Tea to Help with Blood Sugar

I love getting muscle tested for a personalized tea blend at the Healing Arts Tea Bar. It is the holiday season and with that comes more treats so having a tea specifically to lower blood sugar can be helpful.  There are 8 specific teas we test for that can lower blood sugar.  When we make a personalized blend people usually test for 3 different teas that we then blend together before putting in the tea bag and serving.

If you don’t test for teas to help with blood sugar you may test for other ones.  We have over 25 different organic teas from around the world! Our tea menu is different than anything you have ever seen before.  We have the teas listed and you can pick one and enjoy it either stay at the tea bar or take it to go but what is different is on the back of the menu is a list of symptoms and you can choose the symptom you want to work on and then get muscle tested for which 3 herbs your body needs.  So you don't choose your tea but your body does!

Besides getting a cup of hot tea we can also make a container for you of your personalized blend that is 12 servings. Here is the list of teas we have that can help balance your blood sugar:

Black tea-Digestion, blood sugar, lowers cholesterol, brain health, heart health, improves blood pressure

Cinnamon- Blood sugar, anti inflammatory, lower cholesterol Robots

Nettle-Blood sugar, anti-inflammatory, pain relief 

Holy Basil/Tulsi - Digestion, blood sugar, anti-inflammatory, lower cholesterol, brain health, immunity booster, weight loss support, skin support, respiratory support, eye support, detox 

Marshmallow Root- Digestion, blood sugar, acid reflux, immunity booster, weight loss, women’s health, skin support, anti-aging, constipation, detox, liver support pain relief, heart support

Ginger  - Digestion, anti-inflammatory, lower cholesterol, brain health, immunity booster, weight loss, women’s health, pain relief, heart support, blood sugar

Green tea  - Heart support, anti-aging, weight loss support, immune support, brain health, anti-inflammatory, blood sugar

What Teas are Good for Digestion

I have loved switching to iced tea at the Healing Arts Tea Bar this summer.  We have found a way to do personalized iced tea for your enjoyment and have loved the feedback from everyone, especially on our digestion tea blends.  Whether it's indigestion, bloating, IBS, constipation etc. using tea as medicine can really help especially if taken on a daily basis.  Food is medicine and I enjoy tea so much that I forget that it can actually help your body too.

Our tea menu is different than anything you have ever seen before.  Yes, we have the teas listed and you can pick one and enjoy it to either stay at the tea bar or take it to go but what is different is on the back of the menu is a list of symptoms and you can choose the symptom you want to work on and then get muscle tested for which 3 herbs your body needs.  So you don't choose your tea but your body does!

Besides getting a cup of iced or hot tea we can also make a container for you of your personalized blend that is 12 servings. Before opening the Tea Bar we experimented for months and came up with some great blends when muscle testing for helping digestion.  Here is the list of teas we have that can help your gut and other things as well.

Bergamot    Digestion, lowers cholesterol, brain health, acid reflux, immunity booster, energy booster, weight loss, skin support, constipation, hydrates

Black Tea    Digestion, blood sugar, lowers cholesterol, brain health, heart health, improves blood pressure 

Cat's Claw   Digestion, brain health, immune support, improves blood pressure

Earl Grey     Digestion, brain health, immune booster, energy booster, weight loss, hydrates, skin support

Echinacea    Immune booster, respiratory health, digestion, anti-inflammatory, brain health, skin, anti-aging

Fennel          Digestion, weight loss, immunity booster, energy booster, women’s health, respiratory health, eye support, detox, improves blood pressure, diuretic 

Ginger          Digestion, anti-inflammatory, lower cholesterol, brain health, immunity booster, weight loss, women’s health, pain relief, heart support

Holy Basil    Digestion, blood sugar, anti-inflammatory, lower cholesterol, brain health, immunity booster, weight loss support, skin support, respiratory support, eye support, detox

Jasmine       Liver support, relaxation, brain health, digestion

Marshmallow Root Digestion, blood sugar, acid reflux, immunity booster, weight loss, women’s health, skin support anti-aging, constipation, detox, liver support pain relief, heart support

