favorite herb in any of these articles, videos, or podcasts.
And if it grows near you, consider some (gloved) foraging. Foraging Ten Blocks from Home — what the natural world can teach us much about persistence, simplicity, and wellness.
Another easy seasonal herb to frequent right now: Parsley. Perhaps Parsley Tea or Chimichurri?
HERBAL COFFEE & MENTAL HEALTH*
Do I drink coffee? Yes and no. So many of you have asked me this over the years. I started drinking (really good coffee) while studying abroad in Spain as a senior in high school. The habit became and stayed definitely daily from then on. In my agency/fashion life, it crept into my mid-mornings and afternoons too. Then I found wellness, signed up for my first retreat (raw-vegan, ashtanga, Honduran jungle, you know the spot) and had to quit caffeine in order to not crash on “vacation.” Enter a killer headache, feeling stoned for a week, and a pretty permanently broken habit. Since then, I’ve abstained and dabbled with baby pours of brew many times, but basically never have more than about a ½ cup of coffee in the morning, which is my total caffeine intake for the day.
It’s about moderation, like most things in life, but quitting is liberating (coffee and also in general). Doing so can most definitely benefit our mental health. I recommend clients replace one, or even ½ a cup of coffee at a time, whittling it down to that level at which our energy soars naturally, there’s no crash, sleep is deep, and our nerves are resilient and humming. (Emphasis on replace, rather than quit cold-turkey which tends to be an effective way to reshape habits. An approach you probably know I favor by now.)
For replacing in this case, consider alternatives like cacao, which promotes focus, mood, and natural energy. I also love Reishi, Passionflower, Chamomile, Ashwagandha, and Valerian—all ingredients found in MUD\WTR’s blends.
And double-down on habits—the foundation of our lifestyles really—that support mental health. Some of my current saviors are journaling (lifer), sunlight, whole-body listening (which requires taking breaks from podcasts/music/news/all the noise oof), meditation (finally a daily habit!) and yoga, which I fell in love with on that first retreat, way back when.
It’s Mental Health Awareness Month. Why not use the momentum to make even the smallest change for yourself?
I recommend integrating MUD\WTR’s :rise Cacao, a spices and mushroom blend that’s practically designed for mental health.
Salud, my friends.