An energizing herbal alternative to coffee
I’ve been using the Adaptogens Rhodiola, Eleuthero and Schisandra together for a month now. I’ve been taking them first thing in the morning, on an empty stomach with my big ass bottle of tea.
I’ve discovered that consuming the Adaptogens as a tea is a whole lot more of a Nootropic experience. I’ve begun starting my mornings with a tea that is equal parts of the three powdered herbs.
This earthy, fruity yet hearty tasting tea energizes me within about 15 minutes of drinking it. The Adaptogen tea buzz seems to last a couple of hours and has a positive effect on mood.
This has replaced my morning cup (or two) of coffee that I usually need to wake up, it’s been almost a week now since I had coffee and I’ve yet to experience caffeine withdrawals that I usually do when I cycle off coffee.
The first distinctive thing is the taste, it’s quite pleasant, at least compared with other supplements and smart drugs. Rhodiola Rosea tastes a bit like roses as its name would suggest. It seems to congeal and stick in your mouth until you slosh some water (or tea) around to wash it down.
The subjective experience of Adaptogens is quite subtle compared to other smart drugs I’ve used. My extensive reading on the Adaptogens has led me to believe that they are more of a long term health and longevity strategy than instant satisfaction performance enhancers. I don’t feel significantly more energized, focused or motivated while dosed.
One thing I’ve noticed is that I’m waking up earlier feeling more energized, I seem to wake up before my alarm consistently.
As an otherwise healthy, 30 year old “young man” (as the little, old women in the shops here in Eastern Europe endearingly call me) I just don’t think I have a lot of health issues to fix.
In my Ayahuasca video, I talked about how I didn’t throw up even after taking multiple cups of the psychoactive brew. My hypothesis is that since in the weeks leading up to the ceremony I maintained a super clean diet, I just didn’t have enough toxins in my system that the Ayahuasca needed to purge. I suspect the same reason is maybe why I’m not experiencing anything really acute from the Adaptogens.
What is Rhodiola Rosea?
Rhodiola Rosea is an herb used as a traditional Chinese remedy. Interestingly enough, you will also find references to this special herb in Scandinavian therapeutic history. It is thought to help promote physical and cognitive vitality as well as reducing fatigue, even in prolonged stressful situations [1].
Rhodiola Rosea actually grows in numerous cold regions throughout the world, especially in mountainous areas. It has been found growing at elevations up to 2280 meters and shoots may reach up to 35 centimeters in height. The herb itself is considered dioecious, having separate male and female parts.
