Question: I have these Amazonian herbs, Chanca Piedra and Chuchuasi, and Ayurvedic herbs like Shilajit, Ashwagandha, and Holy Basil. What do I do with them?

Answer: Drink it in a tea!

How to: Use an enamel-coated cast iron (Le Creuset) tea kettle/pot or glass (Bodum) tea pot, add pure water (64 oz. spring water or R/O) bring to warm temp, and then add the tea-cut Amazonian herbs (about 1-2 tbsp. of each). Then add Yerba Mate (2 tbsp. or more), local wild herbs (Nettle, Horsetail, Rosehips, etc.), tonic mushrooms (Chaga, Reishi, etc), or your favorite loose-leaf herbs that have synergizing effects and flavors, then brew/decoct at lower temps (lowest heat setting on stove) for as long as possible (20-120 minutes). Once off the heat, strain using a non-plastic hand strainer into a glass jar, carafe, or cup. Let cool if too warm/hot, then add the cold-water extract Ayurvedic herb powders you have; again, that have synergizing effects and flavors. Ashwagandha has a mild flavor and combines well (in flavor and effect) with many different herbs being an adaptogen (limiting the negative effects of stressors). Add 1/4-1 tsp. Shilajit is a great herb to add to teas, it is completely water soluble and tastes "good" in Yerba Mate based teas (which means you can drink more of it!). Shilajit is a mineral pitch gathered from a strata of the Himalayan mountains during warm weather months and is purified using the traditional method of Triphala and then again using the cold-water extraction method. It is 85+ dietary minerals and trace elements. I believe health has two foundations, mineralization and detoxification. With Shilajit you can consider both, all the minerals in their organic and ionic form that have been on the earth for the last 10,000-2 million years, and it has fulvic, humic, and oxalic acids to assist in dissolving and eliminating the toxics and bad-calcium from the body. A good amount to start with is 1/4 tsp and then, if you are drawn to, work your way up to the "heroic dose" of the Hindu Medicine Men of 1 ounce or more a day! You can as well, add Holy Basil (1/4 tsp. - strong flavor, adaptogen), Bacopa (1/4 tsp. - very strong flavor, but potent brain herb for memory, focus, concentration, recall, ect.), Mucuna (1/4 tsp. - boosts dopamine levels, elevating state of mind), and/or Tribulus (1/4 tsp - hormone balancer). Stir, pour, sip, taste, enjoy!

If your body is new to the alkaloids, tannins, and phytonutrients of indigenous traditional medicinal herbs start slow and with only a few or one at a time. However, soon your body will meet the threshold of the constituents of the herbs, and will welcome the modulating nutritional/medical "information".

With the ambition of building a strong constitution to generate a buffer to the many external and internal "stressors" of our everyday world the medicine traditions of all cultures are sharing their plants and practices. Functioning on the highest human level allows for our culture to share its virtues and to become more in alignment with harmony and balance. Sip tea and relish in the wonder of the world.

If you are interested in further details on the herbs or preparations please post comments below or shoot me an email.

To your highest and best state of wellness!