Mugwort      Diuretic, women’s health, energy booster, brain health, digestion

Peppermint Digestion, respiratory, anti-inflammatory, brain health, pain relief, sleep support, women’s health, weight loss, skin support, immune support, relaxation, brain health

Rose            Hydrates, respiratory support, skin support, sleep support, women’s health, immunity booster, brain health, digestion 

Turmeric      Pain relief, eye support, immunity booster, brain health, lower cholesterol, anti-inflammatory (for more on turmeric, click here)

We also have blends to help inflammation, energy, women’s health, brain health, high blood pressure and more.  So if you haven’t tried a personalized tea blend yet you must at your next visit!

Herbal Teas for Better Gut Health

I help a lot of people with gut issues that include people having trouble with constipation, diarrhea, acid reflux, IBS, malabsorption and bloating.  It seems that no matter what the gut issue is if I help that patient reduce inflammation that is irritating the gut the body tends to heal itself given the right nutrition.  One of the things I use in order to reduce inflammation and heal the gut is to suggest to my patients to drink teas.  The top 4 teas that help my patients reduce inflammation while healing the gut are fennel, ginger, marshmallow root and peppermint.  

Fennel tea is great to help the body digest.  It tastes a little like licorice.  It can relieve constipation and is known to prevent stomach ulcers.  It also has anti-inflammatory properties due to its high level of antioxidants which the body needs to fight harmful things you ingest like bacteria, plastics that leach from food containers, or aluminum that food absorbed from foil.  

Ginger is a great tea to drink if you have an upset stomach for any reason.  Ginger tea is also good for preventing or stopping nausea. Drinking ginger tea is useful in improving digestion and increasing absorption of food.  Drink ginger tea when feeling bloated after eating too much.  It has such strong anti-inflammatory properties that drinking tea can also help reduce inflammation in other parts of the body including joints, head and uterus so it’s good for arthritis, headaches and menstrual cramps.  

Marshmallow root tea is very soothing for the gut.   It reduces inflammation of the stomach lining and even heals stomach ulcers. It creates a protective lining in the digestive tract, thereby treating leaky gut syndrome and soothing acid reflux. Marshmallow root also helps individuals suffering from inflammatory bowel diseases like Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.

Drinking peppermint tea is a good way to balance pH levels and promote a healthy blood flow throughout the body.  In this way peppermint tea reduces inflammation not only in the gut but also your joints.  Peppermint tea is also good for nausea.

It is best to drink the loose leaf, organic version of any of these teas at any time of day.  Steep one teaspoon of tea in 6 ounces of hot water for at least 3 minutes.  

Immune Boosting Tonic

Here is a powerful all natural antiviral recipe that became my favorite remedy during cold and flu season over the last 5 years. This immune boosting tonic recipe is quite easy to make. It’s a garlic, ginger, lemon, honey remedy that’s suitable for the entire family, including kids!  Aids digestion and promotes detoxification too.

Ingredients:

• 2 small fresh lemons (~1/2 cup) – (with the skin or not, cut into large chunks)

• 1/2 cup fresh ginger – (peeled, cut into chunks)

• 1/2 cup fresh garlic cloves – (peeled)

• 1/2 cup raw organic Manuka honey

Instructions:Add all ingredients roughly chopped in a blender, pulsing for a few seconds until everything turns into a paste.

The mixture contains not only the juice but also the fibers from the whole fruit/vegetable which makes it even more beneficial for your gut microbiome.
This immune boosting tonic is best taken on an empty stomach in the morning and/or half an hour before meals or before going to bed.

As a preventive measure you can take one or two teaspoons per day based on personal requirement.

If you are in the middle of fighting a cold or an acute infection take 1 teaspoon every 3-4 hours.

The benefits of this tonic are best experienced if used regularly. 

Storage:

Store the immune boosting tonic in a seal-able glass container in the fridge. The longer its sits in the fridge the more potent it gets.

Great Apple Cider Vinegar Drink

Fire Cider  

I give a very specific apple cider vinegar drink frequently to patients to help change the pH of their system and in this way it can help with joint pain, improve digestion, help with weight loss, kill candida and more.  To read more about apple cider vinegar and this medicinal drink, click here.

