Botanicals

Health Benefits of Chamomile

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chamomileChamomile (Matricaria recutita) is a very commonly consumed herb in today’s society, typically in tea form. What many people do not realize is this tea can be consumed for more than just socialization aspects, but also for its medicinal effects.

Medicinal Effects:

  • Anti-oxidant
  • Anti-microbial
  • Anti-inflammatory
  • Anti-diarrheal
  • Anti-carcinogen
  • Hepatoprotective
  • Anti-diabetic
  • Anxiolytic
  • Anti-spasmodic
  • Anti-emetic
  • Sedative
  • Carminative

Conditions Aided by this Tea

  • Anxiety
  • Generalized Anxiety Disorder
  • Depression
  • Constipation
  • Diarrhea
  • Dyspepsia
  • Indigestion
  • Insomnia

Research

Much research has been done in the area of chamomile for mental health. In particular, chamomile has been shown to be effective for generalized anxiety disorder – in particular when it is in mild or moderate states. In research, not only has chamomile tea been shown to aid with anxiety but also with anxiety combined with depression! Depression scores were rated far lower when individuals took chamomile when compared to placebo.

In addition to the research into its effects on mental health, much research has been sought into for the effects of chamomile on digestion. Chamomile has been shown to improve the duration of diarrhea (i.e. less time having diarrhea by 5 hours!), and was shown to improve colic. The anti-inflammatory nature of chamomile has also been shown to be beneficial in ulcers of the digestive tract and inflammation in the gut overall.

Finally, much research extends into chamomile being used topically (as a lotion, essential oil, or balm) for such conditions as osteoarthritis, mucositis induced by chemotherapy, and ulcers. It has been shown to be useful in decreasing inflammation in the area and improving wound healing.

Conclusions

Overall, one can argue that chamomile is more than just another tea, but rather has some potent health effects. I would encourage you to consult your health care provider to verify if regular chamomile consumption is right for you.

Have you benefited from reading this blog? Know someone that would benefit as well? Share, Like, Comment, or Tweet this article, and let me know what you think.

Some of the information provided above may not be appropriate for everyone, please consult with your doctor before trying any of the above. If you are interested in Naturopathic Medicine and wanting a different approach to your health care needs, contact Dr. Elisha Cook ND by calling 519-537-7058 and book your appointment today!

References:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3600408/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5074766/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3600416/

http://longwoodherbal.org/chamomile/chamomile.pdf

 

Boosting Your Immune System

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Flu Fever. Sick Girl Sneezing In Tissue. HealthWith the change in season, many people can become susceptible to colds and flus. With that being said, there are many things people can do to help boost their immune systems.

Stress Management

Being under a lot of stress can cause our immune systems to be more susceptible to bacteria and viruses. Stress can cause our bodies to be more focused on fueling ourselves with fight or flight response (ie responding to the stress) and less on protecting us from colds and flus, thus making us more susceptible. By managing stress before it wears our bodies down, we can keep bacteria and viruses at bay. Supplements or herbs that are called adaptogens may also be beneficial. Adaptogens help the body to modulate the fight or flight response and to recover from stress. To determine the right adaptogen for you or if they are necessary, consult a Naturopathic Doctor such as myself.

Vegetables and Fruits

Vegetables and fruits are full or antioxidants and nutrients that help to build and boost the immune system. By assuring the immune system has the right nutrients, it can help to keep the body strong and healthy. Ideally, having 3 servings of fruit per day and having 5 or more vegetables per day is what is recommended. Some individuals may require higher amounts of certain nutrients to be able to effectively mount an immune response to certain bacteria and viruses, and so may require supplementation for specific nutrients. Determining which nutrients need to be supplemented for is best determined with the help of a health care professional.

Tea

Having teas, such as green tea, on a regular basis can help to boost the immune system due to their antioxidant profile and their immune boosting qualities. Adding a bit of honey to your tea can also help to fight off any bacteria that might attempting to invade.

Exercise

Exercise can help to boost the immune system by increasing the speed at which white blood cells patrol the body and look for bacteria or viruses. Exercise can also be beneficial for the immune system by increasing the respiratory rate and thus increasing the chance that a lingering bacteria or virus will be cleared from the lungs.

Sleep

Getting a proper sleep can help you to better manage not only emotions and stress but also your immune system. Not getting a good night’s sleep can cause our bodies to be less able to produce T cells – an important immune system cell – and thus make us more susceptible to colds and flus.

Have you benefited from reading this blog? Know someone that would benefit as well? Share, Like, Comment, or Tweet this article, and let me know what you think.

Some of the information provided above may not be appropriate for everyone, please consult with your doctor before trying any of the above. If you are interested in Naturopathic Medicine and wanting a different approach to your health care needs, contact Dr. Elisha Cook ND by calling 519-537-7058 and book your appointment today!

