Baby Freya Rose was born on January 8th at home with mom, dad, and brother present.  It was an easeful aand brief labor for mamma and we had family come and help out for the day.  We have had friends bring us groceries and pre-made meals which has been very helpful.

Still sending out orders

I've been sneaking into the lab at night or during nap times to send out orders, or answer emails or purchase supplies. So if you get a tracking notification in the middle of the night, it's because I'm packing up your order after babies are asleep! We are finding an ebb and flow to this new adjustment in our life, and we're grateful for grandparents help too!

Product Highlight: Wild Reishi Tincture

I am highlighting the wild reishi tincture that we make as it is a great ally to lean on in the winter times.
When your immune system is needing some wild support from Mother Nature you can count on reishi to nourish and tone your immunity.  These reishi mushrooms used in the tincture were foraged by myself in our local forest nearby.  Ganoderma tsugae grows on Hemlock trees and is one of many "reishi's" revered for it's immunomodulatory effects.

What does immunomodulatory mean?

Some herbs act to boost the immune system, ramping up white blood cell count and putting your system in hyper drive. This is good when you need a boost. Reishi can also have this action. It can have a different effect as well.  The beta-glucans in reishi can modulate the immune system by determing if it needs down regulated in the event of an auto-immune disorder. This is helpful when the immune system is attacking itself.  You wouldn't want something that only activates your immune response as it could increase symptoms of autoimmune disorders..  Immunomodulators are adaptogenic in the sense that the outcome will be different depending on the user.

Known as the “Mushroom of Immortality,” Reishi has a rich legacy as one of the most revered medicinal mushrooms in Traditional Chinese Medicine. Our tincture is crafted exclusively from 100% wild Ganoderma tsugae fruiting bodies, sustainably harvested from hemlock forests of the Eastern U.S. This is not a cultivated or lab-grown extract—this is a true expression of the forest, honoring the energetic, spiritual, and medicinal essence of Reishi in its wild form.

Balance beyond the immune system

Another reason I love reishi is it's help in reducing cortisol in the body.  Cortisol is the stress hormone that has a lot of important functions in the body.  Cortisol is a steroid hormone produced by the adrenal glands that helps regulate various functions in the body, including metabolism, blood sugar levels, inflammation, and the body's response to stress. It plays a crucial role in managing how the body uses carbohydrates, fats, and proteins, and helps control blood pressure and the sleep-wake cycle.

When it is out of whack, it can have a cascade of detrimental effects in our body's system.
Excess cortisol, often referred to as hypercortisolism, can lead to a condition known as Cushing syndrome, which is characterized by symptoms like weight gain, high blood pressure, and changes in mood. It can result from the body producing too much cortisol.  This can be caused by oxidative stress from toxins in our food, homes, environment, and from emotional stress.

Reishi helps me find balance

I am taking the reishi tincture twice a day almost every day, It is such a great ally as a father and business owner. I keep an even keel between reishi, amanita, and my daily (or mostly daily) mindfulness and yoga practice.  It was the first medicinal mushroom I ever tinctured, and I fell in love instantly with it's powerful and calming presence. I wish that for you too!


Thanks for continuing to be a part of the Harmony Acres family! I hope you enjoy these updates, it's great to hear the feedback from you along our journey. Feel free to reply directly to this email! I'll respond when the little ones are napping :)

Thank you and BE BLESSED!
-Michael
Harmony Acres