I now want to take the time to share with you another type of medicinal apple cider vinegar drink called Phoenix Rising Fire Elixir.  It is made by a farm in New Paltz, NY called Tweefontein.  It is a very spicy tonic that includes Organic Apple Cider Vinegar, Horseradish, Garlic, Ginger, Onion, Turmeric, Paprika, Cayenne, Pure Raw & Unfiltered Honey.  The tonic is so highly concentrated that all you need is a tablespoon diluted in warm water.   If spicy food is not your thing then stick with my recipe for this is only for the brave.  The good news is you can dilute it to any concentration you can handle.  
I like how the drink is pre-made so all you have to add is water.  It's more medicinal if you add the juice of 1/2 a lime.  Also, I like Fire Elixir because with the ginger, garlic and onion it will boost your immune system for sure!

DIY Remedy for Boosting the Immune System

This winter season has been brutal on our immune systems.  Even people who never get sick through the flu season are sniffling, courageously fighting whatever germs come their way.  Here is my favorite remedy to make when starting to feel under the weather.

Why this home remedy for cough and cold works:

This recipes contains the best things for you to fight a cold or flu naturally:
Lemon: High in vitamin C, which keeps the immune system strong and neutralizes the free radicals in your body. This reduced the inflammation and swelling.

Ginger: Helps you sweat out the toxins in your body, which is helpful when you have a cold or flu. Ginger is also helpful for settling upset stomachs, dizziness, nausea, vomiting and cold sweats.

Garlic:  Rich in antioxidants, vitamin B6, vitamin C, and manganese. A recent study on the antibacterial and antiviral properties of garlic shows that it can help boost the immune system. This means that garlic can help reduce the occurrence and the severity of the symptoms of a cold and shorten the recovery period as well. Garlic may also help with congestion in the sinuses by reducing inflammation in the nasal passages. 

Manuka Honey: Soothes a sore throat, making it an effective and natural cough suppressant. This improves the body's ability to fight infection and decreases the risk of fevers. The natural sweetness of honey also balances the tartness of the lemon and the ginger's and garlic's spice in this concoction.  Read this to learn more about Manuka honey. 

You can make this immunity boosting, body soothing concoction ahead of time and store in the fridge. I usually keep my mixture for about two months, and then make a new batch.

INGREDIENTS

• 2 lemons thoroughly cleaned
• 2 piece fresh ginger about the size of your pointer and middle finger togehter
• Manuka honey
• 4 cloves of garlic
• 12 oz mason jar

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Slice lemons and ginger. Chop garlic.
2. Place the lemon, garlic and ginger slices in the mason jar, alternating layers of each.
3. Slowly, pour honey over the lemon and ginger. Allow the honey to sink down and around the lemon and ginger slices. Fill jar to the top with honey and seal tightly.
4. Store in the refrigerator. Over time, the mixture will start to turn into a loose jelly.
5. When you are in need of some soothing tea, scoop 2-3 tablespoons into a mug full of hot water—be sure to scoop whole pieces of garlic, ginger and lemon. Allow to steep for 3-4 minutes and sip away.

got milk? 8 Reasons to start Drinking Golden Milk and How to Make It

Having recently written about turmeric helping with weight loss I wanted to talk more about the health benefits of turmeric because there is so much more!  It was in that blog I talked about taking turmeric pills in order to have high doses of curcumin, which is the main anti-inflammatory ingredient in turmeric.  Turmeric can be used in cooking, especially Indian dishes.  It can easily be added to a healthy shake as well.  I wrote how it can be used in a health drink with apple cider vinegar here and now I am going to talk about its health benefits and making another delicious healthy drink called golden milk.  For all my nondairy drinkers out there, don't worry, you can use seed or nut milk as well.  My favorite way to make golden milk is with coconut milk.  But first, here are 8 reasons to start adding it in to your diet:

1. Turmeric milk helps build immunity
2. Helps sleep
3. It is a good remedy for digestive problems.
4. It supports the liver.
5. Helps fight cancer
6. Clarifies the skin.
7. Gives relief from autoimmune diseases
8. Good for fighting Alzheimer's disease

When adding it to your diet you need to know that adding black pepper to it helps turmeric become more bioavailable.  Which is another way of saying your body can absorb more turmeric if you add black pepper with it.  Drinking golden milk before bed can help sleep because turmeric reduces inflammation, lowers your blood sugar levels, helps your liver to detoxify, boosts your immune system and eases your digestive system – all of which help you to get to sleep faster, to sleep better, and to wake up feeling refreshed.

