Some of my most formative and most fun work as a nutritional therapist and naturopath didn’t happen in a clinic. It happened in Bali.
I lived on the island for several years with my children, and it was there that my understanding of food as medicine deepened profoundly. I witnessed people recover from serious and chronic disease – simply by slowing down, removing stress and returning to real, nourishing food. It confirmed everything naturopathic medicine understands about the body’s innate capacity to heal itself.
It was during this time that I was approached by the owner of a café in Ubud to create something special for Valentine’s Day – a medicinal elixir for women. What began as a small collaboration quickly became something much bigger, and the recipe I developed that day has stayed with me ever since.
We called it the Love Potion.
The response was immediate – women reported feeling energised, glowing and more like themselves – feedback that felt deeply rewarding given how many women I meet who have quietly lost touch with that sense of vitality. The comments that stayed with me most were the ones about feeling more radiant and noticed. One woman told me, that she had eventually had to stop taking it – as the attention she received became rather overwhelming.
At the heart of it were three adaptogens: shatavari, ashwagandha and maca – ingredients I still reach for in my practice today, particularly when working with women experiencing burnout, hormonal imbalance, low libido or postnatal exhaustion – which, as I write about in my article on sleep deprivation and burnout in motherhood, is far more common and far more serious than most people realise.
What are adaptogens and why do women need them?
Adaptogens are herbs and roots that help the body adapt to physical and emotional stress – one of the foundational tools in naturopathic medicine, used long before they became a wellness trend. They work by supporting the adrenal glands and regulating cortisol, the stress hormone that, when chronically elevated or depleted, underpins so many of the symptoms I see in women: exhaustion that sleep doesn’t fix, mood instability, hormonal disruption, low libido and brain fog.
They are not a quick fix. They work best as part of a broader approach to nutrition, lifestyle and addressing the root cause of imbalance – which is always where I begin with my clients. But used thoughtfully and at the right time, they can be genuinely transformative.
Shatavari
In Sanskrit, shatavari means “she who possesses a hundred husbands” – which tells you everything about the esteem in which this herb has been held for thousands of years.
Made from the root of a wild form of asparagus, it has been used in Ayurvedic medicine as a tonic for the entire female reproductive system, supporting hormonal balance from the reproductive years right through to perimenopause. It is also one of the few herbs with genuine evidence behind its use as a galactagogue — meaning it actively supports breast milk production — which is why I frequently recommend it to breastfeeding mothers. And it is the ingredient most responsible for that quality I noticed in women who took it regularly in Bali — a certain luminosity and softness that is difficult to describe but absolutely unmistakable.
Ashwagandha
In Sanskrit, ashwagandha means “strong as a horse” – and that is precisely what it delivers. It is the most well-researched adaptogen available today, with a substantial and growing body of evidence supporting its use for stress, cortisol regulation, thyroid function and sustained energy. I recommend it regularly to women experiencing burnout – it calms the nervous system without sedating, supports deeper and more restorative sleep, and over time rebuilds the resilience and groundedness that chronic stress so quietly erodes.
Maca
Maca is a root from the Peruvian Andes with a long history of traditional use for energy, stamina and hormonal balance. It works differently to shatavari and ashwagandha – rather than directly influencing hormone levels, it supports the endocrine system more broadly, helping the body find its own equilibrium. From a naturopathic perspective this is particularly compelling, as it works with the body’s own intelligence rather than overriding it. It also has a naturally rich, slightly malty flavour that makes it one of the most pleasant adaptogens to incorporate into everyday food and drinks.
Together these three adaptogens and supporting ingredients create something genuinely medicinal – supporting hormonal balance and adrenal function, rebuilding energy and stamina, lifting mood and sharpening cognitive function, and boosting circulation and radiance from within.
The recipe
Here is my hormone-balancing Love Potion – the direct descendant of that original Bali recipe, refined over the years for my current practice. It works beautifully as a nourishing morning drink or a grounding afternoon alternative to coffee.
Serves 2
- 1/3 cup coconut, almond or oat milk
- 1 tsp shatavari powder (or contents of 1 capsule)
- 1 tsp ashwagandha powder
- 1 tsp maca powder
- 1 tbsp raw cacao
- ½ tsp finely grated fresh ginger
- 2 tbsp almond or cashew nut butter
- 1 tsp raw honey
Blend all ingredients until smooth. For a richer, more grounding flavour add a shot of dandelion root coffee which is wonderfully velvety, and brilliant for liver health and digestion. For something lighter and more fruity, a few crushed raspberries work perfectly.
Blend, pour, and enjoy.
A note on quality and sourcing
Quality matters enormously here. I always recommend organic, third-party tested versions of these powders as many cheaper products contain fillers or significantly lower concentrations of the active compounds, which means you simply won’t get the results. If you are pregnant, breastfeeding beyond the early weeks, or taking any medication, always check with a qualified practitioner before introducing adaptogens.
