The Power of Tea: Boost Your Health and Well-Being

Don’t get me wrong, I love my morning coffee; yet if I ever had to choose either just coffee or just tea for the rest of my life, tea wins hands down! The health benefits and variety of flavors are just too great to give up! Tea is one of the most heart friendly beverage choices, high in antioxidants and heart healthy polyphenols.  No, not that sweet tea at the old greasy spoon, but real tea! Yet many people I talk to either don’t like tea or have never even tried it. This is tragic! I promise you, there is a tea out there waiting for you!

So let’s talk tea! 

If you want to get picky, tea is actually a very narrow definition—like coffee—meaning a beverage brewed from the leaves of tea bushes that are harvested at varying stages of growth and prepared in various ways, resulting in everything from white teas to green, black to pu-erh (a fermented and aged form of tea leaf).  Most of us also group herbal teas into this category, though technically these are referred to as “tisanes”. 

Why bother with all these shrubs and “weeds”? (many of the best herbal teas are considered weeds in some circles!)

• Antioxidants—green teas, white teas, and most herbal teas are great sources of these.
• Reduce cholesterol—pu-erh tea and rooibos teas in particular are well-documented for this effect and come in a wide range of flavors.
• Vitamin C—tisanes made with citrus peel, hibiscus, red raspberry leaves, dried strawberry, or rose hips are a great source of vitamin C.
• Calcium & magnesium—cinnamon, nettle, oatstraw, corn silk, chamomile, and skull cap all provide these essential minerals.
• Silica (essential for absorbing other minerals)—horsetail & strawberry are great in providing this.
• Polyphenols—in the limelight for reducing inflammation and cancer risk: green, white, oolong, pu-erh, and many herbals are high in these.

Now let’s talk functions!

Want to improve your oral health? White tea to the rescue—its minerals and antioxidants protect the tooth enamel and neutralize acids.

Allergies got you down? Rooibos-based teas can reduce inflammation and mitigate allergy symptoms. (If you have ragweed allergies—avoid chamomile tea and opt for chrysanthemum instead).

Looking for something to help your skin and hair? Yup, rooibos again; as well as horsetail, nettle, and oatstraw.

Menstrual cramps or muscle spasms? Chamomile, nettle, and oatstraw can help soothe those cranky muscles.

Is liver health a concern? Hibiscus and dandelion are excellent liver tonics that also can reduce blood triglycerides and reduce sugar cravings! Chrysanthemum is also great for liver health!

Digestive upset? Peppermint and ginger are powerhouses here!

Arthritis pain? Ginger again—and if you like a more savory tea, blends with turmeric and ginger can be a great option.

Stressed out? Trouble focusing? Oolong tea is high in L-theanine which helps calm the brain and has a moderate amount of caffeine helping to maintain focus and concentration. Oolong is the same plant that green, white and black teas come from, but the special fermentation process gives it this special quality.

Just plain stressed? Chrysanthemum and goji berries are some of my favorites to ease a stressful day.

Another reason I love hot tea is it gives me a chance to slow down and immerse myself in the process of making it. Adding the hot water, savoring the aromas released, watching the colors bloom in the water, and then choosing just the right cup or pot to enjoy my brew from. Tea can be an experience to enjoy!

Different teas also benefit from different steeping times—from less than a minute or two for white and green teas, a couple of minutes for darker teas, or even overnight for nettle and oatstraw; so make sure to check the package instructions.  

Last but not least—don’t ruin those health benefits with tons of sugar. If you need a little added sweetness, a dash of fresh honey or stevia for those darker teas often does the trick.  Need to sweeten up an herbal blend? Try a couple of goji berries for natural sweetness and an added boost of antioxidants.

We are thrilled to carry Buddha Chakra Teas! "Chakra" is the ancient Sanskrit word for the seven central points of energy that reside within, helping to balance our physical, emotional and spiritual state. Buddha Teas are expertly crafted from herbs that resonate with each chakra, offering stimulating and flavorful teas empowered by the essence of crystals. Whether you're looking for a morning pick-me-up, a relaxing evening brew, or a tea to promote wellness, we have something for everyone! 

We carry unique varieties such as:

Root Chakra Tea: When your root chakra is in balance, you feel safe in the world, and free to trust in ways that allow you to take healthy risks, knowing that all will be well. Contains Organic Raspberry Leaf, Organic Ashwagandha Root, Organic Cloves, Organic Dandelion Root, Organic Hibiscus Flower.

