Lion’s Mane

Known in Latin as Hericium erinaceus, Lion’s Mane is native to North America, Europe and Asia, and has been used for millennia as a medicinal mushroom, especially in Traditional Chinese Medicine and in Japan. Like psilocybin, Lion’s Mane affects brain function through neurogenesis and the stimulation of Nerve Growth Factor in the brain and body. Studies show that Lion’s Mane helps improve memory and cognitive function, and even regenerates damaged cells. As an adaptogen, this incredible fungi has also scientifically been shown to fight cancer, support the heart and circulatory health, improve digestive health, reduce inflammation, speed wound healing, reduce depression and anxiety, improve immune function, and support sleep.

Reishi

Ganoderma lucidum, commonly known as Reishi mushroom or Ling Zhi in Chinese medicine, is a medicinal mushroom that has been used for thousands of years to support physiological balance and immunity. Through the actions of its 400 different compounds, like antioxidants, amino acids, ganoderic acid, beta-glucans, triterpenes, and terpenoids, Reishi modulates the activity of the immune, cardiovascular, hormonal, central nervous and digestive systems. These compounds activate key immune cells, support the parasympathetic nervous system, and regulate stress hormones. Reishi fights cancer, lowers inflammation, supports the liver, promotes heart health, balances hormones, stabilizes blood sugar levels, and reduces allergies.

Chaga

Chaga is a mega medicinal mushroom and adaptogen, botanically named Inonotus obliquus, that has been used as traditional medicine in Northern European countries and Russia for thousands of years to support physiological health and immunity. Chaga has one of the highest antioxidant scores of all superfoods, and up to 50 times more Superoxide dismutase enzymes. Chaga treats inflammation, supports the immune system, fights cancer and infections, detoxes the liver and kidneys, protects the liver, improves cognitive function, reduces stress and fatigue, promotes endurance, treats heart disease and digestive issues, helps with respiratory disorders and skin conditions, increases metabolism, regulates blood sugar levels, and lowers cholesterol.

Cat’s Claw

Uña de Gato, or Cat’s Claw, is a shrub native to the Amazon Rainforest, and has been used medicinally for generations dating back to the Inca civilization. Its botanical name is Uncaria Tomentosa, and it is also called the “life-giving vine of Peru.” Used traditionally to treat tumors, inflammation, rheumatism, intestinal issues and skin wounds. Modern scientific studies show this plant medicine boosts the immune system, combats viruses, helps relieve rheumatoid arthritis, dissolves tumors, fights cancer, lowers blood pressure, inhibits platelet aggregation and blood clot formation, and improves digestive disorders such as Crohn’s disease and IBS. But perhaps the most impressive effect of Cat’s Claw is its scientifically proven ability to repair DNA.

Lemon Balm

The perennial lemon balm plant is a member of the mint family, known officially as Melissa officinalis. Lemon balm helps you relax by increasing GABA, a neurotransmitter that calms the nervous system. The herb’s rosmarinic acid and other compounds block the enzymes that break down GABA, allowing for higher levels to accumulate in the brain. This leads to feelings of calmness, decreases anxiety, and supports focused attention. Lemon Balm is a wonderful sleep aid, and other benefits include anti-cancer, digestive support, protecting the heart and liver, serving as a natural antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, reducing blood sugar levels, anti-herpes, regulating the thyroid and regulating superoxide dismutase enzymes.

Schisandra

Schisandra chinensis is an adaptogenic berry with myriad healing properties that has been used in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TMC) for thousands of years. Schisandra is especially supportive for athletes, as it improves endurance and physical performance, reduces fatigue, aids in recovery, and enhances mental focus during training and competition. Schisandra improves oxygen utilization and energy production in muscles, lowers excess cortisol levels after exercise, clears the liver of by-products such as lactic acid, which helps reduce muscle soreness and speed up recovery, and its powerful antioxidants help neutralize free radicals produced during intense exercise, protecting working muscles from cellular damage.

