Welcome to the Wellness One-oh-Ones, a digital encyclopedia for all your wellness needs. This series is geared to tackle those everyday questions you secretly ask yourself in wonderment when you hear about a new trend. Instead of pretending to know what people are talking about, come hang with us as we uncover the latest and greatest in the wellness industry. Check back every other Wednesday to pick up your refill — no doctor’s signature required.
In recent years, the fad of drinking has seen a significant decrease. Shockingly, the reasoning isn’t radical: people don’t want to feel sick or hungover after a night of fun, and honestly, I don’t blame them. A few years ago I swapped cocktails for cannabis just like many others, but the issue is that cannabis isn’t legal and isn’t as socially acceptable. So what’s a gal to do when she wants a lifted feeling without the nasty side effects? Enter euphorics. With the help of Jen Batchelor, CEO and co-founder of Kin Euphorics, an up and coming euphorics brand, we got all the information.
How Would You Define a “Euphoric”?
“Euphorics are a new category of adult beverage intended to bring conscious connection to the bar. In a word, they are how they sound – a drink to make you feel something, preferably elevated, connected, and joyful. That said, we chose the word intentionally to honor its original meaning. Euphoros – the root of the word euphoria- literally translates as “to bear wellbeing” or to be “well within.” It’s the perfect metaphor for what happens to something pure over time, we’ve socialized this word to the point of inversion. Euphoria to the modern psychonaut means blitzed or high out of your mind when in fact, it means the opposite. Ecstasis, the more accurate way to describe the kind of high that might come from a drug like molly or even alcohol means to be “outside oneself”. Euphorics do the opposite.”
What Adaptogens Are Included?
“The leading adaptogen in both [Kin prodcuts] is Rhodiola Rosea. This ingredient also drives the rising bliss effect in both, but it doesn’t act alone. The desired effect is a balancing and nourishing of the endocrine system with immediate impact on the ability of the brain to absorb oxygen more efficiently. Rhodiola is known to work at the mitochondrial level, which means that it is nourishing the regenerative system even before a new cell is being created and then assists in building cleaner, stronger cells while helping the body adapt to internal physiological, biological, and emotional stressors as well as external physical and environmental. Sometimes this presents itself as a more clear mind, often it feels like a sense of peace, a softening of the shoulders. It’s different for every individual.”
What Is a Nootropic?
Nootropics is a word used to denote any substance that is proven to enhance cognition in the immediate and long term without the nasty side effects of your household psychotropic or prescription “attention-deficit” drug (think Adderall, Dexedrine).
What am I Supposed to Feel?
“Before describing the feeling, it’ll be helpful for me to point out that euphorics is a brand new category altogether, which means there will eventually be many varieties to choose from. We design for feeling over flavor, so what a euphoric “feels like” will change depending on the mood you’d like to choose for yourself for the occasion. [Our products are designed to feel] like “rising,” which is how we describe the mood elevating nature – very different from an alcohol-induced “drunk,” of course given that ethanol is always a depressant, although it can feel up in the moment. With euphorics, what you don’t feel as important as what you do.
What leads to that subtle rise is the curation (or “stacking”) of ingredients that help to nudge our systems back into homeostasis after a stressful day. It’s not just any one ingredient, and it’s not purely the stack either. Kin uses a proprietary bio-technology that allows us to encapsulate these nutrients in a way that sips like your favorite spirit and is absorbed in a way that is palpable felt as a sign that the brain is receiving this information as they are being assimilated. This is what is known as the entourage effect, and it works better as the word might suggest – when surrounded by others, preferably those that support and love you.”
What Are The Benefits?
“The main benefit of Kin is the ability to reserve your right to consciousness, while still getting to have fun. That’s it. We like to say that we’re not looking to “cure” anything besides perhaps the Sunday Scaries. The ingredients we use are best in class and independently have been known to deliver certain benefits like stress relief, digestion aid, sleep improvement, cognitive enhancement – but we’re not making a medicine. We’re more interested in the entourage effect these ingredients create. This synergy, which is further activated by a bio-technology that we are the first to apply to this type of social libation, is truly what makes the Kin magic. We like leaving some things up to mystery, which is how Mother Nature intended it.”
Are There Any Side Effects to Be Aware Of?
“There are no known side effects with Kin when consumed according to our recommendation on the label. That said, there is always a potential for a consumable to not sit well with someone for one reason or another. There are contraindications listed on our label as well that pertain to MOAI’s and SSRI’s – really any prescription medication is contraindicated as we still don’t know what interactions may occur. Always check with your doc, as they will know your body best.” That being said, Jen also adds that “Kin should be enjoyed responsibly when you’re not pregnant” and that “the FDA sets the number at 18 years old for nootropics, so we do too.”