Sacral Chakra Tea: The Sacral chakra focuses on creativity, sensuality, and our connection with others. This expertly crafted herbal blend is designed to assist you as you flow your way to sacral chakra health. Contains Organic Calendula Flowers, Organic Burdock Root, Organic Fennel Seed, Organic Dong Quai Root, Organic Damiana Leaf, Organic Ginger Root.

Solar Plexus Tea: This invigorating, solar plexus blend, enlivened with the essence of citrine, provides a truly unique tea experience that facilitates those wishing to connect with their power center. Contains Organic Rosemary Leaf, Organic Lemongrass, Organic Ginger Root, Organic Orange Peel, Organic Marshmallow Leaf.

4th Chakra Tea: The 4th Chakra is a vital chakra to work with, and centers on all aspects of love. This tea is carefully crafted with herbs attuned to the 4th Chakra, and includes the essence of rose quartz. Contains Organic Hawthorn Berry, Organic Hawthorn Leaf, Organic Lavender Flowers, Organic Hyssop.

5th Chakra Tea: Powerful throat-centered herbs, and the essence of aquamarine fortify our 5th Chakra Blend to assist those seeking to heal and balance issues dealing with communication, creativity, and self-expression. Contains Organic Licorice Root, Organic Slippery Elm Bark, Organic Marshmallow Leaf, Organic Wild Cherry Bark, Organic Cinnamon Bark, Organic Fennel Seed, Organic Orange Peel.

Third Eye Chakra Tea: This chakra, located between the eyebrows, highlights insight, knowledge, and wisdom. Third Eye Chakra Tea is crafted from herbs intended to open the third eye energy center. Contains Organic Eyebright Herb, Organic Spearmint Leaf, Organic Star Anise, Organic Passion Flower.

Crown Chakra Tea: This 7th chakra can be described as the crown of spiritual understanding. Located at the top of the chakra ladder, the ingredients within our Crown Chakra Tea have been carefully chosen for their resonance with the crown energy center. Contains Organic Gotu Kola Leaf, Organic Lavender Flowers, Organic Nutmeg Seed, Organic Rose Petal.

Each blend is carefully selected for its unique health benefits and delicious taste. Try Buddha Chakra Teas and experience the difference that quality ingredients make!

Evil Bone Water (EBW) is one of our best sellers in the clinic for many very good reasons!

According to the classical name, Zheng Gu Shui, (Zhèng Gǔ Shuǐ; 正骨水) the formula is called “Mend the Bones Water”, highlighting its use for soothing pain and speeding the healing of fractured and bruised bones. But wait…

There’s more:

• Random bruise? Watch it fade faster and with less pain with a daily spritz or two of EBW; even those frustrating bruises on the hands and arms that plague our elderly patients. 
• Nausea in early pregnancy? Many of our mothers-to-be swear by a spritz of EBW on the wrists (ala perfume) to soothe a queasy belly—even in severe cases. (This has also helped patients with post-chemo nausea)
• Speaking of pregnancy—post-partum aches, episiotomy sites, and post-epidural pain have all responded well to EBW—and it’s safe in all stages of pregnancy.
• Chest congestion? Move over store-bought “vapor rubs”! A liberal application of EBW to the chest helps open airways (we love to spritz some on our palms and inhale to clear stubborn nasal passages).
• Speaking of noses—Several patients credit a gentle application of EBW with a cotton swab below each nostril with helping to return their post-COVID sense of smell to normal.
• Ouch! Got a cut? If you don’t mind a brief sting, EBW disinfects and speeds the healing of minor cuts—and actually somewhat numbs the cut after application. This stuff makes paper cuts no big deal!
• Burned yourself on that hot stove? Take the sting out and help it heal with some EBW if you don’t have some of our Shiunko burn cream on hand. Note: If it’s a serious burn see your provider first!
• Arthritis? Apply liberally for best results.
• Muscle aches? EBW isn’t just for the bones; it soothes sore muscles as well.
• Sprain an ankle? Yup, you guessed it—lots of EBW.
• Headaches? Tension headaches fade faster with a spritz of EBW to the back of the neck, and temporal headaches can be soothed with a little rubbed into the temples in many cases.
• Neuropathy? Yes, that too—any kind of body pain is alleviated by EBW.

I have all of these!!! Can I bathe in it?  

