Thrive Boldly: Three Brain Evening Elixirs: Nourish Your Head, Heart & Gut Before Sleep

I love a good sleep. I feel quite righteous when I wake up in the morning - having not woken all night and feeling my most excellent best. But, I have learned the hard way that these nights can can be hard earned. So, I started digging deep into sleep rituals to help me feel my most righteous in the AM. I will be glad to share one of my top tips here with you so you can be as righteous as me.

Your evening pre-sleep ritual plays a crucial role in brain health, emotional balance, and digestion. What you drink before bed can either support deep rest and recovery—or disrupt it.

Three Brain Evening Elixers

These Three Brain Evening Elixirs are designed to calm the head brain (mind and cognition), soothe the heart brain(emotional center), and support the gut brain (digestion and microbiome) as you sleep. Each blend harnesses powerful herbs, adaptogens, and functional ingredients to nourish your whole self—one sip at a time.

1. Brainwave Bliss Elixir (Head Brain Support)

A neuroplasticity-enhancing elixir designed to relax the mind while supporting memory and cognition. This adaptogenic drink contains lion’s mane mushroom, which promotes brain function, along with chamomile and nutmeg to encourage deep sleep.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup warm macadamia or cashew milk (rich in brain-boosting healthy fats)

• ½ tsp lion’s mane mushroom powder (supports cognitive function)

• ½ tsp ashwagandha (reduces stress & promotes neuroplasticity)

• ¼ tsp nutmeg (a natural sleep aid)

• ½ tsp raw honey (optional, supports melatonin production)

Instructions:

1. Warm the milk over low heat.

2. Whisk in the lion’s mane, ashwagandha, and nutmeg.

3. Remove from heat, stir in honey, and enjoy.

 How It Supports Your Three Brains:

• Head Brain: Lion’s mane supports memory and cognitive function.

• Heart Brain: Ashwagandha reduces stress and balances emotions.

• Gut Brain: Nutmeg and macadamia milk help promote digestion while you sleep.

Heart-Centered Cacao Tonic (Heart Brain Support)

A rich, velvety elixir that opens the heart, enhances emotional balance, and promotes relaxation. Raw cacao is packed with polyphenols that increase serotonin, while rose petals and reishi mushroom create a grounding, heart-soothing effect.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup warm oat or almond milk

• 1 tbsp raw cacao powder (rich in magnesium & mood-boosting compounds)

• ½ tsp reishi mushroom powder (calms the nervous system)

• ½ tsp dried rose petals or rose water (supports heart coherence)

• ¼ tsp cardamom (a warming digestive aid)

• 1 tsp maple syrup or raw honey

Instructions:

1. Heat the milk over low heat.

2. Whisk in cacao, reishi, rose petals, and cardamom.

3. Strain if using whole rose petals, then stir in maple syrup.

How It Supports Your Three Brains:

• Head Brain: Cacao boosts serotonin and mental clarity.

• Heart Brain: Rose and reishi help regulate emotions and stress.

• Gut Brain: Cardamom and cacao support digestion and gut-brain communication.

3. Digest & Dream Fennel Tonic (Gut Brain Support)

This calming, digestion-supporting elixir is perfect after dinner. Fennel and licorice root help soothe digestion, while chamomile and lemon balm promote relaxation and gut-brain balance.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup warm water or chamomile tea

• 1 tsp fennel seeds (aids digestion & reduces bloating)

• ½ tsp licorice root (supports gut lining & stress response)

• ½ tsp lemon balm (calms the gut-brain axis)

• 1 tsp raw honey (supports the microbiome)

Instructions:

1. Steep the fennel seeds, licorice root, and lemon balm in hot water for 10 minutes.

2. Strain, stir in honey, and enjoy.

 How It Supports Your Three Brains:

• Head Brain: Lemon balm helps calm racing thoughts and enhances sleep.

• Heart Brain: Licorice root helps balance stress hormones and emotional resilience.

• Gut Brain: Fennel aids digestion, reducing bloating and discomfort before sleep.

A Sip Towards Better Sleep & Brain Health

These Three Brain Evening Elixirs are more than just bedtime drinks—they are tonics for the mind, emotions, and gut. Whether you need mental clarity, emotional balance, or digestive support, these drinks will nourish your three brains as you sleep.

Try incorporating one into your nightly routine, and let me know which one is your favorite!

***Bonus Recipe:

Golden Turmeric Moon Milk (Gut & Heart Brain Support)

This anti-inflammatory elixir is packed with gut-healing turmeric and heart-soothing cinnamon. It also contains tryptophan-rich milk (or almond milk), which supports serotonin production for restful sleep.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup warm almond or coconut milk (or organic dairy)

• ½ tsp turmeric (anti-inflammatory, gut-friendly)

• ¼ tsp cinnamon (stabilizes blood sugar, supports heart health)

• ¼ tsp ginger (aids digestion and gut motility)

• ½ tsp raw honey (optional, promotes gut microbiome balance)

• Pinch of black pepper (enhances turmeric absorption)

Instructions:

1. Warm the milk over low heat.

2. Whisk in the turmeric, cinnamon, ginger, and black pepper.

3. Remove from heat, stir in honey, and enjoy before bed.

How It Supports Your Three Brains:

• Gut Brain: Turmeric and ginger reduce inflammation, supporting microbiome health.

• Heart Brain: Cinnamon helps regulate blood sugar and cardiovascular health.

• Head Brain: Warm, spiced milk promotes serotonin production for relaxation.

Sweet dreams.