How to Make Fire Cider

I want to share this simple recipe, as it seems there are alarming number of  people now coming down with cold, or flu. Maybe you can help yourself, by making this healthy drink: Fire Cider. I love the folk remedy, do you?

"Let food be your medicine." (I was not the first one to say that, I know)
Thank you Hippocrates.

Ingredients:

1. 32 Ounces RAW apple cider vinegar
2. 1 large onion, peeled and chopped
3. 2 heads garlic, peeled and chopped fine
4. 1 and 1/2 cups grated horseradish
5. 4 inch piece of fresh ginger, grated
6. 1-2 spicy chilis, sliced (any spicy chili will do OR you can add a pitch of cayenne powder)
7. Honey (to taste)

Directions:

Place all ingredients into  a LARGE mason jar, pack down slightly, and pour apple cider vinegar on top.  Give the jar a little shake to remove any air bubbles.  Cover with tight-fitting lid.

Place into a dark, cool place for at least 2 weeks, a month is better.  Carefully strain out herbs, add honey to sweeten it slightly, and bottle your tonic.  Discard the strained ingredients OR try adding them to a stir fry.

Store in fridge.  I have heard that this lasts anywhere from 1 year to indefinitely.

NOTE: Be careful when handling these ingredients as they can be irritating to hands and eyes.

How to Take Your Fire Cider

As a daily tonic, sip a tablespoon or 2  a day to boost your immune system.

OR

At the first sign of feeling sick, take 1-2 tablespoons several times a day until you are feeling better.

OR

Be adventurous.  Add fire cider to your salad dressing, soups, steamed veggies, etc.  It’s super yummy!

Credit goes to this wonderful site: www.savorylotus.com

 

Natural Alternative to Antibiotics

It happens often between seasons, we catch cold, our sinuses get irritated and infected, our chest congested, cannot breathe or sleep, and before we know it we are totally exhausted. You know the drill: call or trip to the doctor, then the pharmacy to quickly bring antibiotics to our defense.

Common occurrence nowadays.

Way too often antibiotics are not effective first time around, or worse they create unpleasant, if not dangerous side effects. I learned about this alternative to prescribed antibiotics while studying with Truth Calkins - an amazing herbalist and anti-aging health coach from CA. My husband and I have been taking this formula with great results on and off for the past 18 months.  I have been offering it to some of my clients for the last year to ward off the common infections and boost the immune system. You can easily order it through my virtual dispensary “Fullscript” online. You will find it under the tab “Shop by Categories”  As always do not hesitate to call or email me with any questions in regards to supplementations – short consults are welcomed and FREE of charge.

I'd like to introduce you to what is called a Natural Antibiotic Shot - to boost immune system, prevent and address colds and flus, allergies, infections – and also good for sinuses, ear, and chest infections.

Instructions:

1. put 2 tsp clean filtered water in a shot glass
2. add 5 drops of Oregano Oil 
3. add 1 tsp of Kyolic Aged Garlic Extract liquid
4. add 1 tsp of Sovereign Silver
5. add 1 tbsp of Apple Cider Vinegar
6. dash of cayenne pepper - optional
7. Mix well and shoot straight back. Please wait 30 minutes before eating anything else. 

Ingredients:

• Oregano Essential Oil: Pure essential oil of origanum vulgare obtained via natural processes. It is a mucous membrane irritant. May be toxic if used internally overdosed. Avoid direct contact w/ eyes. Do not expose to direct sunlight.
• Apple Cider Vinegar w/mother 12 oz Organic Kosher Unfiltered & Unpasteurized Omega Nutrition’s organic Apple Cider Vinegar is of exceptional quality and flavor. Our Apple Cider Vinegar is produced the “old fashioned” way. • No chemicals, additives or preservatives. • Unpasteurized to preserve its nutritional value. • Contains pectins, beneficial bacteria and enzymes. • Contains “mother” which is formed naturally by the bacteria in unpasteurized vinegar. • Vinegar containing “mother” is not harmful or spoiled. 
• Liquid Kyolic Odorless Organic Garlic: Extract begins with 100% organically grown garlic bulbs. They are then aged to perfection in a unique extraction process to eliminate odor and create the beneficial compounds found only in Kyolic. Kyolic has multiple benefits: - Cardiovascular health - healthy homocysteine and cholesterol levels. Kyolic supports your body's natural defenses .Kyolic helps the liver to produce glutathione, the body's natural detoxifier. Kyolic liquid has unique and beneficial anti-oxidant compounds created by this special process.
• Sovereign Silver Bio-Active Silver Hydrosol delivers  98% positively charged silver [Ag(n) 1+]. EASILY ABSORBED: Unprecedented particle size of 0.8 nanometers allows for easy absorption and excretion.  Ultra-small particle size results in greater surface area, making our low concentration of 10 ppm more effective than brands up to 500 ppm. PERFECTLY SAFE*: Safe for the whole family. †According to the EPA (CASRN 7440-22-4) daily Oral Silver Reference Dose (RfD) applied to 10 ppm, one may ingest 178,850 servings safely over 70 years. 99.999% PURE: No added salts or proteins. Just pure silver in pure water. Vegan. 

