It’s back to school time and whether you’re doing your classes in person or virtually, you’ll probably need a little mental pick-me-up! To help you out with this, we’re featuring Focus Pocus as our Wellness Tea of the Month! Our brain-fog busting blend of powerful organic adaptogenic herbs; Ashwaganda, Tulsi, Brahmi, and Yerba Maté, give you the boost and peace of mind needed when those classes start up again!
Focus Pocus contains caffeine from Yerba Maté. Yerba Maté has the strength of coffee and the health benefits of tea! Scientific studies (on animals) show that Yerba Maté improves short-term memory, enhances cognitive function and delivers a megadose of nutrition to your brain! Yerba Maté leaves contain 24 vitamins and minerals, 15 amino acids, and an abundance of antioxidants, no other plant in the world has a higher nutritional value!
Holy Basil, also known as Tulsi, is another herb you may be familiar with, it is one of the most widely-known adaptogenic herbs on the market. An adaptogen is a natural substance that helps your body adapt to stress and promotes mental balance. Scientific studies shows that holy basil has pharmacological properties that help your mind cope with many types of stress, exhaustion, sleep problems and forgetfulness. According to studies done by the Journal of Ayurveda and Integrative Medicine, Holy Basil has antidepressant and anti-anxiety properties comparable to diazepam and other antidepressant drugs. These studies found that people who took Holy Basil as a supplement felt less anxious, stressed, depressed, and alternatively more social!
Brahmi, also known as bacopa, water hyssop, and herb of grace, has been used for centuries in traditional Ayurvedic medicine as a memory and learning enhancer. Brahmi enhances the three aspects of memory which include long term memory, short term memory and retaining capacity. It has a positive effect on the hippocampus part of the brain that is responsible for intelligence, concentration and memory. Interestingly, the Brahmi leaf is shaped like a cerebellum, the part of the brain which helps in controlling concentration and memory. Brahmi decreases the levels of cortisol, which is known as the stress hormone. Research has also shown that Brahmi may help reduce ADHD symptoms; two studies in children found that supplementation of Brahmi significantly reduced ADHD symptoms, such as restlessness, poor self-control, inattention, and impulsivity in 85% of the test group! Other studies have proven Brahmi to be effective at lowering cortisol levels, thus reducing stress and anxiety.
A rising star on the herbal adaptogenic scene, Ashwaganda nourishes adrenal fatigue and a tapped-out nervous system. Ashwaganda root helps balance the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, or HPA axis, the central part of the stress response system, reducing cortisol levels, improving our ability to deal with stress, and improving sleep patterns! Anxiety is one of the main causes of insomnia and disruptive sleep cycles, so Ashwagandha is superb for those who are chronically tired and suffering from stress-related exhaustion.
Though not the main ingredients in this blend, cacao and peppermint add to the brain boosting effects of this tea! Regularly eating cacao was linked to improvements in working memory and visual information processing. Polyphenols in cacao were also found to increase calmness and contentedness and the flavanols could also enhance normal cognitive functioning and have a protective role on cognitive performance. Peppermint is shown to stimulate the hippocampus and increase oxygen saturation thus increasing alertness, memory, and enhancing cognitive functions. These two ingredients also adds a light mint-chocolatey taste that complements the Yerba Maté base!
Pair this with our Cinnamon Honey for an extra serotonin and dopamine boost!
