EP 30: Stressed? Meet Your Herbal Allies with Nadine Joseph of Peak and Valley

Episode Length: 1:27:18

We live in a stressful, unpredictable world. Enter adaptogens. I learned so much in this week’s episode with Nadine Joseph, the CEO and founder of Peak and Valley, a company that makes adaptogenic blends using varying combinations of over 18 adaptogens, mushrooms and herbs. If you’ve been an Our Nature listener for a while now, you’ll know that I’m very careful about highlighting products on the show because I want to make what I share as inclusive and as accessible as possible and I don’t want to imply that well being can only be found in what you purchase. However, I do think there are individuals out there, like Nadine, who have created products that they really needed, but couldn’t find, and I’m excited to share them with you. For this reason, I especially can’t wait for you to hear more about Peak and Valley.

In this episode we discuss Nadine’s work as a neuroscientist studying what happens physically in the body when you’re exposed to stress, how Nadine’s own experience with chronic stress, anxiety and adrenal fatigue led her to adaptogens and ultimately healing, the definition of adaptogens and the origin of the term, the role of primary, secondary and tertiary adaptogens, why the beta-glucan content in mushrooms matters, the healing powers of turmeric, and why consumers need to be incredibly careful when purchasing plant-based products and how to screen brands for purity and quality. I had definitely heard about adaptogens from herbalist Rachelle Robinett (I’ll link to her episode in the show notes), but in this episode we go deep. Also, be sure to stay tuned until the end of our conversation to hear about a special discount on Peak and Valley exclusive for Our Nature listeners!

“You have to think of adaptogens as herbal allies that are there to assist you along your wellness journey.” - Nadine Joseph x Our Nature
“I will never say I have a perfect wellness routine, but I know what works for me.” - Nadine Joseph x Our Nature
“We are in this symbiotic relationship with our earth and we can use certain plants and fungi to help us with things in our day to day lives.” - Nadine Joseph x Our Nature

Resources

Show Notes

On growing up with an understanding of the symbiotic relationship between humans and the natural world
What Nadine learned studying the neuroscience of stress
What adrenal fatigue looks like in the body
How the culture of work in the United States is leading us to adrenal burnout
The HPA axis in the body and why it’s important
How Nadine’s own wellness journey led her to found Peak and Valley
Nootropics - what they are and what they do for the brain
Why the beta-glucan content in mushrooms matters
Adaptogens - explained
Primary, secondary and tertiary adaptogens
Peak and Valley’s adaptogenic blends
What happened after Nadine began regularly consuming adaptogens
Nadine’s experience with entrepreneurship
Ayurveda and Traditional Chinese Medicine’s influence in the research behind adaptogens
The Nourish My Skin blend explained from an Ayurvedic perspective
The incredible health benefits of turmeric
Why Nadine sources her turmeric from Diaspora Co.
Why consumers need to be really careful when purchasing plant based products
How to screen plant based products for purity and quality
How different types of stress maps differently in the body
The limitations of adaptogens
Highlighting Nadine’s favorite adaptogenic herbs + mushrooms
How the pandemic and the Black Lives Matter movement have affected Nadine personally and Peak and Valley
How to honor the traditions that adaptogens came from without appropriating them
The Last Five Questions

Connect with Nadine Joseph:

The Last Five Questions

What is your favorite place in nature?
Mount Diablo, which is a mountain in Walnut Creek, California.
What is the animal, mineral or plant that resonates with you the most?
My dog Cora. She’s just great.
What is one thing we can do right now to connect with the natural world and bring more harmony into our lives?
Just go for a walk without your ear buds, without any distractions. And if you see trash, pick it up.
What’s the greatest lesson nature has taught you?
That everything can be healed. That when a tree has been ravaged by a hurricane, it still continues to grow and so can we.
Complete this sentence: Nature brings me…
Peace.

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