• Yes, actually—several of our patients and staff who have taken a tumble added 2 TBSP EBW to a warm tub along with Epsom salts and soaked away the soreness. Please note—test EBW on your skin first before jumping into this remedy. For focused pain, it does work best to apply it directly where the pain is.

Is it just for humans?

• It is safe for dogs, horses, and even chickens (but not recommended for our feline friends). I have used it on multiple horse wounds, a tendon strain, a partially detached chick beak (which reattached and healed quickly), as well as to quickly dry up the sebaceous cysts my dog is prone to—so they don’t fester and result in another vet trip to remove them. He much prefers this over soaking in the medicated shampoo the vet prescribed, and it works better and is easier for me!  Once again, the highly aromatic herbs in EBW are not suitable for use on cats but you can use it around cats safely. 

It sounds great! What’s the downside?

• Do not use it near your favorite white or light-colored fabric—it will most likely stain!
• Do not rub your eyes after applying to (or with) your hands—you will not go blind or damage your eyes, but you will probably cry a bit.
• If using in sensitive areas—use a cotton swab and always test a small area first. If the sensation is too intense, flush with lukewarm water. You can dilute it in water in a separate bottle to reach an acceptable level of sensation when using for episiotomy sites or similar injuries.
• If you have sensitive skin, patch test a small amount with a cotton swab on the arm and wait 24 hours to see how you react.

Ok, so it’s not quite 101 ways, but Evil Bone Water is a wonderfully useful topical to have in your first aid kit. I keep a bottle in every car, at the barn, in my husband's shop (he’s a mechanic) and the patient feedback has been overwhelmingly positive! Several buy it by the case to share with their friends and family! So on the “List of things I wouldn’t want to be on a deserted island without”, this one is definitely in the top 5!

Evil Bone Water is available for purchase in our clinic, and online here!

Have an Evil Bone Water success story? We’d love to hear about it!

CBD is a pretty hot herbal product these days—well-known for its properties of improving sleep, relieving pain, and easing anxiety. I find that in these cases its effectiveness can vary widely between people. Some need a tincture over a capsule, some need a very low dose, while others a much higher dose (and in some cases where the hemp for the CBD was grown makes a huge difference!) For this reason, finding the product that works best for you can sometimes be a bit frustrating (not to mention expensive!) when those early tries fail. And for a few people, it just doesn’t seem to work well for them in any form. However, there is one area where I feel CBD deserves recognition as a go-to supplement to be included in the treatment plan-bone fractures and osteoporosis/osteopenia!

It turns out that CBD dramatically increased activity in healing bone and resulted in healed fracture sites that were harder than the original bone and shorter healing times. In other studies, it was shown to increase activity in the bone and resulted in increased bone volume. The CB1 & 2 receptors seem to be most involved in the process and most encouraging is the bone remodeling effect is not linked in any way to THC so hemp is a safe and effective way to help boost bone activity.

It’s also important to make sure the body has the building blocks to keep those bones healthy. Our bones are not static like a dried-out skeleton—they are living tissue that replaces itself about every 10 years. In addition to providing the nutrients for healthy bones, exercise is crucial to maintaining healthy bones. As outlined by the Surgeon’s General Office, these are some key components of bone health: 

• Calcium has been singled out as a major public health concern today because it is critically important to bone health. The average American consumes levels of calcium that are far below the recommended amount for optimal bone health. The right form of calcium makes a difference along with providing related trace minerals for bone health. In addition to foods high in calcium like dairy products, leafy greens, broccoli, and sardines, other cruciferous veggies like cauliflower help the calcium get better absorbed by the bones. For those who won’t or don’t eat their veggies, supplements like Standard Process Cruciferous Complete are an essential part of any bone support program.
• Vitamin D is important for good bone health because it aids in the absorption and utilization of calcium. Besides natural sunlight and foods high in D like sardines, salmon, cod liver oil, and egg yolks, good supplemental D3 may be needed.
• Physical activity is essential for bone health throughout life. It helps to increase or preserve bone mass and to reduce the risk of falling. All types of physical activity can contribute to bone health, albeit in different ways. Weight-bearing exercises seem to be measurably beneficial, along with yoga and tai chi.
• Maintaining healthy body weight is important for bone health throughout life. Being underweight raises the risk of fracture and bone loss. Weight loss is associated with bone loss as well, although adequate diet and physical activity may reduce this loss.
• Smoking and heavy alcohol use can reduce bone mass and increase fracture risk and should be avoided for a variety of health reasons. 

