As someone who has struggled with Hashimoto’s hypothyroid symptoms for over a decade after being diagnosed with Epstein-Barr virus at the age of 18, I remember feeling like a zombie upon waking up and throughout the day, as if there were a brick stuck in the center of my forehead. I felt depressed, hopeless, confused, uninspired, and completely disconnected from my body. The elixir I created as part of my daily morning ritual is brain fog’s kryptonite! I’ve been recommending it to hundreds of my Thyroid Yoga® clients, and they’ve also seen amazing results! The herbs in this tonic are also wonderful for promoting menstrual balance and fertility and are something I highly recommend for women with PCOS or those who have been missing their periods. Before we dive into this tonic and adaptogenic herbs, let’s talk about the relationship between the thyroid and adrenal glands. Nurturing the thyroid without giving the same TLC to the adrenals is one of the mistakes that I have all too often seen in those looking to balance their hormones. Adaptogens are a unique group of herbs used to promote the health of your adrenal system, the system that manages your body’s hormonal response to environmental, physical, and emotional stress. They help support the body’s response to stress and its ability to naturally cope with occasional anxiety and normal fatigue—slowly and gently, without jolts or crashes. They’re called adaptogens because of their unique ability to “adapt” their function according to your body’s specific needs. There are three adaptogens in this tonic. When taken in combination with shilajit, the herbs within chyawanprash are even more potent because of the synergistic qualities of shilajit. Historically, the combination has been used widely as a potent supplement to boost energy levels, improve libido, and improve overall health. Shilajit accentuates the beneficial effects of ashwagandha and, hence, complements the pharmacological effect. It has also been shown that a combination of ashwagandha and shilajit increases cognitive function. It was also reported that the combination can help the brain stay healthier longer if taken regularly, and research has also shown the combination has been very successful in diminishing and shrinking thyroid nodules. It is believed the fulvic acid in shilajit helps to bring out the many benefits of ashwagandha. The combination also seems to enhance the ability to focus, enhances female fertility and sexual drive, and stabilizes mood and emotion. It isn’t required that ashwagandha be taken with shilajit, but for women needing help regulating menstrual cycles or increasing fertility, it may help. Ingredients Want a full thyroid yoga routine with Fern? Check it out here. Plus, her go-to hormone-balancing dinner. Fern has partnered with Dr. Gabrielle Lyon at The Ash Center for Comprehensive Medicine, Dr. Robin Berzin and Dr. Jeffrey Egler at Parsley Health, among leading health practitioners, expert yoga instructors, and brilliant entrepreneurs. Together with these exceptional doctors and renowned practitioners, she offers Thyroid Yoga® in tandem with integrative medical practices, yoga studios, and wellness centers. Fern is a certified Reiki practitioner and registered yoga teacher.
