Support for the Subtle Body | Your Guide to Plant Essences

In Ayurveda and many other indigenous traditions, plants are recognized as much more than just a source of food and medicine. They are viewed as living beings, vital and conscious, each with a unique spirit or essence of their own. 

Ayurveda calls us back into connection with nature, and the plants offer one doorway through which we can deepen this connection. Plant essences, in particular, provide a powerful tool to invite the energetic gifts of the natural world into our own being.

Delicate yet powerful, plant essences work on an energetic level, supporting emotional, spiritual, and subtle physical well-being.

Formulated by Ayurvedic physician Vasant Lad, BAM&S, MASc, our comprehensive line of Sidha Soma Supreme plant essences are carefully crafted to capture the spirit and vitality of each herb in a gentle, easy-to-use liquid form. 

In this article:

• What Are Plant Essences?
• How Do Plant Essences Work?
• Plant Essences vs. Liquid Extracts
• SSS Plant Essences and Benefits
• How to Use Plant Essences
• The Vibration of Love

What Are Plant Essences?

Plant essences are a unique type of herbal preparation that capture the energetic and vibrational signatures of plants. 

Highly diluted, or potentized, they are prepared in a similar way to flower essences, which are made by infusing flowers in water and preserving the solution with alcohol. Instead of just using the flower, however, plant essences use the whole plant or specific parts of the plant, depending on the intended purpose. 

Through a slow and deliberate process, the herbs are infused and matured over several weeks to preserve their natural potency and the unique energetic qualities of the plant. The final extracts are then diluted to create a balanced preparation that is subtle yet effective. 

This process, also found in homeopathy, is based on the principle that the more a substance is diluted, the more potent it becomes.

Sometimes referred to as vibrational plant essences, these essences are believed to carry the energetic vibration of the plant, rather than its physical constituents. These preparations are excellent tools for working on the subtle, emotional, and energetic levels of the body. They can be used to promote overall well-being throughout the day, or to bring awareness to a particular area of desired support.

How Do Plant Essences Work?

While most of Banyan’s herbal formulas work primarily with the physical body to promote physical well-being, plant essences work on the energetic body to support emotional and spiritual well-being. 

They are thought to enhance the flow of prana throughout the body and harmonize the body's energetic fields, addressing imbalances on a subtle level.

With this said, it’s important to keep in mind that Ayurveda views all levels of the body as intricately connected and interdependent, including the physical, energetic, emotional, and spiritual layers. What happens on one level cannot be separated from the other layers. 

In fact, Ayurveda believes that the energetic, spiritual, and emotional components of our being are often at the root of physical imbalance, and so addressing these layers can have profound and long lasting positive effects. 

In this way, plant essences have the power to support physical well-being, even if their primary action targets the more subtle realms.

Plant Essences vs. Liquid Extracts

If you’re familiar with Banyan products, you may be wondering how the Sidha Soma Supreme plant essences differ from our line of liquid extracts. Especially since some of the individual essences and extracts address similar aspects of health and similar areas of the body.

The main difference, as mentioned above, is that plant essences have an affinity for the subtle body while liquid extracts primarily address physical functions. In addition, the two product types differ in the following ways:

• Plant essences are significantly more diluted (potentized), with a 1:18 herb to alcohol ratio compared to the 1:2 ratio of liquid extracts.
• Plant essences offer gentle and subtle support for emotional and energetic well-being over time, while liquid extracts offer fast-acting support for immediate physical needs. 
• The experience of taking plant essences is often more subtle and gradual compared to liquid extracts. Over time, one may notice a shift towards greater balance and upliftment in their mental or emotional state, a sense of energetic alignment, and a gradual improvement in physical imbalances as a result of restored energetic well-being.

Benefits of the Sidha Soma Plant Essences

Now that you have a basic understanding of plant essences and how they work, let’s take a look at each individual essence and how it supports the body on both a physical and energetic level. Each one of these products was carefully crafted by Ayurvedic physician Vasant Lad, BAM&S, MASc, to bring the loving and supportive energy of the plants into your daily routine.

Deep Love™

Infused with the vibrational energy of shatavari, ashwagandha, and dashamula, Deep Love is crafted to nurture inner peace and harmony. Perfect for those seeking emotional and spiritual balance, it helps soothe feelings of anxiousness, promotes a balanced mood, and cultivates a sense of grounded calm. 

Essential Immune

Featuring the energy of turmeric, osha, and goldenseal, all prized for supporting a healthy immune system, Essential Immune helps to fortify and protect the energetic and physical body. When used regularly, it builds both energetic vitality and physical resilience.

Gentle Triphala

Gentle Triphala is unlike other forms of triphala, Ayurveda's prized three-fruit formula. Harnessing the energy of amla, haritaki, and bibhitaki, Ayurveda's prized three-fruit formula for gut health, this plant essence works on the subtle body to channel prana to the gut, heightening awareness and supporting balanced, healthy digestion.

Liver Cleanser

Infused with the energy of two of Ayurveda’s most cooling and cleansing herbs, neem and kalmegh, Liver Cleanser is an excellent formula for supporting a healthy and happy liver. By promoting a balanced flow of prana in this vital organ, it aids in the gentle and natural removal of toxins while promoting overall health and vitality.

Sweet Memory™

Sweet Memory harnesses the spirits of bhringaraj and akarakara, both traditionally used to support a sharp, clear mind. By enhancing the flow of energy to the mind, the vibrational support of these plants promotes focus, awareness, and a sustained sense of presence. A perfect choice for meditators and anyone wanting to increase cognitive function.

Vital Breath™

Vital Breath features the energy and spirit of pippali, known in Ayurveda for supporting healthy respiratory function and clear, comfortable breathing. By enhancing the body’s absorption of prana, or vital energy, this essence opens up the respiratory pathways for anyone seeking a deeper connection to their breath.

Whole Heart™

Featuring Ayurvedic heart tonics arjuna and punarnava, Whole Heart supports the vitality and well-being of this central organ. The energetic vibration of these two beloved plants promotes a steady and vibrant flow of prana to the heart, supporting healthy physical function as well as an enhanced sense of emotional well-being.

How to Use Plant Essences

Plant essences can be taken consistently over time to build a foundation of well-being, or used for in-the-moment support. They are especially useful for their effects in the subtle and energetic body, and can be called upon during times of stress, grief, or emotional distress. They are also a wonderful tool for enhancing meditation or mindfulness practices.

To use the Sidha Soma plant essences, simply take 5–10 drops under your tongue as needed, up to three times per day, or as directed by your health practitioner. We also invite you to take a moment before taking these essences to state your intention, ask for support, or offer gratitude to the spirit of the plants. 

The Vibration of Love

For thousands of years, Ayurveda has offered a roadmap to enhancing our vitality by deepening our connection with nature. Herbalism has always been an integral part of this process, and the use of plant essences invites the spirits of the plants into our lives in a unique and beautiful way. 

If you are seeking upliftment for the energetic and emotional layers of your being—those layers that are so often at the root of our physical state—the plants are here to support you.

As you build a relationship with plant essences, know that you are welcoming the most loving vibrations of the plant spirits into your being to unlock greater awareness, alignment, and upliftment on every level of your being.