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The ELXR CRAFT Team
Michael Sage
Founder of ELXR CRAFT
Michael Sage is the founder of ELXR CRAFT and a longtime student of tea, herbalism, and functional beverage culture. His work sits at the intersection of ancient wellness traditions and modern café life, guided by a belief that truly effective products must honor lineage, quality, and lived experience rath
Michael Sage
Founder of ELXR CRAFT
Michael Sage is the founder of ELXR CRAFT and a longtime student of tea, herbalism, and functional beverage culture. His work sits at the intersection of ancient wellness traditions and modern café life, guided by a belief that truly effective products must honor lineage, quality, and lived experience rather than trends or shortcuts.
Michael’s journey began through years of hands on immersion in tea culture, tonic herbs, and traditional preparation methods. Deeply influenced by ceremonial tea practices and classical herbal philosophy, he developed a respect for the intelligence of plants and the importance of how they are sourced, prepared, and shared. This foundation shaped his approach to wellness as something relational, intentional, and integrated into daily life.
As the founder of Wild Tea Leaf Organic Teahouse in Santa Barbara, Michael has spent years working directly within café culture, refining how ancient traditions can be presented in a modern, accessible way. His experience operating a physical teahouse has given him firsthand insight into consumer education, beverage workflow, ingredient integrity, and the realities of scaling wellness offerings without compromising quality.
ELXR CRAFT was created to address a clear gap Michael observed in the beverage world. While interest in functional drinks continued to grow, many offerings relied on isolated ingredients, vague sourcing, or marketing driven formulations. Michael envisioned a platform that would allow cafés, coffee shops, and teahouses to transform everyday drinks into true elixirs using precision formulated herbal extracts rooted in traditional wisdom and supported by modern systems.
As founder, Michael serves as the steward of ELXR CRAFT’s vision, culture, and long term direction. His leadership emphasizes patience, discernment, and disciplined execution, ensuring that the company grows responsibly while remaining deeply aligned with its values.
At the heart of Michael’s work is the belief that wellness should be woven into daily rituals rather than positioned as a separate or extreme pursuit. Through ELXR CRAFT, he is committed to restoring trust in functional beverages, honoring the depth of herbal traditions, and creating offerings that are both practical and meaningful in the modern world.
Rehmannia Dean Thomas
Herbal Lineage and Formulation Advisor to ELXR CRAFT
Rehmannia Dean Thomas is a widely respected herbalist and educator, known for his lifelong dedication to the study, practice, and preservation of traditional Chinese tonic herbalism. His work is rooted in decades of hands on learning, transmission, and refinement of
Rehmannia Dean Thomas
Herbal Lineage and Formulation Advisor to ELXR CRAFT
Rehmannia Dean Thomas is a widely respected herbalist and educator, known for his lifelong dedication to the study, practice, and preservation of traditional Chinese tonic herbalism. His work is rooted in decades of hands on learning, transmission, and refinement of classical herbal systems, with a particular emphasis on long term vitality, balance, and resilience.
A longtime student of Ron Teeguarden, and deeply influenced by Taoist herbal philosophy, Rehmannia received teachings that emphasized the Gate of Life not simply as a medical concept, but as a foundational principle governing vitality, constitutional strength, and the intelligent use of tonic herbs over time. This perspective prioritizes energetic integrity, moderation, and harmony rather than symptom management or short term stimulation.
Within this lineage, Rehmannia was recognized for his unusual depth of understanding and his ability to grasp the Gate of Life as a living principle rather than a theoretical construct. While many modern practitioners are trained primarily through standardized medical or institutional frameworks, his education emphasized direct transmission, experiential insight, and long term observation. This approach reflects an older mode of learning that has become increasingly rare.
Rehmannia’s work acknowledges that true elders of these principles are few, whether in the West or in China, where much of contemporary training has been shaped by modern medical standardization. Rather than positioning himself as an authority over others, he has consistently approached this responsibility with humility, seeing his role as one of stewardship and preservation rather than ownership.
Throughout his career, Rehmannia has been respected for his ability to translate ancient herbal wisdom into a modern context without diluting its depth or integrity. His teachings return repeatedly to the fundamentals of tonic herbalism, including proper ratios, compatibility, ethical sourcing, and the importance of relationship with herbs cultivated over time rather than reliance on isolated compounds or trends.
