Anti-Inflammatory Food/Herbs: Your Comprehensive List

In my conversations with you we often discuss how to address inflammation naturally with food, rather than anti-inflammatory drugs. Keep this list in your pocket when you're grocery shopping. Rather than depend on prescribed anti-inflammatory drugs, I suggest you explore this list of food and herbs, which all have a proven record.

• Teas: green, white and black - you may find plenty from great brands, like  Organic India, Extended Health, Gaia Herbs, Wise Woman Herbals ... on my Virtual Dispensary. Log in, click Product Catalog, then click Shop By tab on the left of the screen and scroll down to the Teas category.
• Tisanes, means herbal infusions: Gynostemma from Spring Dragon
• Spices: ginger, turmeric. please do not peel the skin, slice thinly, add to boiling water, let it cool naturally, add lemon or lime and sweeten with Lakanto Monk fruit drops
• Garlic
• Apple cider vinegar - Buy on my Virtual Dispensary
• Cinnamon - best brand Ceylon organic from Savory Spice Shop - buy here
• Saffron - good one on Amazon
• Food rich in Omega-3 oils: cold water fatty fish: salmon, sardines, mackerel - available on Vital Choice with my 10% off discount - Use code Irina10
• Seeds and nuts: chia, hemp and flax seeds, walnuts, peele nuts - nuts.com
• All green leafy veggies and colorful veggies - PLEEEEASE buy organic, otherwise you consuming toxic pesticides, that cannot be removed by thorough washing unfortunately. Give a good try to daikon radishes and bok choy.
• Seasonal fresh berries - always organic, or home grown without toxic sprays. Hello blueberries, raspberries, blackberries and my favorite gooseberries (sorry you will not find them in the grocery store). Nick and I are growing them in our backyard. Ask me about them, when you come for your next session. Gooseberries are growing nicely here. You may decide to add a bush or two to your garden.
• Extra Virgin Olive Oil - please do not heat much, use coconut or ghee for cooking instead. (Paesano is what we use in our house.)
• Mushrooms: shiitake, reishi, maitake can be found in the store. Fairway and Whole Foods carries them.
• The infused water I give you after each session.
  • You can buy infuser here:
    • For a litter of water I use half inch fresh Ginger root with the skin - thinly sliced, three to four circles of organic lemon or lime. Cover them with boiled water and let the water cool naturally. That is it. Easy, easy. 

Now, with abundant peppermint and spearmint herbs in our backyard, I will offer you mint infused water as well. I use leaves with abandon. Good for your digestion and it is spirit lifting.

#SleepwithBenefits: Night Pillow

I recently upgraded my old-old memory foam pillow to a black Night Pillow. 

It improved the quality of my sleep in a huge way. I just ought to share this with you, so you can enjoy improved sleep too.

It come with a protective mesh bag to insert the pillowcase, which protects it when it's laundered or cleaned.  This is not why I bought it. :-))

Here it is, why I bought it, right from its designer's website: https://discovernight.com

1. Intelligently Designed Black Hue.

Signature black hue negates light stimulating production of Melatonin and resulting in a deeper sleep.

2. Self-Adjusting Memory Foam

Our special-engineered memory foam is lighter and airy to provide the optimal balance of comfort and support.

3. TriSilk™ Moisturizing Pillowcase

Our proprietary spandex silk formula keeps moisture in, promoting healthy, beautiful skin & hair.

It is on the pricey side alright. On the other hand, if you do not find it worthy, you may return it within 101 day for a full refund. If you like it, like I do, it will make you very happy.

Bounce Gently, Bounce Daily

In my August Newsletter, I wrote about rebounding or exercising on mini-trampoline, as a part of an anti-aging health program.

Doing this simple exercise of bouncing can burn 350 calories in 30 minutes. You improve your balance and flexibility. You can even watch a favorite show or listen to a famous podcast while bouncing.  

We recently replaced the old metal spring rebounder with the Bellicon brand, which uses flexible, but sturdy and silent bungee cords.

Here again the benefits of bouncing:

1. great, gentle workout for all muscle groups
2. flushes out the lymphatic system, where toxins are accumulated
3. aids in the digestion and elimination
4. enhances and brightens mood

Check it out https://www.bellicon.com

How to find a qualified Reflexology practitioner wherever you go.

