Feeling tired and thinking about that 2 pm coffee? Dealing with the occasional sense of burnout and running on fumes?
Fatigue is a common complaint, especially after common every day overwork, fatigue and stress, like living through a pandemic or "the busyness" that comes from constantly filling our schedules for both work and pleasure.
This is where herbs come in to help improve your energy, focus, and stamina.*
AS ALWAYS, HERBALISM IS ABOUT BALANCE, AND OUR ENERGY SUPPLY IS JUST THE SAME.
Slow down and take a critical look at your habits, daily patterns, and how you take care of your body and build your reserves. We get our vital essence and energy from our state of physical and mental state, so our daily habits are essential. With a bit of practice and support from certain herbs, foods, and lifestyle changes you can be feeling your best and ready to take on the abundance of this busy summer season!*
Try the following:
1. ENERGY TONIC®
An energizing adaptogenic formula that supports your adrenal system and boosts stamina and endurance. It will get you buzzing without the effects of stimulants while slowly nourishing and building up your adrenal system and protecting your body from the depleting effects of stress.
Used as a daily tonic, the formula can help energize, support healthy athletic performance, restore mental alertness when experiencing fatigue, and enhance your general health and well-being experience.*
Energy Tonic should be taken not just once or twice and put in the back of the herbal medicine cabinet, but daily as a ritual, as a health habit that stays with you.
It's the little things we do every day for a lifetime that have the most significant effect on our health outcomes.
ENERGY TONIC IS ALSO GREAT FOR ATHLETIC PERFORMANCE.
The leading herb in our Energy Tonic is Rhodiola—the root of an Arctic plant traditionally used to support your body during occasional bouts of stress and counteract fatigue. Rhodiola is helpful both in the short term because it is one of our "Stimulating Adaptogens" and in the long term because it builds and supports our adrenal system over time.*
Suggested use:
Keep this tonic on your kitchen counter to create the habit of taking it daily. Take 1/2 teaspoon (2.5mL) 2-3 times a day, straight or in a bit of water or smoothie.
2. Maca Powder
Maca is a type of turnip native to the high altitudes of the South American Andes. Regarded for its ability to support baseline vitality and valued by herbalists for its nutritive power and its ability to support resilience in the face of occasional physical and emotional stressors*.
It's a great herb to include in smoothies and other recipes and has a pleasant butterscotch flavor. 1-2 tablespoons in powder form daily make for a powerful and building way to keep our energy in check.
3. Drink more water
Adequate water intake keeps everything running smoothly, especially when it comes to energy and adrenal health. Most people are chronically dehydrated and rely on liquids like coffee or tea to get them through the day- consequently dehydrating them even more, leaving them sluggish and fatigued.
Ideally, we should be drinking 64 oz of water a day, but this varies depending on your activity level and body weight.
Find ways to drink more water--make tea, buy a nice water bottle, create a challenge for yourself, and eat water-rich foods like watermelon, cucumber, and zucchini.
4. Eat well--especially for exercise
As always, maintaining a balanced plate will get you adequate nutrition and gives your body foundational energy without stimulants or sugars. Stick to fresh and local ingredients when you can, and learn the difference between processed carbohydrates and whole simple carbohydrates.
When it comes to exercise, eat a carbohydrate-rich snack about 30–60 minutes before you work out. This is what our body uses for fuel, so we don't end up depleting our body or taking from reserves that we hardly have. After you exercise, don't wait to eat. You'll want to refuel yourself within 30–45 minutes with a combination of carbohydrates and protein and good healthy fats. This provides the fuel we need to replenish bodies after exertion.
5. Take it easy on the caffeine and sugar
Take a critical look at your caffeine and sugar intake. Most of the world relies on caffeine to get us through the day or jump-start our mornings. We can take as many herbs as we want, but if we ignore the fact that we are running on empty and relying on sugar or caffeine to give us energy, we won't ever get to a state of balance.
Try to reduce your intake of these things and use herbs and approach your health in a holistic manner. Energy Tonic is an excellent choice for something like this.
6. LEARN TO RECEIVE.
Take note of how much you are DOING vs. Receiving. To build energy and to get deep rest, we need to receive and not do anything. This a good reminder for all of us because many of the things that nourish us sometimes still require doing.
Learn to balance this energy and incorporate receiving into your schedule and watch the benefits unfold.
Ideas for receiving: napping, resting on the couch and watching your favorite show, getting a massage, ordering take-out, so you don't have to cook, laying on the earth under a tree, or sitting and taking a few deep breaths or doing formal meditation.
7. GO TO BED EARLY. SUPPORT YOUR SLEEP HABITS!
The body craves solitude and downtime. And sleep is essential for our energy. Rest is often disregarded as a tool for well-being, and its priority can get lower when something seemingly more important comes along. It makes us more capable of being happier, healthier, and energetic.
If good quality sleep is a struggle for you—find some gentle herbal solutions here.
Afternoon Pick-Me-Up Smoothie
This smoothie is full of adaptogens and nutrients essential for our body to thrive and feel full of vitality.*
- 1 tablespoon Maca powder
- 1 tablespoon Raw Cacao powder
- 1 teaspoon Spirulina powder
- Half avocado
- 1 banana
- 3 tablespoons Hemp seeds
- 1 tsp Urban Moonshine Energy Tonic.
- ⅛ cup Almonds/ Cashews
- Coconut water to cover
- Dash of maple syrup or honey if you want it a little sweeter
- Ice if you prefer it cold
- Shredded coconut, cacao chips, hemp seeds and bee pollen for sprinkling.
Blend on high for 2 minutes, adding more coconut water to get the consistency right. Serve cold and top with shredded coconut, chopped nuts, fresh fruit etc. Enjoy around 2-3 pm!
Wishing you boundless energy this summer season!
Edited May 25, 2021, originally posted June 12, 2017
