Detox Foot Baths

Detox Foot Baths

Foot detoxes are becoming more and more popular as a way to rid the body of any harmful toxins. I purchased one and have been using it since 2006 and since it's popularity and patients asking about it I purchased one for the office now as well! Potential toxins can range from using aluminum foil, impurities in the air, to chemicals in your home and beauty products. If you're curious about what a foot detox is and if it can help you, here's what you need to know. 
A detox foot bath is a specific machine that helps to pull toxins out of the body through the feet by putting ions in the water of which your feet are soaking in.  These ions are a positive charge. The positive charge attracts the negatively charged toxins in your body. The ions in the foot bath water hold a charge that enables them to bind to any heavy metals and toxins in your body, similar to how a magnet works. This allows the toxins to be pulled out through the bottoms of your feet. 

As one goes through a foot detox the water will change color depending on the toxins being pulled out.  Water will change color even without your feet in the water due to the impurities in water but it will change differently.  I have seen successive foot baths done on a number of people with the water all looking different as an end result.  Colors and effects of the water that one may see depends on what is being detoxed from the body:

Black or blue flecks - heavy metals
white flecks - fungus/yeast
color changing orange - toxins from joints
oily bubbles - toxins from lymphatic system

Most everyone, except for pregnant women and those with open sores or an infection on their feet, can benefit from doing a foot detox bath.  It can be beneficial if you are experiencing athlete's foot, arthritis, allergies, chronic pain, chemical sensitivities, autoimmune disease, edema, inflammation and psoriasis.  The number and frequency of foot detox baths varies for everyone and will be determined with your practitioner.  There are quite a few ionic foot bath machines.  After all my research there are only two machines I have experience with and know get good results, KiScience Advanced Hydrogen Detox Foot Spa and EB Pro Foot Bath.  They now have foot detox pads which I don't have experience with but if you do please share!  If you are interested in doing a foot detox bath in the office it takes about 25 minutes and costs $55.  To learn more: https://healingartsnyc.com/footbath

Health Benefits of

Diatomaceous Earth

Food grade diatomaceous earth (DE) is a white powder that is almost entirely made of silica.  Silica is a mineral that is already in our body and is an important component of our  ligaments, cartilage, and muscles. When taken as a supplement DE may help to absorb mercury, E. coli, parasites, viruses, pesticide, radiation, drug residues and other toxins.

The only cautionary side effect that we have found relating to food grade diatomaceous earth has to do with direct inhalation and is essentially the same caution that is advised when handling any fine powder. Diatomaceous Earth is a very fine powder. 

Food Grade Diatomaceous Earth is 89% Silica.  It was established in the 1940s that life can’t exist without Silica. More recently, in her book “Water & Salt” Dr. Barbara Hendel states: “Silica is the most important trace element in human health.” Silica plays an important role in many bodily functions and has a direct relationship to mineral absorption.

Yet most people are, in fact, silica deficient.  We carry around 90mcgs of silica per 1 gram of hair we have on our bodies and we carry around 100mcgs of silica per 1 gram of bone.  Silica is in all of our connective tissue and it is so very important to include this mineral in our diets. Silica is mostly found in the fiber portions of whole grains, and the skins of fruits and vegetables.

Among other things, enough silica in the body is vital for calcium absorption to allow calcium supplements to work.

Reported Health Benefits of Silica / Diatomaceous Earth Include:

1. Maintaining Healthy Blood Pressure Levels
2. Maintaining Healthy Cholesterol Levels
3. Better Calcium Utilization for help with Osteoporosis and Healthier Joints
4. Stimulates Weight Loss
5. Improvement in Hair, Nails, Teeth & Gums
6. More Energy

According to Kayla T. Daniel, PhD, CCN and Galen D. Knight, PhD in their article “Mad as a Hatter” there is no better product to detox heavy metals and radiation from your body than with Food Grade Diatomaceous Earth!

Take diatomaceous earth daily on an empty stomach. I recommend starting small and slowly working your way up to a higher dose; begin with a teaspoon added to at least 12 ounces of liquid. Mix vigorously and drink immediately.  Some people don't like the mildly chalky flavor and gritty texture. If that describes you, try adding DE to a drink with more flavor (milk, orange juice, coffee, smoothies) or to light foods like yogurt, oatmeal, or applesauce.

As your body begins to detox, you may experience what is commonly known as "die off," which sometimes gives people mild flu-like symptoms for a couple days. This is a side effect of toxins leaving your body, not a side effect of DE itself. You can counteract these symptoms by increasing your fluid consumption, as well as reducing your DE dose for a couple days.

