There’s a whole confusing world out there when you first discover holistic health and herbal. I know how it feels to be completely boggled by natural health solutions and the ingredients you can barely pronounce or recognize whatsoever. I thought it would be great to bring someone special onto the show to help us understand what adaptogenic herbs are, and which ingredients really deserve our attention.

Sage Dammers studied raw and superfood nutrition and traditional herbal systems, especially Taoist tonic herbalism. He has worked with and trained under the world’s leading master herbalists and nutrition and longevity experts in Costa Rica, Australia, Bali, China, and America.

Sage has developed products internationally and given lectures on peak performance nutrition all over the world. Together with his partner AnnaBlanca, they've created Addictive Wellness superfood chocolates and powders because they believe that being healthy does not mean giving up your favorite treats!
—
SAVE 10% on Addictive Wellness products with code “FOWPODCAST” at addictivewellness.com
—
Learn more about Marisa’s intermittent fasting method, and grab your free guide, at: marisamoon.com/iffreedom
—
For professional Inquiries contact - Marisa Moon, Certified Primal Health Coach: marisa@marisamoon.com;

Disclaimer: Consult with your doctor or functional medicine practitioner before trying any of the remedies or protocols mentioned in this episode. Mickey Trescott and Marisa Moon are not physicians or medical practitioners. This information and recording is for informational and educational purposes only.

Points of Discussion:

Sage’s journey discovering supplemental herbs and nutrition through his own experience.
Fascinating Details about Chocolate:
- a superior vehicle for superherbs and nutrition
- high antioxidants and polyphenols
- MAO-inhibitor drives the nutrients in and keeps them working
What are adaptogens
- history of adaptogens, thousands of years ago
- indian, ayurvedic, russian, chinese and Daoist/Taoist
3 levels of herbs in Taoism or Daoism
- poisonous
- medicinal, taken for short period as treatment (like echinacea or other stimulants)
- and Tonic herbs, superior herbs that build life-force taken regularly
Maca, raw vs gelatinized
3 treasures theory in Daoism/Taoism
- Jing: inherited wellness “bank” or health reserve (cordyceps, eucommia, he shot wu, shilajit)
- Qi: fleeting wellness “bank” needs replenishment (cordyceps, astragalus, abhwagandha, tai chi, sleep, breathing practice)
- Shen: the ultimate treasure, your higher self and spiritual self that you can share once your Jing and Qi are taken care of
How/Why to address your Jing
- helps open your QI, and prepares you for Shen
- Jing herb: romania
- schizanda, reishi help Jing, Qi, and Shen at once
Reishi mushroom
- decreases stress and anxiety
- not a sedative although helps you relax
- inner peace
- improved energy and endurance
- supportive of the kidney systems
The kidney system in Chinese medicine
- includes not only kidneys, but brain, adrenal glands, and bone marrow
- kidney organ plays an important role in detoxification
- activated charcoal can help with kidney function impairment, filtering out toxins
Are adaptogens just a trend?
- it’s much more than a trend, justified by historical use for thousands of years
- deserves the attention because of the ability to help long term health (small amounts, regular basis, course of one’s life)
Ashwangandha (one of Sage’s favorites) but not good for hyper-thyroid or overactive thyroid; or if someone is taking coumadin (for blood clotting disorders)
- It’s important to do research for contraindications and compatibility to your medications when taking any herbs or adaptogens
Marisa inquires about Rhodiola Rosea
- it increased her issue with rapid heart rate (coupled with caffeine intake)
- Sage has COMT++ gene that has an effect on the way he detoxes from certain neurotransmitters like norepinephrine, so Rhodiola is a problem for him too. But it’s great for so many other people
Try new herbs:
- empty stomach with 2-4 ounces of hot water + 1/8-1/2 tsp of the new herb
- sit quietly and notice how it makes you feel (spend time with the herb one-on-one, like a quiet first date)
Do you need to cycle on and off of adaptogens?
- depends on the person, what benefits you’re looking for
- Maca is sometimmes stimulating (less in gelatinized maca), which is one reason you’re better off cycling on and off.
- Most herbs are not this way, but some you get more benefit going on/off
What goes into quality sleep?
- Starts moment you wake, get sunlight first hours of the day
- cardio in the morning, weight-lifting in afternoon (don’t exercise within 2 hours of bed)
- Evening: limit blue light because it mimics sunlight, use red/warm fire-looking light (try f.lux or “night mode” to tint computer screens warm/red)
- Try Reishi Mushroom or Holy Basil to help bring down stress/anxiety and help sleep
- Magnesium glycinate helps sleep and is easy on the gut, Magnesium l-threonate to help the brain and sleep
- Sleep cycle, same sleep/wake time helps establish circadian rhythm
Reishi Mushroom tips
- many forms of Reishi, some powdered “mycelium” (some are bad) which is grown on a gluten-free grain medium
- lots of mycelium is done poorly and ends up being primarily grain instead of mushroom
- mycelium products are qaulity verified when they test for alpha-(grains) & beta-glucans (medicinal mushrooms)
- Ultimate Reishi is wood-grown like they are in nature, and in Addictive Wellness products.
- Some mushrooms are just water-extracted and that’s fine. But for Reishi, you need alcohol AND water extractions.
- You can buy dual-extracted reishi in tincture form or dried powder form
- Reishi should have a strong bitter taste, that’s a good sign (The “Bitterer the Betterer”)
- Nighttime drink of 4 ounces hot water, 1/4 abhwagandha + 1/2 tsp reishi; optional add stevia
- Reishi and Cacao couple together so well, making reishi taste less bitter
- Try Cacao Elixir Blend by Addictive Wellness

Resources:
10% off Addictivewellness.com with code “FOWPODCAST”
Addictive Wellness Products:
- Reishi (Dual-Extracted Wood-Grown)
- Cacao Elixir Blend
- Energy Chocolate
- Tranquility Chocolate
Additive Wellness YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/addictivewellness
Sages Ultimate Guide to Healthy Sleep: https://youtu.be/0NvoZ61RP6g
Video “How to Block All Blue Light on your iPhone for Free”: https://youtu.be/iHBJK85vXNQ
Video “Benefits of Red Light at Night & Sunlight During the Day”: https://youtu.be/wNtS1XPF5Iw


Always check with your doctor before starting new herbal supplements or remedies to be sure you do not have any contraindications or medications that will negatively combine with these natural ingredients. When trying a new herb, take it on an empty stomach and sit for a short while paying attention to how it makes you feel. This is a good way to know if you’re reacting positively or negatively or not at all.


Marisa's site: https://www.marisamoon.com
Learn about *Intermittent Fasting Freedom* at marisamoon.com/iffreedom
Jessica's site: https://www.jessicadogert.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FoundationofWellnessPodcast
Instagram: @foundationofwellness_podcast https://www.instagram.com/foundationofwellness_podcast
@marisa_moon_
@jessica_dogert

Intro/Exit Music  - "Ukulele Whistle" by Scott Holmes