Hello Higher-Minded Humans!
This year has already wreaked a ton of havoc, which is all the more reason to bulk up our home apothecary. While we aren’t the types to set resolutions, we do like to reflect on our current setup and assess what can improve. That is all to say that we are ready to add more plants and more applications going forward.
Microdosing isn’t a new concept for us, but having the option of capsules is. Thanks to our sponsor Psily Rabbit Medicinals, we have a new way to approach safe dosing. In addition to committing to sustainable and fair sourcing, they have a bunch of educational tools on their website.
As one listener says: “I love the way they lift my spirits and calmed me the first dose I took.” - KM
Get 20% off your first order at Psily Rabbit Medicinals using code YOURHIGHNESS.
Amanita Muscaria
We’ve tried Amanita Muscaria before, but only in gummy form, and the source wasn’t as intentional about quality control as MN Botanicals, which is owned by Christian Rasmussen. He talks about his commitment to sourcing sustainable and mindful earth medicine and gives insight on how to best prepare Amanita in the latest episode of Getting Personal with Plant Medicine.
Now that we are taking a more mindful approach to Amanita, the benefits are clearer: more focus, more vivid dreaming, and more mental clarity.
Kanna
From JR: One of the best ways for me to experience a new me is to experience a completely different me every time I close my eyes at night. While my decision to take a pause on THC consumption was multi-purposed, a big deciding factor came down to how it influenced my dreaming. As in, THC suppressed my ability to dream.
Dreams have always been important to me. During difficult times, they were a place for me to escape. During good times, they were places for me to explore. My writing and how I experience life have always been influenced by my dreams. So, while THC was beneficial to me in certain ways, there came a point where I longed to enter the dream realms once again.
Three things I used THC for were anxiety, depression, and sleep. All of them finding at least some cause in my inability to quiet my thoughts, which many times were chaotic and infringing. During the day, I found help with the use of kava. The issue with kava concerning sleep is that it is a diuretic, and I found myself waking up in the middle of the night every night to go to the bathroom.
Three months after I halted my use of THC, I was sent some Kanna extract from Kanna Extract Co. I was under the impression it was a “daytime” product, so I took it before working out one day. That was a mistake, as I found myself spacing out at the gym and contemplating a quick nap on the treadmill — just a little nappy-nap amongst the smell of sweat, bleach cleaner, and self-importance.
The next day, I took it at night. It calmed my mind, relaxed my body and bathed me in a world of tranquility. Later in the night, as I lay my head upon the pillow, the Kanna whispered in my ear, gently sending me to sleep and guiding me to the world I had most longed to return. Not only did I dream, but I was gifted with the most vivid of dreams.
So, while I do not take it every night, it has helped me regulate my ability to go to sleep at night. It has brought me to the world I have missed. It brought me to a place where I could witness different versions of me in worlds I have never seen. And in showing me all these different versions of me, it has allowed me to rediscover the old me — a person I had forgotten about.
Lemon balm
We drink a lot of lemon balm tea for relaxation and digestion support, but once we began growing the plant, we ran out of ways to use it. After some searching, lemon balm cookies became the clear winner. The recipe was daunting at first, but it turned out to be easy in the end.
And the cookies are a delicious compliment to tea, with a shortbread consistency. They are light and refreshing, and they help settle an upset stomach. Next up - lemon balm pesto? 2025 is all about finding new ways to incorporate plant medicine into delicious food.
Sage hair tea/ice cubes
We use sage for many reasons, but lately, the focus is on scalp health. Usually, Rosemary hair tea is the go-to, and as mentioned in an earlier post, sage is often in the mix. But lately, it’s been the solo star. Admittedly, this turn came about because the Holiday rosemary bushes died almost immediately after they came home with us.
Sage is great for scalp health though, and as ice cubes they provide relief from tension and dryness. Put into a spray bottle, sage hair tea makes an excellent curl refresher. It also tames frizz, adds shine, and darkens grey hair.
MaryJane N Munchies
While not a plant, it’s a plant medicine podcast, and it’s absolutely delightful. MaryJane N Munchies are two hosts who talk about cannabis culture and how the plant intersects with everyday life in a deeply entertaining way. If you love munchies and cannabis, you’ll love this show!
What are some new plant medicines you’re trying out this year?