Maca

Botanically called Lepidium meyenii, Maca is a type of cruciferous vegetable native to the Andes of Peru. It has a long history of being a superfood consumed for its health benefits and its positive impact on energy levels and stamina. The rich nutrient profile of Maca, including B vitamins, iron, amino acids, essential fatty acids, and iodine, enhances physical stamina, making it a favorite among athletes for its energy production, improving performance and endurance. Maca also helps alleviate both exercise-related and daily fatigue, providing a natural lift. As an adaptogen, Maca supports the hypothalamus and pituitary glands to improve brain function and neurotransmitter production, leading to enhanced focus and improved mood.

Blue Lotus

Blue Lotus, Nymphaea caerulea, is a type of water lily native to Egypt, India and parts of Mexico and South America. Multiple studies indicate that Blue Lotus has properties that promote relaxation and reduce anxiety, and many people report feelings of heart-centered euphoria and a sense of spiritual connectivity. Its two most well-known constituents, apomorphine and nucipherine, create this effect… Nuciferine induces calmness by blocking certain dopamine receptors, while apomorphine stimulates dopamine and serotonin receptors. Other uses of Blue Lotus include aphrodisiac, sleep aid, dream enhancement, anti-inflammatory, and skin-care.

Mucuna

Also called Velvet Bean, Mucuna pruriens is a legume that grows throughout Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, and the Pacific Islands. A few of the well-known benefits of Mucuna include its nootropic, anti-depressant and aphrodisiac effects, anti-microbial and antioxidant properties, and ability to reduce stress. But the unique thing about Mucuna is its high levels of natural serotonin and levodopa, a precursor to dopamine, as well as naturally occurring epinephrine, norepinephrine, and nicotine. The combination of these chemicals in the body produces energy, focus and a sense of euphoria. However, it is not recommended to use it long term. When overused, people have reported increased heart rate, headaches, agitation, and confusion.

Cordyceps

Cordyceps sinensis is another adaptogenic fungi used for centuries in Chinese and Tibetan medicine. While Cordyceps mushrooms have long been revered for its many incredible healing powers, they have more recently been used to increase energy levels. Several studies suggest that they improve physical abilities, endurance, stamina, libido and sexual function. Cordyceps contain adenosine, a type of nucleic acid that is needed to make ATP, which is required for energy and is depleted in the muscles during physical activity. At the same time, Cordyceps decreases the production of lactic acid and other reactive oxygen species by increasing your natural production of master antioxidants such as superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione.

Ginseng

Also called Red, Asian or Korean Ginseng, Panax Ginseng is considered one of the oldest plant medicines with a history. “Panax” means “all-healing” in Greek, and has been used in Asia and North America for centuries. As a nootropic, Panax stimulates the release of the neurotransmitters acetylcholine, dopamine, 5-HTP, and norepinephrine in the brain to significantly improve cognitive function, including memory, attention and executive function. It also has powerful anti-inflammatory properties by blocking cortisol and reducing cytokine responses. Ginseng fights cancer, supports the lungs, improves sexual and erectile function, relieves depression and anxiety, lowers blood sugar levels, and regulates the immune system.

L-Theanine

L-theanine is an amino acid extracted from green tea, and is one of the only nootropic compounds known to have a special ability to modulate your brain waves. L-Theanine reduces stress and promotes relaxation while increasing mental clarity, focus, creativity and memory by increasing alpha brain waves, which are associated with creative thinking, calm focus, mental clarity, and feelings of peace and joy. L-Theanine additionally supports brain health as it stimulates the release of dopamine, serotonin, and GABA, while increasing the production of Nerve Growth Factor (NGF) and Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF), both of which stimulate neurogenesis, the creation of new brain cells.

Rhodiola

Rhodiola rosea, also known as Golden Root, is an amazing nootropic and adaptogenic plant medicine. Rhodiola regulates stress hormones like cortisol while increasing the activity of key brain chemicals, including dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine, which are crucial for mood, focus, and energy levels. As an antioxidant, Rhodiola reduces inflammation and cellular damage in the brain, protecting neurons and supporting long-term brain health. By calming the mind and boosting neurotransmitter activity, Rhodiola decreases mental fatigue and symptoms like brain fog, leading to improved concentration and focus, and also enhances learning and memory by improving cerebral metabolism and reducing apoptosis (cell death) in the brain.