As a guiding advisor to ELXR CRAFT, Rehmannia serves as a steward of herbal integrity and lineage. He provides insight into formulation balance, herb interactions, and the energetic structure of complex blends, helping ensure that each elixir is designed for sustained use and real world integration. His guidance supports ELXR CRAFT in remaining grounded in true herbal medicine while operating within modern beverage culture.
At the heart of Rehmannia’s work is the understanding that the Gate of Life is not a concept to be claimed, but a principle to be honored, protected, and transmitted with care. Through his ongoing mentorship, he helps ELXR CRAFT uphold a standard of respect for the past, responsibility in the present, and reverence for the future of herbal medicine.
Michael "Piercing Eagle"
Commercial Strategy and Sales Advisor
Michael Piercing Eagle is a seasoned executive and strategic advisor with decades of experience guiding mission driven brands through national growth. Best known for his role as former Vice President of Sales at Balance Bar, Michael played a key role in scaling the company into
Michael "Piercing Eagle"
Commercial Strategy and Sales Advisor
Michael Piercing Eagle is a seasoned executive and strategic advisor with decades of experience guiding mission driven brands through national growth. Best known for his role as former Vice President of Sales at Balance Bar, Michael played a key role in scaling the company into a respected national brand, developing deep expertise in sales leadership, distributor relationships, retail strategy, pricing, and long term value creation.
Beyond his professional accomplishments, Michael brings a rare depth of personal discipline and embodied intelligence to his work. He has maintained a lifelong dedication to martial arts, music, and the Feldenkrais Method, practices that have profoundly shaped his approach to leadership, learning, and human performance. These disciplines inform his ability to listen deeply, respond with precision, and move through complexity with clarity and adaptability.
Michael’s background in martial arts has cultivated patience, focus, and respect for process, reinforcing the importance of steady progression over force. His relationship with music reflects a sensitivity to rhythm, timing, and collaboration, qualities that translate naturally into effective team leadership and market strategy. Through decades of study and practice of the Feldenkrais Method, he has developed a refined understanding of awareness, efficiency, and the intelligence of natural systems, principles he applies both personally and professionally.
As an advisor to ELXR CRAFT, Michael supports disciplined go to market strategy, sustainable sales growth, and thoughtful scaling. His guidance helps ensure that commercial execution remains aligned with integrity, culture, and long term vision. He brings a balanced perspective that values results without sacrificing humanity, and growth without losing coherence.
Michael’s presence within ELXR CRAFT reflects a belief that the most enduring companies are built not only on strong strategy, but on awareness, adaptability, and respect for the intelligence inherent in both people and systems.
Savannah Hughes
Creative and Cultural Advisor
Savannah Hughes is a professional drummer, percussionist, and educator whose work bridges rhythm, ritual, and embodied learning. Alongside her career in the percussive arts, she has spent years studying tea culture and tonic herbalism, developing a nuanced understanding of how rhythm, timing, an
Savannah Hughes
Creative and Cultural Advisor
Savannah Hughes is a professional drummer, percussionist, and educator whose work bridges rhythm, ritual, and embodied learning. Alongside her career in the percussive arts, she has spent years studying tea culture and tonic herbalism, developing a nuanced understanding of how rhythm, timing, and intention shape both music and wellness.
As a performing artist, Savannah has toured nationally and internationally, and as an educator she has dedicated herself to teaching the percussive arts with an emphasis on listening, presence, and connection. Her approach reflects a deep respect for tradition while remaining fluid and responsive, qualities that naturally align with the philosophy of ELXR CRAFT.
Savannah’s studies of tea and tonic herbalism inform her understanding of daily ritual, energetic balance, and the subtle intelligence of natural systems. She recognizes that wellness is not only about formulation or function, but about how practices are integrated into life with care and awareness. This perspective allows her to engage with ELXR CRAFT not only as a product line, but as a living expression of culture and intention.
Within the ELXR CRAFT team, Savannah brings a grounding and intuitive yin energy that complements the structural and strategic elements of the company. She offers insight into rhythm and flow, supporting harmony within the team and helping ensure that creative expression, education, and integrity remain central as the company grows.
Savannah’s presence reflects the belief that true balance arises from the integration of strength and softness, structure and spontaneity, action and listening. Through her artistic discipline and herbal studies, she helps ELXR CRAFT remain rooted in authenticity, creativity, and mindful engagement with the world.