In Giving You Receive this Holiday Season!

What I wish for you is everything that you can imagine for yourself. This holiday season, I am wishing for you to create and maintain your most perfect health, to create a state of mind, where there is no judgment, but joyful acceptance of this incredible life we all are living now. 

I am wishing you many happy moments and most of the time, living contently. 

From my heart & mind to yours - Love and Light.

As you ponder what gifts to give, please consider giving the experience of relaxation in my Reflexology chair or on the Far Infra Red table. Your loved ones will enjoy the experience, for sure.

In Giving You Receive.

• Purchase one gift certificate - my gift to you 30% off your next session.
• Purchase two gift certificates - my gift to you 40 % off your next session.
• Purchase three gift certificates - my gift to you 50 % off your next session.
• Purchase four gift certificates - my gift to you, your next session free. 

Gift Certificates must be purchased before December 24th this year (last-minute shoppers, rejoice!) There is no expiration date on my gift certificates.

If you'd like to do it electronically, here is the link to my Shop. I can even mail the lovely festive Gift Certificate to your loved one on your behalf - to make your life easier. As you purchase your gift certificate online, please simply click the image and print it.

If you prefer to refer your friends and coworkers to my practice, please accept my gratitude and receive $30 off your next session, or complimentary use of Far Infra Red SoQi bed - value of $60.

Please call 203-968-6824 or email irina@ibhealing.com 

Purchase gift certificates here.

Accept my deepest gratitude for being in my healing practice. Dr. Dexter and I are really blessed to do healing/relaxing work with you.

New Caucus in Congress on Integrative Healthcare

I recently learned about a new policy consortium on Integrative Healthcare. If you are as passionate about healthcare in our country as I am, check it out here: https://ihpc.rallycongress.net/ctas/advance-integrative-healthcare.

I did send a letter to Senators Blumenthal & Murphy as well as Representative Himes in support of the Congressional Integrative Health and Wellness Caucus, co-founded by Rep. Mike Coffman, R-Colo., and Jared Polis, D-Colo. The Caucus will provide legislators and other policy and regulatory officials opportunity to understand how shifting focus in healthcare to prevention, health creation and health promotion can create cost savings while improving health outcomes for Americans.

As a professional reflexologist with twenty years of experience in the field, I can attest to the power of this complementary modality in health maintenance and disease prevention. For your immediate information:

Reflexology is a protocol of manual techniques applied to specific reflex areas predominantly on the feet and hands. These techniques stimulate the complex neural pathways linking body systems, supporting the body’s efforts to function optimally.

The effectiveness of reflexology is recognized worldwide by various national health institutions and the public at large as a distinct complementary practice within the holistic health field. (RAA 2016)

NIH - National Institute of Health recognition:

The NIH recognized Reflexology as one of the therapeutic methods in the NIH departments, as well as on their website.

Some research information on reflexology:

• Reflexology reduces feeling of pain – UoP (University of Portsmouth)

http://uopnews.port.ac.uk/2013/04/09/reflexology-reduces-feelings-of-pain/

• Reflexology reduces acute pain in infants PubMed NIH 

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26220257

• Reflexology recognized particularly in reducing pain – UM (University of Minnesota)

https://www.takingcharge.csh.umn.edu/explore-healing-practices/reflexology/what-does-research-say-about-refloxology

• Reflexology at Dana-Farber http://blog.dana-farber.org/insight/2016/07/how-can-reflexology-help-cancer-patients/

• Reflexology at Michigan University, funds by the NCI (National Cancer Institute)   http://nursing.msu.edu/News%20and%20Events/Latest%20News/

http://research.msu.edu/reflexology-shows-promise-for-treating-cancer-symptoms/

• PTSD:

https://www.massagemag.com/reflexology-offers-hope-for-ptsd-and-other-conditions-32567/

 • Diabetes:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26822889

• Sleep & Insomnia -

http://www.reflexologyresearch.net/ReflexologySleepResearch.shtml

• IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome) 

http://www.reflexologyresearch.net/ReflexologyIrritableBowelsResearch.shtml

• MRI Validate Reflexology - http://www.healingbalance.org/1/post/2014/10/scientists-use-mri-to-validate-reflexology.html

Gut Health

Your health begins in the gut, and continues in the intestines. How do you know, if your gut is functioning properly? I would like to share with you the easiest way to evaluate your gastro-intestinal health. 

