Peak + Valley's Founder Nadine Joseph On How She Went from a Career in Neuroscience to Her Mindfully-Sourced Adaptogen Brand
Taking care of your mind, body and spirit has never been more important. Today, I am very excited to be talking with Seattle-based Nadine Joseph, the founder of Peak + Valley, an adaptogen line that is aimed to help you achieve optimal health. She shares how she came upon these medicinal herbs, how and when to use them and how she practices self-care.
Interview by Alison Engstrom
How have you been doing both personally and professionally during this unprecedented time?
2020 has definitely been a year defined by high highs and low lows for me, and finding a balance between these experiences has been a new challenge. I’ve found myself leaning heavily on herbal allies like our Balance My Stress blend, and have strived to make sure I keep my daily meditation practice. Earlier this year, I made it a goal to spend at least 60 minutes outside every day, as I found myself staying in too often—it’s been so helpful!
This year has been one of growth for Peak and Valley, as increased concern over health and support for Black owned businesses became a priority for many. Covid-19 has drastically changed life for all of us, and adapting to new routines has been a stressful experience for many. Our blends have been herbal allies to those who need a hand in managing their stress response during the pandemic.
“ Adaptogens are a unique group of herbs and mushrooms that help balance your body’s reaction to stress. They do this by acting on the hypothalamic-pituitary-endocrine axis, which is where the intricate conversation between your brain and your hormonal system takes place. ”
I’d love to talk about your background. What were you doing prior to launching your brand Peak + Valley?
I used to be in the neuroscience research field, and was awarded an NIH grant to study maladaptive plasticity in spinal cord injuries at UCSF. I also did research at UC Berkeley—studying stress and its effects on learning and memory ability.
How did you first uncover the power of adaptogens?
I was working at a lab studying the neuroscience of stress and became enthralled with the question of how the stressors of the modern world were affecting our bodies overall. While I was studying stress, I was also dealing with chronic stress and anxiety myself so this question had personal roots to it. This launched me into months of dedicated personal research into stress and adaptogens. I started incorporating several adaptogens—like reishi mushroom and ashwagandha—into daily smoothies and tonics. It completely changed my life and healed my eczema and adrenal fatigue.
However, as I had a research background, I had very high standards for the herbs and mushrooms that I was sourcing. I wanted high purity/potency, as well as ingredients farmed with an eye towards sustainability/ethical practices. That’s a pretty hard thing to do, and it took me a very long time to find suppliers and farmers that I trusted. One day, I took a step back and looked at the all the work I had put into this, and realized that I really wanted to share my findings and research with others. So, I decided to launch a line of adaptogenic blends—so that others could easily be introduced into the world of adaptogenic mushrooms and herbs.
In simple terms, how would you describe adaptogens to people who might not be familiar?
Adaptogens are a unique group of herbs and mushrooms that help balance your body’s reaction to stress. They do this by acting on the hypothalamic-pituitary-endocrine axis, which is where the intricate conversation between your brain and your hormonal system takes place. Think of it this way: your brain is always dancing with multiple glands at once. Your adrenal gland, gonadal gland, and thyroid gland needs to be flawlessly in tune with your brain in order for your immune system, mood, and energy levels to be healthy. When a dance partner is out of sync—let’s say your cortisol levels are really high after a stressful month—then you may experience horomonal issues such as a low sex drive, adrenal fatigue, or thyroid issues.
This is where adaptogens come in to save the day. They improve adrenal function, protect you from disease, and enhance overall well-being. While they all work to balance your hormones without any side effects, some have extra health-boosting quirks. These unique ‘quirks’ can be anything from enhancing cognitive function to protecting the skin against UV damage. Cultural healing traditions such as Traditional Chinese Medicine and Aruveyda have been reaping the benefits of these adaptogenic herbs and mushrooms for centuries, while us in the western world are just discovering them.
Is there a beneficial time of day to incorporate them into your health regimen?
No, you can drink our adaptogenic blends at any time of the day! Many people find it’s easiest to pair it with their morning coffee/tea, but whatever floats your boat!
What is one herb that is currently under the radar would you say and boasts a lot of health properties?
Eleuthero Root—there are more published studies on eleuthero root than on any other herb, yet so few know about it! It has similar effects to Asian Ginseng, in that it is known to support neuroprotection, longevity, and stress resistance. This root can decrease your fatigue by increasing your work and exercise capacity, without the jitters-and-crash of a caffeinated drink. In fact, it was used by Soviet olympic athletes back in the 70s to increase endurance and stamina. It’s a key herb in our Balance My Stress adaptogen blend.
Do you have a dedicated self-care routine? If so, what does that look like?
Hah! I feel like my answer to this question changes every time someone asks me! For me, self care really just translates into giving myself the time and space to think, while also taking care of my body. And there’s so many ways I do this—taking my dog for a walk, a short meditation before bed, or my morning adaptogen-rich drink. For me, it’s all about designating time to do things that nourish my mind and body.
“Cultural healing traditions such as Traditional Chinese Medicine and Aruveyda have been reaping the benefits of these adaptogenic herbs and mushrooms for centuries, while us in the western world are just discovering them. ”
What is your favorite blend and how do you incorporate it?
2020 has been quite a year, and I have found myself relying on the Balance My Stress blend lately. This blend is designed to protect against stress, while helping support your immune system - something I think we all need nowadays. It’s been just the herbal ally I have needed to get through this tumultuous year. For these past few months, I’ve been staying with family members in NorCal - so I’m oftentimes away from all of my favorite ingredients and have had the opportunity to get a bit creative with my morning warm drink! I’ll oftentimes have a teaspoon of the Balance My Stress blend with a teaspoon of cocoa powder, a touch of honey, and some nut milk. This is a bit of a twist on our adaptogenic hot cocoa recipe on our blog, and it’s been such a comforting morning ritual.
Peak + Valley in three words…
Mindful, ethical, holistic.
Photography Courtesy of the Brand