How do you make golden milk?
Serves 2

Ingredients

• ½ cup warm water
• 1 cup coconut milk (or any milk you prefer)
• 2 tsp turmeric powder
• 2 tsp virgin coconut oil
• ½ inch ginger knob, peeled and grated
• 1/4 tsp. black pepper or 2 black peppercorns, crushed
• ½ tsp cinnamon powder
• ½ tsp nutmeg powder
• ¼ tsp cardamom powder
• *Optional 2 tsp raw organic honey or pure maple syrup for the vegan version

Preparation

1. Whisk coconut milk, cinnamon, turmeric, ginger, honey, coconut oil, black pepper, and 1/2 cup water in a small saucepan; bring to a low boil. Reduce heat and simmer until flavors have melded, about 10 minutes.
2. Do Ahead. Golden milk can be made 5 days ahead and reheated.

Golden milk powder with the exact ratios of spice can be bought at the office or here.  Just add a teaspoon to simmering coconut milk or almond milk and you're done!

A great place to buy a golden milk latte with almost any type of milk you want is at Dr. Smood with the closest one to the office being on Lexington Ave at 47th St.  

              

Wellblends: Organic Auyrveda Products

I have a high respect for Auyrveda medicine. It originated in India more than 3,000 years ago and remains one of the country’s traditional health care systems. Its concepts about health and disease promote the use of herbal compounds, special diets, and other unique health practices which sounds exactly like my office!

Auyrveda medicine use herbs that include tumeric, clove, ginger, cayenne and many others. I use tumeric as an anti-inflammatory, clove for it's anti-oxidants, ginger helps settle an upset stomach, and cayenne helps increase metabolism and kill parasites. Many times over I have given these herbs in supplement form or asked patients to include them in their diet. I have not found an Auryveda line of supplements that have met my standards until now and I'm excited to share it with you!



Wellblends is organic and muscle tests extremely well. I have used it on myself, my family and a few of you have gotten sample packets as well to try and I love the results. For me, when using Wellblends I have a greater sense of well being and the moment I started feeling under the weather GOLDEN MILK- WELLNESS BOOSTING BLEND was wonderful at keeping my immune system strong to ward off what I started feeling.

Directions for Golden Milk:
Combine 1 tsp of the herbal powder with one cup of almond milk or cashew milk. Bring the milk and spices to a boil. Remove from heat and sip. This blend helps to reduce inflammation, fight free radicals, reduce the results of aging, improve circulation, curb cravings, calm the mind and improve sleep. Drink this elixir nightly. Kids will love it too! Once the liquid cools to room temperature verses pipping hot, you can choose to add a dab of honey for extra sweetness.

With all those benefits how can you not try it!

To check this product out and much more go to:

www.wellblends.com

Drink Switchel!

When it comes to health food I'm always trying new things partly due to curiosity and partly for new suggestions for my patients. I just blogged about using warm water and lemon for constipation and adding apple cider vinegar if you know you have a candida health issue. Here's a twist on the apple cider vinegar drink. SWITCHEL!!! So, before you read any further, I'm warning you now that if you don't like ginger then no need to try this drink but if you like ginger like I do then definitely try this.

It is a mixture of grade A maple syrup, raw apple cider vinegar and fresh ginger root. It has that spicy hotness of the ginger and yet sweet with the maple syrup. The back label says it all: ginger is an awesome anti-inflammatory and bug killer. Whether you are fighting bacteria, viruses, parasites, or fungus ginger will kill them all! Apple cider vinegar is rich in enzymes and helps balance blood pH. Maple syrup is not only sweet but has tons of minerals and antioxidants.

