Mood Lifting Recipes
This section includes recipes for herbs that improve mood and wellbeing by being uplifting in some way. Mood lifting herbs should not be thought of as primarily stimulating herbs. Many of the plants in this category generate pleasure without being overly stimulating (Lavender, jasmine). These herbs can target specific pleasure receptors (poppy, cannabis), neuroreceptors (kanna, St. John’s Wort), act as non-specific tonics to improve mood (adaptogens like american ginseng and rhodiola), or act as stimulant antidepressants (cacao, coffee). There is increasing research that herbs that are anti-inflammatory and help promote circulation can also improve mood and wellbeing (turmeric, cinnamon). So there is no unifying singular way that plants elevate mood and its key to offer herbs specific to an individual’s needs. Here are some examples:
Adaptogenic antidepressants: aralia, ashwaghanda, eleuthero, ginseng, holy basil, nettle seeds, reishi, rhodiola, zizyphus
Aromatic antidepressants: bergamot, cedarwood, clary sage, douglas fir, frankincense, geranium, hibiscus, hawthorn, holy basil, jasmine, lavender, lemon, lemongrass, lemon balm, lemon verbena, linden, mint, neroli, oregano, pine, rose, saffron, sage, sandalwood, sweetgrass, vetiver, ylang ylang
Circulatory Stimulant Antidepressants: Bacopa, basil, cardamom, cayenne, cinnamon, ginger, gotu kola, holy basil, nutmeg, pine, rosemary, sage, spruce, thyme, ylang ylang
Targeting neuroreceptors/pleasure receptors: Poppy, Cannabis, St. John’s Wort, mimosa (albizzia), borage
Stimulant antidepressants: cacao, coca, coffee, kanna, khat, kola nut, mate, tea
Relaxant antidepressants: black cohosh, blue lotus, kava, kratom, passionflower, wild dagga,
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