Get your super powers back with this yummy and healthy elixir … the perfect substitute for coffee!

… to name but a few of the miracles this elixir can perform.

A big ‘THANK YOU’ goes out to Linda who shared her secret recipe with us! ♥

The elixir is based on Reishi and Chaga, two new superpow(d)ers that come from mushrooms. Though their health benefits might seem miraculous these aren’t magic mushrooms but medicinal mushrooms, so no tripping 😉

Background

Reishi, which is also called Lingzhi in Chinese (from ling: divine and zhi: mushroom), grows in tropical and temperate geographical regions and has been used as medicinal mushroom in TCM for a long time. Reishi is known to have anti-viral, anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties, it controls blood sugar and in cancer research has been shown to have some anti-tumor properties as well as prevent cancer metastasis, i.e. the spreading of cancer in the body. Similar to the other super pow(d)er you’ll be reading about in a sec it works immunomodulatory … difficult word, easy explanation: it can alter or regulate immun functions (think autoimmune diseases and overreactive immune systems).

Chaga’s fruiting body (black) on a birch tree.

The second of the super ingredients is Chaga. Its natural habitat are birch forests of the northern hermisphere to be found in Russia, Korea, Eastern Europe and Northern Europe and the name ‘Chaga’ actually denotes what bursts from the bark of birch trees as a result of an infection with the fungus Inonotus obliquus. The traditional use of chaga was limited to treating upset stomachs, intestinal pains, gastritis, ulcers and for internal cleaning (aka detoxing). Modern research though revealed its most impressing properties: just like Reishi it is anti-viral, anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer and acts as a natural BRM (Biological Response Modifier), so it stimulates the immune system when necessary but at the same time slows it down if it is overproductive. It influences our metabolic processes (in a positive way), bloodpressure and cholesterol levels and boosts our health … what it basically does is stimulate our body to heal itself! It contains high levels of anti-oxidants so it is a great anti-aging tool and has revitalizing properties which are good for organs and skin/hair – resulting in a better-feeling and -looking you – inside and outside!

For approx. 2 liters of the Elixir you’ll need:

• 2l of (filtered) water
• Agave syrup
• a red chili (about as long as your thumb)
• a piece of ginger
• some raw cacao powder (and I don’t mean Nesquik!)
• 3 tbsp of coconut butter
• 1-1.5 tbsp of Reishi powder
• 1-1.5 tbsp of Chaga powder

Instructions:

Put two litres of water in a large pot, bring to a boil and let it simmer.
Add the Reishi and Chaga powder. The more powder you put in the water, the more effect …

Cut the chili in rings and throw the seeds out. Cut the ginger in strips and add both to the water.

Add the coconut butter and let boil gently for about an hour.

Now you can add the raw cocoa powder. Just put in as much as you want the mix to taste like chocolate.
It’s very yummy, also the raw cacao has amazing health benefits since it’s packed with antioxidants, essential vitamins and minerals (only the RAW version mind, processed chocolate loses most of its health properties).
I use 3 full tablespoons.

Let it simmer for another hour.
The elixir is done now and you can sweeten it to your liking with the agave syrup.

The result should taste like a spicy, warming, “grown up” cup of chocolate 🙂
You can drink one or two cups a day instead of coffee.
The uplifting effect will last for several hours.

Just put some in a cup and warm up the Elixer you want to drink that day, of course in a pan, NOT in the microwave.

You can just put the mix in a Tupperware box in the fridge and it will stay fresh for 3 weeks.
Or you can keep it in a dark colored bottle and store it in a dark place, in which case we recommend a faster consumption!

A word of caution when purchasing Chaga or Reishi:
Try and get wild-harvested chaga, not cultivated chaga. The reason? The health properties that make Chaga such a powerful and therapeutic superfood only develop because of the continuous struggle with the birch tree’s defense system. Logically cultivated chaga doesn’t have to go through this struggle and thus doesn’t contain those ‘goodies’.
Both Chaga and Reishi should be processed and extracted. If you buy dried or powdered mushrooms it won’t have any therapeutic effect since most of the goodies for our body are hidden in the cell-walls of the mushroom which are made of chitin, an indigestible material for humans. Look out for the word extract on the supplement label, and even better if it specifies hot water or ethanol extraction (or both).

ENJOY! ♥

more info on Chaga, Reishi and raw cocoa:

http://oriveda.wordpress.com/chaga-the-facts/
http://supplement-facts.org/2012-6.php
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lingzhi_mushroom
http://www.builtlean.com/2012/04/12/raw-chocolate/