Tea

How Do I Use It?

• Hibiscus Tea for Blood Pressure
  “Can you really take hibiscus tea for blood pressure?”
  
  Well, according to a small study presented at the American Heart Association’s annual conference, you can.
• How To Become A Naturopath
  “How do you become a naturopath? Is it the same no matter where you live?”
  
  Because “natural” or “alternative” medical practices like naturopathy are only minimally regulated in some states—and not at all in others—naturopaths in the U.S. come in all shapes and sizes. I like to group them this way
• Chelation Therapy & Autism
  “How do you use chelation therapy to cure your kid of autism? Don’t tell me it don’t work either.”
  
  Chelation therapy is legitimate mainstream medical technique that is intended to help rid the body of heavy metals like lead, mercury or arsenic. It is not, however, approved by U.S. regulatory agencies for the treatment for any behavioral disorders.
• Coffee & Liver Detox
  “Dr. Oz was talking about coffee being good for your liver is you drink. How do you detox with coffee?”
  
  Well, I’m not sure which study he was referencing but I can tell you that a 2008 study from China found what numerous past studies have found—coffee may offer some protection against liver cancer.
• Evening Primrose for Eczema
  “Didn’t you once say you used some kind of oil on your eczema? If it’s not too personal would you tell that again?”
  
  I’ve had various skin issues since birth and when I think back at some of the weird things I’ve tried … well, let’s just say some of them are downright embarrassing.
• What Is The Best Breakfast?
  The Fruit Breakfast Theory
  
  A lot (if not most) of the so-called “natural” web sites out there will try to steer you toward what I call the Fruit Breakfast Theory. Believers in the fruit breakfast theory say that after sleeping all night your body is basically in a “fasting” state and it’s important to come out of that fast slowly. After all, they say, that’s what “breakfast” means—“break the fast”. Believers in this theory claim that the body has become unaccustomed to processing food and needs foods that are easy to digest.
  
  
• L-lysine for Cold Sores
  “What was that amino acid you wrote about for cold sores?”
  
  That would be the amino acid l-lysine. It’s an “essential” amino acid, which means that you MUST get it from your diet. (Think of it this way—you body can’t make it so it’s essential that you get it from food.) In numerous studies, the “l” form of this amino acid has been found to shorten both the duration and severity of cold sore outbreaks.
• Teapots & Herbal Tea
  “A lot of herb books say to use stainless steel but they don’t explain why. Is it really important? Would microwaving in a Pyrex measuring cup be OK?”
  
  The reason most herbalists give when asked about this issue is that materials like aluminum and copper can, according to them, leach minerals into your herbal teas. But I suspect that the real reason they advise stainless is that other materials can sometimes leave an aftertaste in your tea. Ever had a cola out of an old-fashioned glass bottle? Then you know exactly how much of a difference the container can make.
  
• Cascara Sagrada--Addictive?
  “I know that laxatives can be abused but what about cascara sagrada? Is something like that addictive if you use it for too long?”
  
  I was surprised to learn that there are no recent U.S. studies—at least not that I could find—on the addictive potential of Cascara sagrada. What I did find, though, was a mountain of conflicting information of various “herbal” web sites. Here’s what science says about this controversial herb:
  
  
• Make A Perfect Cup Of Green Tea
  Think you don’t like green tea?  Maybe you’ve just never had anyone make you a decent cup of it.  Here’s my “recipe” to make a perfect cup of green tea—without the bitter, dirty or grassy taste.