Brain + Mental Health

Quality sleep isn’t just rest—it’s repair. This guide blends modern science with Traditional Chinese Medicine to show how your environment, routine, and nourishment shape your sleep. From dimming lights and...

Quitting cannabis isn’t just about removing a substance—it’s about rebuilding a deeper, more aligned relationship with yourself. This reflective journey emphasizes how addictive tendencies may stem from an unfulfilled need...

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) impacts millions each year, bringing lingering low mood, fatigue, and social withdrawal through the darker months. Unlike fleeting winter blues, SAD requires a more structured approach—starting...

Mitochondrial health is deeply tied to your energy, metabolism, and resilience—and it’s especially vulnerable during darker, colder seasons. To strengthen your mitochondria this fall and winter, prioritize daily morning sunlight...

If your brain feels foggy and your focus is shot, it might be time to lean on nature’s brain-boosting allies. Nootropics are a class of herbs that help increase circulation...

Breaking free from all-or-nothing thinking around food and fitness starts with building structured flexibility into your daily routine. From scheduling intentional meal “events” and prepping toddler-style balanced ingredients, to creating...

After centuries of soil depletion and processed foods, getting enough minerals requires a little extra intention. Prioritize calcium, magnesium, potassium, and trace minerals like zinc and selenium by eating a...

Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS) occurs when mast cells overreact and flood the body with histamine, often triggered by stress, infections, mold, or gut issues. Symptoms can span multiple systems...

Different forms of magnesium serve highly specific roles in the body: citrate and oxide relieve constipation, glycinate supports sleep and anxiety, L-threonate enhances brain function, malate boosts energy, chloride and...

Adaptogens work best when matched to your body's specific needs and constitution. Calming herbs like Ashwagandha and Tulsi ground Vata types, while energizing adaptogens like Rhodiola and Maca invigorate Kapha....

Adaptogens like ashwagandha, cordyceps, eleuthero, schisandra, and rhodiola work by gradually strengthening your HPA axis, enhancing your stress resilience, energy, cognitive clarity, and immune function. These herbs don’t mask symptoms—they...

Magnesium isn’t just a wellness trend—it’s a foundational mineral driving over 300 essential body processes, from calming your nervous system to building strong bones. Thanks to soil depletion and chronic...

Ashwagandha’s real magic lies in its ability to modulate the HPA axis, easing the adrenal response to stress while supporting thyroid and reproductive health. Unlike isolated extracts, consuming the whole...

Caffeine elevates cortisol and estrogen, worsening stress and hormone imbalance, especially for those with PCOS or PMS. Quitting caffeine initially triggers withdrawal—fatigue, brain fog, low dopamine—but over 30 days, natural...

Solo travel is empowering, but meeting people along the way takes intention. The key? Don’t wait—lead with curiosity, genuine interest, and intuition. Music becomes your greatest social connector, opening doors...

True wellness isn’t found in trends or products—it’s built through small, consistent habits that nourish your body, mind, and soul. Focusing on blood sugar balance, gut health, protein and fiber...

The Sleepy Girl Mocktail isn’t just hype—it’s a smart synergy of sleep-supportive ingredients. Tart cherry juice boosts natural melatonin production, magnesium calms the nervous system via GABA activation, and Sleep...

Spring is a season of renewal, but it can also bring emotional tension, bloating, and hormonal shifts linked to what TCM calls Liver Qi Stagnation. As your body sheds winter...

During this pivotal age window (~27–30), we often shed identities, relationships, and behaviors that no longer serve us. Through this process, we learn that being misunderstood—or even cast as the...

From lifting heavy weights to improve strength and insulin sensitivity to taking diluted apple cider vinegar before meals, these simple shifts had a big impact on Olivia’s physical and mental...

After eliminating added sugar for two months, Olivia uncovered how hyperpalatable foods hijack dopamine levels and dull our ability to enjoy life’s simpler pleasures. Through whole foods, protein, mineral hydration,...

Eliminating added sugar for 60 days revealed that the true challenge wasn’t sugar itself, but the dopamine-seeking habits driven by hyperpalatable foods. These processed combos of sugar, fat, and flavor...

Saying goodbye to coffee is no small thing—especially when it’s been your ride-or-die for a decade. But if your nervous system is begging for rest, this breakup might be exactly...

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shen represents our spirit and heart-mind — the center of our presence, joy, clarity, and emotional resilience. This blog dives deep into how Shen tonics like...