For gum health, because DE is one of the most nourishing substances for your gums, as your gums are connective tissue, which needs silica. To use it, mix 1 heaping tablespoon with water into a paste consistency. Pack it into your gums overnight after you brushed your teeth. Your gums will absorb the diatomaceous earth.  

If you have other ideas on how to use DE please share!

Healthy Coffee Alternative

HEALTHY AND DELICIOUS

COFFEE ALTERNATIVE 

Topinambour Coffee

Topnambour Coffee is a coffee alternative specially formulated with a roasted and grounded a unique  nutrition blend of roots, beans, seeds, nuts and dry fruits that will help you to wake up and feel more energized.

Topinambour (Jerusalem artichoke) root contains inulin, iron, potassium, and is rich in vitamin C and B1. It also has a very low glycemic index. These features make the topinambour products a great support for diabetics. The addition of dandelion, which is also often a component of anti-diabetic compounds, strengthens the action of topinambour and causes the product to stimulate and detoxify and regulate digestion.

Topinambour coffee is one of better caffeine-free substitutes of natural coffee.  If it hasn’t appeared in your cup yet, maybe it’s worth trying out. If not for its interesting taste as well as scent, then maybe for its medicinal properties. Ingredients include Roasted Organic Topinambour Root; Organic Chicory root; Organic Dandelion Root; Organic Figs; Organic Dates; Organic Carob; Cardamom; Cinnamon and Cloves.

This remarkable drink is also an interesting way to add some variety when having a friend over.  Also, unlike coffee, it can be used not only by adults – children can also drink it!

Try it next time you are at the office or order it now by emailing help@healingartsnyc.com. One package is $14 and makes 20 cups.  

                                   

How to Relieve a Headache Naturally

It’s been a long day, you’re sitting in front of the computer, and the next thing you know…You’ve got a pounding headache.

Headaches affect MILLIONS of Americans.  Many patients come to my office wanting to work on their sleep or digestion and when I ask about headaches they say, "Oh, yeah, I have that too."  It can happen so frequently and for so long that people think headaches are normal.  You need to know you don't have to live with them and that they aren't normal.  It's the body's way of signaling that there's something wrong.  It's like the alarm system going off in a building but instead it's not a building, it's your body and the alarm is your head.

When you do have a headache people feel that they have two choices, either pop an over-the-counter pain killer or push through it by either ignoring it or sleeping it off.

If you choose to pop a pill the most common are Aspirin and Ibuprofen. But shockingly, these can actually lead to more problems in the long run.  First off, multiple studies have shown these so-called “fixes” wreak havoc on your gut and digestion.  And according to the acclaimed Mayo Clinic: Aspirin and Ibuprofen can actually cause you to have more headaches down the line.   These headaches are called “rebound headaches.” And in a lot of cases, they’re MUCH worse than the original headache you set out to fix.

When you start feeling a headache the first question you should ask yourself is, "Am I dehydrated?"  Dehydration is a very common reason for a headache.  For the average person I usually suggest drinking 3 liters of water a day.

If you realize the headache could be due to stress the fastest, easiest thing to do is stop everything and take 3 deep breaths.  Breathing helps get the body out of the stress mode, by calming down the nervous system and not getting stuck in the 'fight or flight' mode.  Coherent Breathing is an easy method to continue to get the stress off the body.

Another way to soothe a headache is not in your breath but in the palm of your hand.  It’s called the L-Zone and it acts like an “on/off switch” for headaches.

When you massage your L-Zone (it’s right above the knuckle of your thumb) this “signals” for increased blood flow to your head, neck, and shoulders.  And according to the renowned Cleveland Clinic — this technique has the power to soothe tense muscles and greatly relieve tension headaches.

Here’s how you massage the L-Zone:

- Breathe in and out deeply for 10 seconds

- Take your right hand and make it into the shape of a gun, or an “L”

- Using your left hand, find the middle of the “L” (the meaty “web” of your palm between your thumb and pointer)

- Then, apply moderate pressure to that spot with your thumb and pointer finger, and massage for 20-30 seconds

- Repeat as needed to soothe headaches, as well as relieve neck and shoulder tension
Bonus: For increased effectiveness, apply ice to the L-Zone after massaging.Warning: Do not massage L-Zone if pregnant.

So even though I hope you never have to deal with a headache in the first place these simple tricks of drinking water, deep breathing and massaging the L-Zone can help!

Also all three tips are a great preventative measure too. So even if you don’t have a headache, give your L-Zone a quick 20-second massage, be aware of breathing from your diaphragm and make sure you drink enough water throughout the day.