So how much CBD is needed to help improve bone health? This is where the research gets a little unclear, but 25mg per day orally is a safe dosage range to start with and then increase from there. As long as there are no digestive problems it’s safe to go as high as 50mg per day for long-term use. 

**Disclaimer: While CBD products are less than .3% THC some people do not metabolize THC well and it can accumulate in the body with regular use of CBD products—and can result in a positive drug test! If you are subject to drug testing, I do not recommend using CBD products without written approval from whoever is requiring the testing. 

We carry a variety of CBD products for patients to try and I have a protocol for bone healing on Fullscript with some of my favorite non-CBD bone support products for ease of ordering!

***The contents of this website are not intended to substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your physician before making any changes to any medications, over-the-counter drugs, supplements, or herbs.

A frequent question we get in the clinic is “Can you get me off my diabetes medicine?" The simple answer is “no”.  Acupuncture and herbs alone are potent allies in healing, but especially with diabetes, the choices you make each day have far more impact than anything anyone can give you. The more complete answer is “it depends”: 

• on how long you have been taking medication for diabetes 
• if that medication includes insulin or not AND most importantly,
• how willing you are to make changes in your diet and lifestyle 

It is also important to know that we cannot make changes to prescription medications, so it’s important to work with your doctor as well as your acupuncturist when you decide that you are ready to make the changes you need for better health.  

So why try acupuncture and TCM for diabetes?  

• Acupuncture helps regulate metabolism, pancreatic function, and  blood sugar levels¹. There is a growing body of research into the mechanism of action behind the stimulation of points classically indicated for diabetes showing measurable changes in hormone levels, gastric function, and peripheral circulation². Many of our patients report using less insulin while undergoing acupuncture for other reasons, even when the treatment of diabetes isn’t the primary focus.
• Neuropathy is one of the most felt and debilitating aspects of uncontrolled diabetes—and acupuncture is one of the best treatments for neuropathy—not only providing pain relief but helping the nerves and surrounding tissues to repair themselves in many cases³.

Acupuncture and herbal medicine are not a “one-size fits all” treatment approach—each patient is unique and we chose our specific formulas and acupuncture points for each patient based on the presentation of the entire patient; not just a set cookie-cutter treatment. As a result, not only do we see the diabetes symptoms improve, the patient experiences better health overall. By choosing the right approach for each patient we avoid the spiral of “take this medication for this, and this medication for that, and this medication for the side effects of the first medication and yet another medication for the side effects of the second medication….” that so many patients experience.

Now as to the pesky diet and exercise thing:

If you continue to overload your body with too much of the wrong foods and not enough of the right exercise—even the best treatments and formulas, plus the medications your doctor prescribes—won’t be enough to keep the disease from progressing!

I highly recommend anyone who has diabetes or even a risk factor for diabetes (which is pretty much everyone) read “Why We Get Sick” by B. Bikman.  It’s a great book based on solid research that helps you understand what happens with diabetes and more importantly, what you can do to change it. If you need help getting off the sugar, we have amazing and compassionate coaching and nutrition partners who can help you!

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Sources:

¹ Wang KX, Liang FX, Chen S, Luo ZH, Chen B, Chen ZQ, Zhang YL, Chen J, Gu XL, Zhou T, Yan P, Xu XY. Effect of electroacupuncture of "Biao-Ben" acupoints on renal function and hemorheology and eNOS level in patients with early diabetic nephropathy. Zhen Ci Yan Jiu. 2022 Jan 25;47(1):46-52. Chinese. doi: 10.13702/j.1000-0607.20210036. PMID: 35128870.

² Wang H, Chen X, Chen C, Pan T, Li M, Yao L, Li X, Lu Q, Wang H, Wang Z. Electroacupuncture at Lower He-Sea and Front-Mu Acupoints Ameliorates Insulin Resistance in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus by Regulating the Intestinal Flora and Gut Barrier. Diabetes Metab Syndr Obes. 2022 Jul 30;15:2265-2276. doi: 10.2147/DMSO.S374843. PMID: 35936053; PMCID: PMC9348137.

³ Dimitrova A, Murchison C, Oken B. Acupuncture for the Treatment of Peripheral Neuropathy: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. J Altern Complement Med. 2017 Mar;23(3):164-179. doi: 10.1089/acm.2016.0155. Epub 2017 Jan 23. PMID: 28112552; PMCID: PMC5359694.