All you need is to look at your poop, literally, here is the visual. Please share your type with me on your next visit or call.

Tongue Diagnosis

 First off, read this amazing book: “You are What you Eat” book by Dr. Gillian McKeith.

The following are excerpts from Dr McKeith's book. This information is no substitute for seeking medical advice from a doctor or qualified practitioner, if there are any concerns.

Healthy Looking Tongue:

If this is your tongue below, congrats, no need to look further. If it is not your tongue, review the pictures below and please know that your gut health can be improved and your tongue will show the results. Let's talk about the right nutritional choices you can make. I'm here for you to modify and add appropriate supplements and teas through my Virtual Dispensary- FullScript.

Photo from: simplysupplementsblog.com

Cracked Tongue

A crack down the middle of your tongue means that you are probably nutrient depleted and your digestion isn't what it should be.  You are probably also often bloated after eating and have energy slumps in the middle of the day.  I would  recommend taking digestive enzymes with meals,  eat soups, stews and blends which are easy to digest, and avoiding fizzy drinks.

 labspace.open.ac.uk

Eat nourishing foods: Artichokes, Avocados, Carrots, Sprouts of seeds, Parsnips, Black or Wild Rice, Squash, Sweet Potatoes, Turnips, Yams

Drinks herbal infusion of Fennel, Peppermint, Licorice.

White Coating

Thick White Coating or Swollen Tongue is an indication of too much mucus in the body.  It's also a sign of a lack of beneficial bacteria and too much yeast.  Dr McKeith recommends reducing dairy products, eating more green superfoods and taking probiotics to replenish your body with healthy bacteria.

blogs.discovery.com

Teeth Marks

Teeth marks around the side of the tongue are due to nutritional deficiency. Dr. McKeith says your digestion is also probably impaired and you have a spleen deficiency.  If your Spleen is weak, you probably also struggle with gas and bloating.  

www.acupuncture123.ca

Spleen nourishing foods: Aduki Beans,Yellow squash, Mung Beans, Kidney Beans, Alfalfa, Beetroot, Oats, Carrots, Parsley, Celery,Parsnips, Pumpkin, Fennel, Sweet Potatoes, Turnips, Yams,  Fish, Chicken. Foods high in Chlorophyll: Leafy greens, Algae, Kale, Chard.

Herbs and Spices to Nourish the Spleen: Astragalus, Garlic, Black Pepper, Ginger, Cayenne Pepper, Ginseng, Cinnamon, Horseradish, Dill seed, Pau d’Arco. 

Cracks

Horizontal cracks, small cracks/grooves on tongue are usually a sign of malabsorption, especially of B vitamins, and often accompanied by a lack of energy.  Most overweight patients that Dr McKeith sees for the first time, she says, are deficient in B Vitamins.  This has usually developed over a long time.  

candidablogspot.co.uk

She recommends, Vit. B Complex, digestive enzyme supplements, peppermint and nettle teas and 2 tbsp of Aloe Vera juice before meals.  She also recommends taking echinacea tincture (20 drops daily for 2 weeks), to help move lymph and eliminate toxins that are impeding nutrient absorption. I add the Bellicon trampoline to the daily routine.

Yellow Coating

A Thick Yellow Coating indicates excess heat in the gut, and that you don't have enough healthy bacteria in your body.  Dr McKeith says if the coating is at the back of your tongue you need to pay attention to your colon, as you bowels may not be working as they should be. Check against the Bristol Stool Chart, I provided above.

maciociaonline.blogspot.co.uk

Solutions: If you can take 2 tablespoons of aloe vera juice before meals.

Add sage tea (2 cups a day for a month), and alternate this with camomile tea.

Eat more vegetables, nuts, grains, seeds. Are you run down from doing too much, please start to take things easier.

Red Tip: 

Red Tip on the Tongue according to Dr McKeith  indicates emotional stress or upset. She recommends at looking at ways to reduce the stress in your life.

homeopathyworldcommunity.com

Sore Tongue is a sign of a nutrient deficiency, often iron, vitamin B6 or niacin.

She recommends to drink nettle teas and it may be worth getting your iron levels checked and seeing a medical professional for proper test and supplementation.

• She recommends to drink nettle teas and it may be worth getting your iron levels checked and seeing a medical professional for proper test and supplementation.