With only three ingredients mixed with water you may want to try to make it at home but first try the real Switchel. I found it at DF MAVENS, 37 St. Marks Place, New York, NY 10003
But you can also find it at www.drinkswitchel.com
Drink up!!!

Are Parasites Causing you Harm?

Dr. Oz says that 90% of Americans will have a parasite problem at some point in their lifetime. We, at Healing Arts NYC, tend to agree.

One of the most undiagnosed condition in America is parasites. The various statistics I have seen show that anywhere from 30% to 90% of Americans have parasites. Parasites can cause seemingly random symptoms in various organs of the body, with various degrees of severity. Some symptoms of parasites are the source of great agony, and some are barely noticeable. The most common symptoms are clenching or grinding of the teeth or jaw, bowel discomfort and anal itching. Read through this article to get more of an idea if you might be affected by parasites.

Parasites can be big, like tapeworms: fifteen feet long. They can also be single-celled; only visible with a microscope. They can live anywhere in the body; in the sinuses, around the ears, in the heart and, of course, the intestines. But don't worry, for in my experience, all parasites are treatable and once gone give patients a lot of symptomatic relief.

One of my colleagues grew up in a family of butchers. He could see which cows were sick just by cutting the jaw muscles. Upon slicing the jaw muscles of the sick cows, parasite eggs could be seen. This is a common reason why people grind their teeth at night--because parasites inhabit the jaw muscles. Jaw grinding happens primarily at night when parasites are more active.
Not all parasites lay eggs but some do. The eggs hatch around the time of the full moon, give or take four days. When they hatch, it makes people act crazy. This is why police, teachers and emergency room doctors dread full moons--they will be busier.

In our office, we have seen parasites cause psoriasis, heart problems, constipation, diarrhea, muscle weakness, floaters in the eyes, junk food cravings, excessive appetite, allergies and depression. Many people who complete a parasite program report not only symptomatic relief but also that they are happier and enjoy the company of others more.

To get rid of parasites, Mother Nature has provided us with certain plants. In Japan, people use wasabi (with sushi) and in Mexico, it's hot peppers. In India, people use curry and turmeric to stay free of parasites. Many cultures throughout the world do a parasite cleanse every six months or once a year. The World Health organization recognizes Wormwood as an effective herb to kill parasites. When worms die, they can cause intestinal cramping, pain, diarrhea or constipation. In the toilet, the worms often look like angel hair pasta with a frayed end. They could be a few millimeters long to six inches long. One of my clinician friends had a patient who excreted a two foot roundworm.

To kill egg-laying parasites, it is necessary to take the herbs for ten days, then stop them for five days. This is because for ten days you are killing the "mother" parasite. It releases a chemical that prevents the eggs from hatching. When the mother is dead, the eggs start to hatch. Let them hatch for five days, then start back on the herbs. If you don't, the baby parasites will fight each other to become the next dominant worm. Cycle the program like this for 2 to 3 months. I have had many clients do a parasite program that they picked up at the health food store. I have never seen one of these work, primarily because there is no cycling of the herbs. The herbs may also be ineffective even when cycled properly because they may not be the correct herbs to target the specific parasite a person has. Certain herbs are more effective for certain parasites, and we can discern which herbs are appropriate via muscle testing. Parasites that do not lay eggs do not require cycling of the herbs.

Parasites are largely ignored by the medical profession. I have heard a lot of M.D.'s dismiss the topic by saying, "We don't have parasites in this country." Truthfully, the University of Michigan Parasitology Department identifies 100 parasites a day! I am amazed at the number of people who have health problems from parasites.

The sneaky thing about parasites is that out of more than 1,000 different kinds of parasites that can infect us, we can only detect about 50 of them through regular medical testing. The other 950+ can be found only through alternative methods of testing like Nutrition Response Testing. To be sure that you are free of parasites, call the office and asked to be checked. Bring your family as well, because we often share parasites with each other and our pets.