The Story Behind the Formula: Peace Juice

Out of all my new tincture formulas, PEACE JUICE may be the one that excites me the most simply because it has so many real life applications and can help such a wide range of people.
When I asked all of my friends for a list of the things they could use some help with on a daily basis, the topic of anxiety came up over and over again. Anxiety is becoming extremely prevalent in our modern world, which is why I wanted to create a fun, effective solution that my loved ones could take with them wherever they go and use discreetly even in a public setting.

Even if your anxiety is not chronic or does not generally affect your day to day life, we all have those moments where we simply feel overwhelmed… where work or relationships or bills are stressing us out and we could use a chill button. This, to me, is where herbs shine the most. Certain plants have this uncanny ability to instantly shift us energetically into a place where we’re more grounded, calm, and present in our bodies. PEACE JUICE has a spray top and is designed to do just that — as soon as certain plant compounds touch your tongue, your vagus nerve is stimulated and your body gets the signal to relax. You feel an instant sense of peace. I call it “grounding in a bottle,” and cannot wait for you to try it.

THE STORY BEHIND THE FORMULA

One of my best friends works in NYC (we live just outside in the burbs) and has to commute daily on the subway. If you’ve ever been to the big apple and hopped on a subway during peak hours, you know that it feels like that $55 uber might have been worth it. It may look glamorous in the movies, but if you take the 4 train home after work you’re probably going to be squished right up against the door between a stroller and a guy eating a salami sandwich. That’s cool cause it’s very ~New York~ and you’re saving the planet by taking public transportation, but it can be extremely overstimulating and anxiety-provoking for some.

Now, my friend loves being in the city and all the incredible people she meets, but taking the train was killing her because she suffers from anxiety. So many people in a tight space can drive anyone crazy, and she wasn’t going to pop a xanax before her shift! I wanted to give her a solution that would instantly soothe her nerves and help her feel safer without knocking her out or making her want to take a nap.

That’s exactly why I created Peace Juice — for those situations where anxiety arises out of nowhere and you need a quick pick me up (or shall I say, calm me down!) My entire new line is simply meant to enhance your quality of life, and I figured an easy way to do that would be to make a blend that helps you feel more comfortable and grounded in everyday situations.

Peace Juice is especially helpful when you’re in public because it’s a quick, discreet spray that you can use right under or on your tongue. I use it in social situations because I sometimes deal with social anxiety, especially when meeting people for the first time. Best of all, it’s small so it can be easily stored in your purse.

Although I always bring it with me, I also keep one at home because it’s just as useful for managing nervousness and anxious thoughts that are unrelated to outer situations or environments. You can take it several times per day to manage stress and tension as needed, and can use it before bed to quell racing thoughts.

THE HERBS + BENEFITS

Every herb in this blend contains plant constituents that physically calm and soothe the nervous system, as well as subtle energetic properties that help ground you back into your body. Certain herbs, for example gentian, contain the bitter compounds that help stimulate the vagus nerve as soon as they are detected by your taste buds.

1. Kava Root

Kava has been shown in more than a dozen placebo-controlled studies to be effective with good tolerability for the treatment of anxiety, with some evidence for stress, depression and insomnia. A  2013 world-first clinical study published in the Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology found that kava was able to significantly reduce symptoms in people diagnosed with general anxiety disorder. It is extremely calming and comforting and one of my favorite stress-relievers. There are even “kava bars” popping up around the city for folks who want a quick and delicious way to relieve anxiety quickly. Several of my friends who don’t drink coffee go to kava bars instead with their friends!

2. Passionflower

This beautiful herb allows you to shut down loops of chatter in the mind, nourishes the adrenals, and is perfect for city dwellers who get frazzled in their chaotic environment. For this reason, I also find it helpful for those with social anxiety who get wound up after too much social interaction and need help finding their center. This my favorite remedy for anyone who feels overwhelmed by external stimulation.

3. Motherwort

As the name suggests, motherwort has a calming energy like a big hug from mom. It is classified as a nervine herb, and is incredibly helpful for the type of anxiety where thoughts are racing and worries feel “pent up” in the body. Also in line with its famous name, motherwort is helpful for postpartum anxiety and melancholy felt by new mothers. It helps to ground you emotionally and improve clarity when you’re feeling lost.

4. Gentian Root

Gentian is a bitter herb that helps you get in touch with your gut instinct. Energetically, this is the most “grounding” ingredient in the blend, as the bitter flavor “helps bring us back into our bodies.” This is especially helpful if you’re someone who tends to check out mentally when you get stressed or overwhelmed. The bitter flavor on the back of the tongue can stimulate the vagus nerve and bring us “back to earth” by helping with body centering and awareness.

5. Wood Betony

Wood Betony is truly one of our best restorative tonics. It re-establishes the structure and function of the nervous system and GI tract, where we tend to hold a lot of stress and tension. It takes the load (both physical and mental) off of one’s “head-brain” by strengthening your “enteric brain” (aka the gut brain or second brain). As herbalist Matthew Wood says, it “brings you back down to earth.”

6. Schisandra Berry

Schisandra is a unique and unlikely ingredient in this blend — one you would never think of right away when crafting an anti-anxiety blend. However, I put it in here for a very special reason; I think it adds something quite magical to the formula! Schisandra is traditionally said to “turn worriers into warriors” and has an action on the liver meridian in Traditional Chinese Medicine. When we feel worried, frustrated, and angry, “constricted liver Qi” is often at the root in TCM terms. It is famous for making you feel happy, relaxed, free, and easy-going. Some who take it regularly notice they become more optimistic about life in general. I believe this is due to the fact that your liver is less aggravated, AND all five organ systems are nourished at the same time since schisandra is the famous “five flavor fruit.” This ingredient is also very helpful if you are energetically sensitive to others’ emotions.

HOW TO USE PEACE JUICE

5-10 sprays on the tongue whenever you need peace and grounding (up to 3 times per day). Let yourself taste the flavors for a moment as you settle back into a state of calm, then wash down with a sip of water.

You may want to use it at home first before consuming it out of the house so that you understand exactly how it affects you. Everyone is different and we all have a unique threshold for herbs. Start with 1 spray when you’re home relaxing on the couch, and increase from there to the full dose until you feel your desired effect. You should feel calm and happy but not groggy or sleepy. That’s how you’ll know the number of sprays that are right for you!

Because this blend contains kava root, always ask your practitioner before use if you have a history of liver problems or are taking medication.

I hope you absolutely LOVE this “grounding in a bottle” and I hope it brings you peace through life’s crazy moments.

If you’re interested in buying Peace Juice, check it out here!