5 Health Benefits of Green Tea

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Green tea is a very common beverage in our society, and one that has been purported as a very beneficial addition to one’s diet. However, many individuals do not know the full extent to which green tea can help, and how many cups are necessary to achieve these benefits. Please note that this article is based off of a research article that can be found at: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Craig_Schneider2/publication/24309791_Green_tea_potential_health_benefits/links/0a85e52f2986fdb4bf000000.pdf

5 Health Benefits of Green TeaTransparent cup of green tea with lime on wooden background

  1. Reduces risk of Cancer

Tea overall can be beneficial for cancer prevention, but in particular, green tea can be beneficial for treating and preventing breast and colorectal cancer risk. In particular, for breast cancer, three or more cups of tea per day was enough to see the benefits. It was noted that the green tea consumption resulted in a 20% reduction in risk of breast cancer. However, with colorectal cancer, five to ten cups of tea were sufficient enough to reduce the risk of this cancer. In particular, green tea consumption resulted in an 18% reduction in risk of colorectal cancer. Other cancers that green tea consumption may reduce the risk of include stomach, esophageal, and prostate.

  1. Aids with treatment of genital warts

In regards to genital warts, green tea was shown to be effective for the treatment through a topical application of the tea.

  1. Aids with weight loss

When trying to lose weight, green tea may help to decrease body weight, body mass index, body fat ratio, body fat mass, and waist and hip circumference. In addition, if an individual discontinues their diet and lifestyle changes in regards to weight loss, those who drink green tea will gain back less weight than those not consuming green tea. These results were found with just one cup of green tea per day!

  1. Reduces cholesterol levels

Green tea can have an impressive effect on LDL cholesterol (i.e. bad cholesterol). When compared to placebo, green tea was able to reduce LDL cholesterol by 16%. This effect was noticed with two cups of green tea per day.

  1. Reduces risk of cardiovascular disease

Aside from the effect on cholesterol, green tea has been shown in research to decrease the risk of not only cardiovascular disease but also stroke. Individuals who consumed five or more cups of tea per day experienced a reduction in risk of stroke.

Can anyone just drink green tea?

As with anything, it is important to know the risks of anything you are consuming. With that being said, green tea may not be for everyone. For example, green tea may decrease absorption of iron or folic acid when consumed with a meal. Therefore, it may not be well suited for anemic individuals or those who are pregnant. In addition, green tea may have a blood thinning effect, and so should not be consumed with blood thinning medication or two weeks prior to surgery. In some individuals, green tea can also cause an upset stomach and nervous system stimulation due to the caffeine content in it.

Have you benefited from reading this blog? Know someone that would benefit as well? Share, Like, Comment, or Tweet this article, and let me know what you think.

Some of the information provided above may not be appropriate for everyone, please consult with your doctor before trying any of the above. If you are interested in Naturopathic Medicine and wanting a different approach to your health care needs, contact Dr. Elisha Cook ND by calling 519-537-7058 and book your appointment today!

How to Make a Cold Brew Tea or Iced Tea

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Transparent cup of green tea with lime on wooden backgroundCold Brew or Iced tea is made through steeping tea in cold water over several hours. Brewing tea in this way draws the flavours out more slowly and can alter the taste of the tea. In addition to this method, I will also brew a cup of tea as per normal, i.e. boil water and steep a tea bag, and let the concoction chill. I find that this way of brewing the tea extracts the essential oils which can be beneficial for health. Regardless of what method is used, ingredients and instructions are listed below, as well as a recipe for an iced tea. Teas that tend to work well with either way of making a cold tea include peppermint, hibiscus, lavender, lemon balm, and green tea.

Ingredients:

  • 1-2 tea bags of the herb of your choice
  • 8-16 ounces of water
  • Optional: Honey, lemon slice, or mint leaves

Instructions:

Cold Brewed Tea

  • Place the tea bag(s) in a pitcher of water, cover, and let steep in the fridge for 6-8 hours.
  • When tea is done steeping, strain any sediment from tea using a cheese cloth.
  • Serve tea over ice and add either honey, lemon slice, or mint leaves to taste.

Iced Tea

  • Boil water and let sit for 5 minutes.
  • Pour into pitcher with tea bags and let steep on counter until at room temperature – approximately 30 minutes.
  • Place in fridge and let steep for another 6 hours.
  • When tea is done steeping, strain any sediment from tea using a cheese cloth.
  • Serve tea over ice and add honey to taste, or other possible ingredients (i.e. mint, lemon).

Lemon-Balm/Lavender Iced Tea Recipe

  • Take one lemon balm tea bag and one lavender tea bag and place them in a pitcher of water.
  • Let steep for 6-8 hours covered in fridge.
  • Remove any sediment through straining through a cheese cloth once steeping is complete.
  • Serve over ice and add 2 tbsp of honey to taste.

Have you benefited from reading this blog? Know someone that would benefit as well? Share, Like, Comment, or Tweet this article, and let me know what you think.

Some of the information provided above may not be appropriate for everyone, please consult with your doctor before trying any of the above. If you are interested in Naturopathic Medicine and wanting a different approach to your health care needs, contact Dr. Elisha Cook ND by calling 519-537-7058 and book your appointment today!

Source: Celebration Herbals