If you are reading this, I know you are serious about Reflexology. You know the difference between the foot rub and a real Reflexology session. Very often I am asked how to find a real Reflexologist in other parts of the country for your friends and family. Here is my advice:

1. First you ask around, as word-of-mouth is the best referral. Then you do your homework.

2. Check if the practitioner has a full listing here www.arcb.net - American Reflexology Certification Board,  an independent certification agency with strict adherence to the standards of the Reflexology profession.

3. Check for Continuing Education Units - CEUs, Experience and Membership in Professional Associations. The ARCB requires 12 CEUs every two years and it lists certificants in good standing on its site www.arcb.net

4. Another good resource for serious local reflexologists are national and state association. You will find the listing by State here www.reflexology-usa.org. Association members are concerned with the professionalism and advancement of reflexology, as well as protection of public health and safety.

5. You may see a current  professional liability insurance certificate in the office of a serious practitioner.

 If you are looking for a reflexologist in New Hampshire, North Dakota, Tennessee or Washington, then a person should have a current State License. Our Connecticut State does not have Reflexology State Licensure laws on the books.

Reflexology is a unique therapy that should be administered by a Certified Reflexologist, such person has completed unique Reflexology-specific training (typically 200-300 hours in the USA). According to the standards of most state and national reflexology associations along with the national certification board, this training must include classroom instruction on techniques for the feet, hands and ears, application of different protocols for particular body systems or particular pathologies. as well as learning anatomy, physiology, professional standards and ethics.

It also requires a completion of a minimum 100 documented practical sessions and it teaches how to keep session notes. The National Institutes of Health, National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) defines reflexology as a separate therapy. True reflexology is performed only on the reflex maps of the body located on the feet, hands and outer ears and it is different than massage or acupressure techniques. Also be aware that there’s a recent trend offering online training in reflexology.

Learning to locate reflexes on different individuals and modulation of pressure, etc., cannot be taught online.

From time to time I hear the horror stories of feeling unwell from the so called “Reflexology” performed by an untrained person. Foot rubs at the strip malls/nail salons are not qualified to be called Reflexology, even if they advertised as such.

Expect the fee for your real Reflexology healing session to be higher than the price for a salon foot rub.  It may be between $60 and $150 per session, depending on area of the country and the length of the session. This difference reflects education, experience and proper certification of a qualified Reflexology practitioner.  So, my advice is: do not risk your health and waste your money on false ads and claims.

Be more concerned about your health than your wallet in such case! 

In my 17 plus years of actively practicing professional Reflexology, I have performed over 20,000 sessions. This number does not include countless sessions on friends and family outside of work.  So be bold, ask about the number of client sessions in the practitioner experience - not necessarily the number of years of work. This will insure you’re working with a truly experienced reflexologist.

If all these steps are too much for you, I am happy to do them for you. You know, where to find me. :)

Easy + Nice Way to Clean the Air in Your Living/Sleeping Space

If you have been in my house, you've noticed, that I have plenty of houseplants. I love them. I share them with those of you, who cares to have their own. I receive them from some of you, as holiday gift. Best gift ever. Thank you!

 It is so easy to grow your houseplants. It is rewarding as well. The common houseplants absorb indoor toxins and add humidity to the air. This in turn may help you to save on HVAC bills. Also they really are best decorating touch, that keeps giving year after year. Here are some of the best plants to choose from, just for you:

• Boston Fern- Removes formaldehyde and components of car exhaust. Needs regular feeding and care. 
• Dwarf Date Palm- Very good at removing formaldehyde. Thrives in temperatures ranging from 60 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit. Easy to care for. 
• Rubber Plant- Good at removing formaldehyde. Grows well in low light conditions.
• Peace Lily- Removes formaldehyde and VOCs from cleaning products. Prefers low light conditions. Humidifies the air.
• Snake Plant- Removes benzene, formaldehyde. Does not need friequent watering. 
• English Ivy- Removes formaldehyde. Does well in low light conditions. 
• Lady Palm- Targets ammonia. 
• Golden Pothos- Removes formaldehyde, carbon monoxide, and benzene. 
• Spider Plant- Targets airborne formaldehyde and benzene, thrives in hang basket next to a sunlit window

Boston Fern

Dwarf Date Plant

Rubber Plant

Peace Lily

Spider Plant

English Ivy

Lady Palm

Golden Pothos

Spider Plant