It took me several years of having little spells where I’d go off coffee to finally recognize just how heating it was for my body, and to set off on a search for a special, ceremonial morning beverage that would boost me up (rather than biting me in the butt.) And at last, with this Hot Cocoa All Grown Up, I think I’ve found it.
What makes it all grown up? Firstly, it’s so much more than just a sweetened powder you mix into a mug with mini marshmallows blooming as you stir. (Though there is NOTHING NOTHING NOTHING wrong with this particular cocoa experience!) No sugar spikes or artificial anything here. Very responsible indeed.
Secondly, my recipe contains a few highly superintendent ingredients that grown-ass adults know they need to thrive: a hit of fat, an unrefined sweetener, and maybe most importantly – the addition of potent herbs and adaptogens that help bolster, brighten, and boost our bodies, minds and spirits. These Ayurvedic medicines aren’t to be taken lightly, and, just as important as the addition of these herbs is knowing how, when, and why to use them. (Because only a kid would mess around with these practically magic ingredients!)
Herbs and adaptogens are historically used Ayurveda for promoting health and balancing one or more of the doshas—vata, pitta, and kapha. These herbs come in many shapes and sizes and all have different purposes, and lie at the heart of Ayurvedic tradition.
This medicinal system, thousands of years old, has long recognized the power and potency of the Earth’s botanicals for promoting clarity, radiant skin, lustrous hair, manageable weight, healthy liver function, a robust immune system, and other benefits. These additions to our diet are used on the occasional circumstances that our bodies need support that lifestyle and diet can’t rectify. They’re medicines, rather than constant additions to our food regimens.
When we experience an imbalance in the body or could use occasional or conditional support in the mind or spirit, this is the time to call on these incredible medicines. For this reason, Ayurveda discourages using any particular herb day after day for months, or even years on end. This kind of use is no longer supportive of specific conditions and – rather than supporting the body in managing its imbalances – helps to create a crutch, substituting the body’s abilities instead. And, when taken in excess (ie: on a daily basis) we often start creating an imbalance in the doshas rather than rebalancing. You wouldn’t have a shot of alcohol every morning, would you? Having a hit of adaptogenic mushrooms, potent adaptogens and herbs of specificity is the same.
While I have a broad library of herbs that I use for different purposes, I’m quite conservative in using them…which is to say that you won’t catch me making the exact same concoction daily, month after month, or year after year.
That said, the herbs and adaptogens I typically have on rotation are chaga, reishi, cordyceps, maca, and shatavari. And all of them are exceptional additions to this hot cocoa! I describe them in greater depth below.
In Ayurveda, herbs are medicine. And, we determine which herbs to use based on their flavors (rasa,) their qualities (guna) and their actions on the body (karma). Which is to say that you’er practically never find an Ayurvedic herbal medicine that is used every day for every occasion. The first pertinent answer to this question of how to know what herbs to use is that the same herbs, taken daily will not – from a medicinal perspective – be effective or appropriate. Instead, taking daily, weekly, and seasonal inventories of your body’s wisdom is the way to use herbs effectively and properly. And even better, consulting with a practitioner to guide your use is very smart. For example, adaptogenic mushrooms such as reishi, cordyceps, and chaga are considered tamasic (or associated with darkness) and must be used with caution in Ayurveda. Taking these mushrooms daily invites an abundance of fungus into the body, which is often too much for the immune system, and also can create a dampness and heaviness in the body that is unwanted. Instead, taking grounding adaptogenic mushrooms several days in succession when you know you’ll be having a busy week, but won’t have the opportunity to take downtime in between obligations might be an appropriate way to balance the doshas in the body-mind. The following week, you would be better served to reduce consumption of the mushrooms and make space for rejuvenating routines that provide your body with physical, emotional, and mental browning.
Many of the herbs below are used to balance hormones and reduce stress, two things that many of us are striving to do on a day-to-day basis. Instead of using these herbs to attempt to remedy these conditions with herbs regularly, Ayurveda would recommend moderating the use to support hormone-balancing for a short seasonal period, or during a time when your digestive fire has been weakened (the digestive system regulates hormone function naturally!) And, it’s wise to use herbs for stress support during times of the year or the week when vata is highest and you could use some assistance in grounding the body-mind, as an amplification of lifestyle and dietary practices designed to do the same.
Below is a short list of herbs I use and recommend in this hot cocoa, and what occasions they’re most suitable for:
Reishi: this adaptogenic mushroom is calming for the nervous system, supports a healthy immune system, helps to reduce inflammation, supports the liver, kidneys and lungs and helps us to process and eliminate that which we no longer need. This mushroom has a bitter flavor, and balances vata dosha and pitta doshaUse reishi to: soothe jitters and anxiety, before bed for better rest, warming and opening the heart, boosting the immune system and balancing moods.
Cordyceps: these mushrooms support the endocrine system and healthy hormone production, help with adaptation and stamina, boost libido, increase oxygen and blood flow to the brain, open air and blood pathways, build prana and support all three doshas. This mushroom has a sweet flavor, and balances vata dosha and pitta dosha. Use cordyceps to: boost endurance, for long work projects, when competing and training, for better sex and staying up late.
Chaga: this mushroom is known to balance energy, help reduce fatigue, and increase mental sharpness. This mushroom has a bitter and sweet flavor, and balances the vata and pitta dosha. Use chaga: in lieu of caffeine, to focus and boost energy.
Maca: this root helps with hormone balance by supporting the functions of the hypothalamus and pituitary glands. It releases substances that instruct the pituitary gland to produce the right amount of hormones for the body’s needs. It’s also thought to help nourish your adrenal gland, and prevent cortisol from spiking. Maca has a sweet flavor and balances vata dosha, and can increase pitta and kapha. Use maca for: regulating hormones, supporting fertility, boosting energy, managing stress and boosting moods.
Shatavari: this incredible root has been used for thousands of years in Ayurveda to stoke libido and support the female body through all stages of life. It’s known to support hormone regulation. Shatavari has a bitter and sweet flavor, and balances pitta and vata dosha. Use shatavari for: hormone regulation, stress reduction, for relief of PMS symptoms, amping juiciness, bolstering sexual health and supporting breastfeeding.
Ashwagandha: Ashwagandha is an adaptogenic herb clinically shown to help reduce stress and regulate cortisol levels, enhance focus and mental stamina, and reduce irritability and stress-related cravings. It’s a potent flowering shrub with a bitter flavor that is relied upon heavily in Ayurvedic medicine to harmonize mind, body, and spirit. It balances kapha and vata, but is often too heating for pitta. Use ashwagandha for: stressful days, balancing hormones, creating inner harmony, organizing a scattered mind.
It’s true that you can buy very fancy bottles and jars of these herbs from flashy, stylish companies and it all looks very expensive and luxe. But to be super honest, I head down to my local apothecary and buy them in bulk. It’s about 4x less expensive to buy them this way and all of my herbs, and the cocoa, cost about the same as a bag of premium coffee would for one month – about $16.00/lb total. If you don’t have an apothecary near you, you can order from mine: Rebecca’s Apothecary here in Boulder.
I love to enjoy this cocoa for breakfast instead of coffee or as a mid-afternoon treat, and I boost it with herbs depending on what my body is experiencing on the day.
I use 1/4-1/2 tsp of each herb and stir it into the mix – that’s all that’s needed. No more.
Some days, I use just one herb. Other days, I use 3-4. It’s all part of being a responsible adult who drinks cocoa for breakfast; listening to my body wisdom and supporting it appropriately. To make a cup of this spectacular cocoa, gather your ingredients, take inventory, and add your herbs and enjoy!
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