6 Easy Ways to Supercharge Your Body with Plants
The white-flour American diet makes it easy to forget that there is a world of color growing outside that’s designed to make us feel better. Over the last few weeks, I have been deep-diving into the book The Plant Medicine Protocol by William Siff, and while I suggest anyone interested in enhancing their health take the time to work through the steps as prescribed, this article is a bit of a cheat sheet for the modern eater looking to upgrade their system ASAP! Here are 6 Easy Ways to Supercharge your Body with Plants using Easy to Find Ingredients and Ready-to-Drink Tonics.
*EatDrinkLA was gifted The Plant Medicine Protocol and the Goldthread Tonics to try but was so blown away that there was no choice but to write an article. This post is not sponsored but does contain affiliate links.
The Plant Medicine Protocol in a Nutshell
The Plant Medicine Protocol is a gorgeously crafted book that combines plant-based medicine with photographs of faraway places. It’s put together by William Siff, LAc, who runs a practice and apothecary in Massachusetts called Goldthread, which is also the name of his line of Ready to Drink Tonics.
The book is an education in natural medicine, including traditional Chinese and Ayurvedic principles. Next, you’ll learn about the different medicinal plant categories, such as Bitters and detoxifying Herbs and Nervines to name a few. Siff recommends spending a few weeks immersed in each category before combining it all to create your own plant medicine protocol.
The beautiful photographs help the reader understand that this is all much more than herbs and spices, and Siff does a great job providing his favorite suppliers for those hard-to-find medicinal plants. I do have to admit though that the amount of information can feel overwhelming and a bit too intensive at times, so I took the author’s advice and slowed it all down, as well as limiting my shopping list to the things I could find at Trader Joe’s or Sprouts instead of going on a quest for Schisandra berries. It’s also recommended that you have a powerful juicer, but for now, I’m sticking to powders, which can be just as effective.
Now let’s Supercharge this Thing!
Step 1: Culinary Herbs, Spices & Bitters for Digestion
The first step focuses on adding more herbs, spices, and bitters to both stimulate or ease digestion. This could be as simple as a Lemon Ginger Tea in the morning instead of diving straight into the coffee or some Dandelion Greens in your salad at lunch. When “saturating” your diet with this step, Siff recommends adding drinks both pre and post-meals so you’re immersing your body with these new ingredients six to seven times a day.
While I’m still hovering around three to four times a day, easy additions have been Ginger-Turmeric Shots in the morning, Green Tea after lunch, Chai Tea just because, and the addition of Dandelion Greens, either cooked or raw. The Plant Medicine Protocol has dozens more ideas and recipes so you can virtually try something new every day.
Step 2: Nutritives for Superpowers
Nutritives are the superfoods of the plant world. They are designed to supercharge your body for deeper sleep, improved blood stability, stronger hair, increased energy, etc. Plants in this category include herbs, superfruits, and sea vegetables that are packed with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. Think Acai and Goji Berries.
The best way to get your nutritives is through strong herbal Infusions, and Siff has many recipes to help enhance your day from heart health to eye-brightening. You can also the herbs in tea-bag form such as Moringa or Nettles and combine them to make your own infusions with a little less work.
The one recipe I did put together from scratch is for the Green Power Powder Blend because once you make the powder, you can keep it for a week and just add one to two tablespoons to water or yogurt when you want a dose of those nutritives. I ordered everything from Mountain Rose Herbs unless hyperlinked.
Green Power Powder Blend from The Plant Medicine Protocol
Ingredients
- Nettle Powder
- Ashitaba Powder
- Alfalfa Powder
- Barley Grass Powder
- Parsley Powder (or leaf)
- Chlorella Powder
- Spirulina Powder
- Pineapple Powder
Directions
- Mix together equal parts of the first five ingredients
- Mix together 1/2 part each of Spirulina and Chlorella
- Add 3 parts Pineapple powder
- If mix is clumpy put it in a coffee grinder
- Mix 1-2 Tablespoons of the powder into 3/4 to 1/2 cup water or juice
- Enjoy daily!
Step 3: Demulcents for Hydration
Demulcents such as Aloe Vera and Chia Seeds are used to increase hydration down to the cellular level for increased mood, sleep, endurance, and recovery. The author begins the book by describing his morning ritual of slicing off a piece of Aloe Vera Gel into a glass of water to quench his body’s thirst after a night of sleep. Sweeter demulcents also include Manuka Honey and Real Black Licorice Candy enjoyed in Scandinavian countries that are perfect for on-the-go situations.
Personally, I love that Chia Seeds get that rich gooey texture when added to coconut milk or even water so getting my “minimum daily dose” of demulcents on an empty stomach in the morning and two hours after my last meal has been pretty enjoyable. Alternatives include Linden Tea in the evening and Marshmallow Root Powder in your water bottle throughout the day.
Step 4: Nervines for a Relaxed Mind
Nervines are relaxants and mood elevators that “encourage nerve flow while relaxing tension, which then improves energy and calms anxiety. This can be anything from Chamomile Tea to Lavender Essential Oil to CBD.
I was slightly worried about saturating my day with nervines and being too calm to carry on, but I was pleasantly surprised at how nice it was to remind myself to slow down and get focused. This can be done by inhaling Essential Oils – I like this kit for mess-free application – or sipping on a Lavender Flower Latte.
Step 5: Adaptogens
Adaptogens have become quite the buzzy addition to our modern society as of late, but at their core, adaptogens are natural substances that help the body adapt to stress and navigate change. This helps balance hormones, minimize illness, and promote more energy. Adaptogens can be found in mushrooms and roots like Ginseng.
The easiest way to get your adaptogens is as a morning beverage boost, like adding Reishi Powder to the coffee you are already drinking. Portable Ginseng Packets are also great for a mid-day liftoff or before a workout. End the day with some Ashwagandha Tea to prepare your body for a good night’s rest.
Step 6: “Threading it all Together”
If you’ve enjoyed this summary but are thinking, ” Who has time for all this?” I will cut to the chase and give you the ultimate cheat: Goldthread Tonics. While William Siff runs through his day like a well-oiled plant-based machine, he’s created ready-to-drink tonics for everything from Gut Health to Relaxation for the rest of us.
My personal favorites are Turmeric Radiance and Green Minerals, but I suggest a Plant Power Pack if it’s your first time trying these delicious drinks. It’s $30 for a 6-pack on their website, but you can also find Goldthread Tonics a la carte at Target and most major health-food stores.
Sprinkle in some tea throughout your day, and you’ll be as good as Goldthread.
