4 herbs that will help your body become a collagen-making machine

A cool drink that boosts collagen production? Get the recipe.

In the span of a few years, collagen has gone from whispered-about beauty booster to mainstream healthy all-star. The nutrient—which contains 18 amino acids, including eight essential amino acids—does everything from reduce wrinkles, strengthen hair, and improve digestive health.

The only major bummer about collagen is that there are no vegan sources for it. But there are completely plant-based ways to amp up your own internal collagen production. In the latest episode of Well+Good’s YouTube series Plant Based, herbalist and holistic health practitioner Rachelle Robinett gives the low-down on four herbs that work to do exactly that.

One collagen-boosting herb Robinett loves: he shou wu, an ancient Chinese herb. “It’s sometimes called an ‘elixir of life’ and is an ancient remedy that’s best reputation is for preventing or reversing gray hair,” she says. Another herb that plays well with collagen is horsetail. “Horsetail is high in silica, which is supportive of blood vessel creation, tendons, and muscles,” Robinett explains, adding that this is a building block for the production of collagen.

These are just two of the herbs Robinett highlights in the episode. She also shares a recipe for a vegan collagen-boosting lassi, a yogurt-based drink popular in India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh. The silky beauty bev only takes a couple minutes to make and is caffeine-free, so you can sip on it anytime. Check out the episode to see how it’s done and to get more intel on how to boost your collagen the vegan way.

For more tips on living your best plant-based life, check out this guide for living a vegan lifestyle while still getting all the nutrients you need. Plus, the new supplement for the vegan-ish that’s super buzzy right now.