1 pinch chinese ginseng
1 pinch american ginseng
2 grams comfrey
0.5-1 whole reishi mushroom
1 gram calamus root
2 grams gingko biloba
Toss all of the above save gingko and comfrey into about 3 cups of water, and let soak overnight. In particular, Reishi mushroom takes a while to soak. Come back in the morning and add gingko and comfrey. Heat on low until boiling. Strain and enjoy. Both forms of ginseng are generally pretty pricey and can be reused several times before the wear is out.
As a side note, reishi and astragalus root are both excellent qi builders, although I haven't included astragalus in this recipe.
This tea should give you a nice boost through the rest of the day. If fresh gingko is used, then be prepared for a super vasodilating effect.
On the suggestion of comfrey, I decided to look into Calamus Root for a variety of reasons. I went to the herbal store and grabbed a big bagload of assorted herbs and roots. Calamus was interesting because it's reported effects as an erogenous drug. My first brew of it was a lighter dose, mixed with ginseng, reishi, and comfrey. All throughout the day, my nipples pirked up, and I felt generally pretty erotically charged.
Then, as I tossed around the idea of a stronger brew, I went over to erowid to see any other trip reports. What I found was a mix of either pleasant mild MDMA like trips or horrible puking. Curious.
If you ever wish to try it, do NOT take ANY dairy or MAO product at all that day.
Here's my trip entry:
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9pm: began calamus root tea by soaking ~15 grams of calamus and 1 gram of American ginseng
8am: 20 minutes low heat brew until boiling
8:30am: down the hatch
9am: off to work, minor stomach quibbles on the freeway up
9:30am: enter BART, feel incredibly kinky, and take several minutes in the car to generally rub myself in erogenous joy until passerbys in the parking lot interrupt.
9:35am: color sensations on heightened, and world is slightly speedy
9:50am: walking to work, waves of nausea wash over me
11:00am: VERY horny, flooded with sexual thoughts. However, the nausea is also VERY strong, and I have a couple of almost puking instances. I haven't eaten anything and have trouble with drinking water. colors as if on mild psycholitic lsd dose.
12pm: bitching on IRC about how pukey I feel and how I just to go home. IRC colors very pretty.
2pm: nausea subsiding, but *really* hungry
2:30pm: nausea subsided enough that I can eat a salad with no dairy and keep it down.
5pm to 10pm: nausea continues with mild erogenous effects. Speedy effects throughout the day have worn me out, and I fall asleep around 10pm.
While the mild euphoric effect was fun, and the colors lasted for a good day after I took it, the smell of calamus root is still conjuring up nausea :(. Good for a one time shot.