Nervines are a class of herbal allies that help us regulate the nervous system, unwind after long days, and reconnect to a sense of calm, clarity, and inner peace. In...

Exhausted in the morning, wired at night, and relying on caffeine just to function? You may be dealing with HPA axis dysregulation — the stress-response system that governs everything from...

Mental clarity isn’t just about willpower—it’s about movement, circulation, and releasing what’s clouding your inner vision. Inspired by a clinical pearl from herbal school, this post explores aromatic herbs like...

As winter invites us to slow down and go inward, this year-in-review ritual offers perspective and clarity. In this deeply personal reflection, Olivia shares 21 hard-earned lessons from the past...

Winter can feel heavy—short days, long nights, and stress on every corner. Mood Juice is the herbal ally that got me through it. Crafted with mood-soothing nervines like St. John’s...

The transformation that comes from walking daily isn’t just physical — it’s neurological, emotional, and deeply personal. Building up to a consistent walking habit teaches us how to meet ourselves...

Forward movement doesn’t just benefit your physical health — it profoundly impacts your mental and emotional resilience by neurologically suppressing fear responses and boosting dopamine levels. As we walk or...

Ginkgo is one of the oldest, most resilient plant medicines, clinically shown to enhance memory, mood, focus, and circulation—key areas that suffer in colder months. Its fan-shaped leaves support brain...

Many people underestimate just how little time it takes to make meaningful progress with fitness, which often leads to all-or-nothing thinking and skipped workouts. However, research shows that high-effort strength...

True influence lies in quiet consistency—becoming the living, breathing example of the transformation we wish for our loved ones. When change is embodied, not preached, it becomes real and accessible...

Free medicine is everywhere when we learn to tune in. Stretching boosts circulation and nutrient delivery. Walking mobilizes Natural Killer cells, enhancing immunity. Singing tones the vagus nerve and releases...

Peace Juice is your pocket-sized herbal chill pill, formulated to instantly calm nerves, soothe anxious thoughts, and help you feel grounded in overwhelming moments. Whether you're facing a crowded subway,...

Focus Juice is a powerful herbal tincture crafted to support cognitive function, enhance circulation, and protect the brain from stress-induced decline. Inspired by Olivia’s personal family history with Alzheimer’s, this...

Born from Olivia’s personal journey through burnout and HPA axis dysfunction, Sleep Juice is a thoughtfully crafted herbal tincture featuring valerian, hops, skullcap, lemon balm, passionflower, and California poppy. Designed...

Created to support emotional balance and nervous system resilience, Mood Juice is a plant-powered formula designed for real-life stress and low-motivation days. Featuring St. John’s Wort, Holy Basil, Skullcap, Kava,...

BDNF is your brain’s best friend for faster learning, better memory, and sharper mood—but it’s not just about exercise. Daily rituals like early sun exposure, polyphenol-rich foods, social connection, and...

Knitting isn’t just cozy—it’s brain food. Flow state activities like knitting, reading, or yoga increase levels of BDNF, a brain-growth hormone that supports neuroplasticity, memory, and mood. Unlike passive scrolling...

Turns out, building leg strength isn’t just for aesthetics—it’s fuel for your brain. Studies show that stronger legs are linked to better memory and fewer signs of brain aging, even...

Healing adrenal fatigue isn’t about pushing harder — it’s about syncing movement with your body’s natural rhythm. Morning walks in sunlight not only reset your circadian clock but help lower...

Healing from adrenal fatigue isn’t about quick fixes — it’s about rewiring your energy system from the inside out. Ditching caffeine, balancing blood sugar, and replenishing minerals like magnesium and...

Exercise doesn’t just tone your body — it tunes your brain. Just 20 minutes of movement can increase BDNF, the brain’s “Miracle-Gro,” by 32%, enhancing learning, memory, and cognition. Studies...

Olivia’s latest adrenal support strategy blends herbalism with modern circadian rhythm tools to promote deep, uninterrupted sleep. Her Sleep Juice formula, crafted with valerian, skullcap, lemon balm, and hops, addresses...

When healing adrenal fatigue, sleep isn’t just a side note — it’s the medicine. Rebuilding your circadian rhythm through early light exposure, screen-free evenings, and sunrise rituals signals the body...

What we often call “adrenal fatigue” is really a deeper miscommunication between brain and body — a protective downshift in cortisol signaling driven by chronic stress, inflammation, and circadian rhythm...