Dr. Corinne: Amazing Teas and The Conditions They Treat

Dr. Corinne Weaver : Jun 13, 2018
DrCorinneWeaver.com

Teas have been found helpful for many conditions, including fighting infection, alleviation of stress, and immune support to ward off inflammation.

How many of you believe that the God of the universe can speak to you? Well, I do. He has spoken to me in many ways. Today I was deep into my studying and focusing on my purpose for Him. Every time I am in that place He shows up. In January of 2017, He spoke to me about how I was going to help bring healing through my words and then I got this opportunity to write this column every week. Today he spoke through a red cardinal. (Photo: Dr. Corinne Weaver)

Ha, ha I know! Sounds silly, right?

I was in deep thought and this red cardinal kept knocking on my window. At first, I thought "That's funny. Why is he doing that?" I even filmed it on my phone and went back to my deep-thinking place. Then he did it again, but I ignored it and moved on. The third time he did it, he was flying right beside a dragonfly.

WHAT!?  

This time I stopped what I was doing and listened to my inner voice. The reason my heart fluttered was because my mom loved dragonflies, and this was the third occurrence this week. The first time a dragonfly showed up was when my son was getting his driver's license. The second time was when he was driving me home after my TV appearance on how to take care of dads for Father's Day. Now, the third time: a knocking RED cardinal got my attention FINALLY.

I know God is with us and desires to speak to us.

I have been extra busy these past few months, but today I finally tuned myself in to hear what He was telling me, so I googled the significance of red cardinals.

The first image that showed up was a statement that said, "Cardinals appear when angels are near. So, go now, sit outside and drink your tea. Keep a look out for the little red bird—it is there, your loved one will be."  Amazing, because I am writing to you today about teas! So, as I sip my tea, I want to share with you today about how my uncle John's tea helped me breathe when I had asthma as a kid. It was tea that helped me get through some of my worst asthma episodes. My uncle—known as "Amazon John"—would bring me Una de Gato and Pau d'Arco straight from the Amazon and make me his famous tea. I would first breathe in the steeped tea for 10-15 minutes and then drink cups of it throughout the day. His famous tea then became known as The Rainforest Treasure Tea. It's an herbal blend of Jatoba, Una de Gato, Pau d'Arco, Quebra Pedra, and Stevia.

Teas have been found helpful for many conditions, including fighting infection, alleviation of stress, and immune support to ward off inflammation. Catechins, a type of disease-fighting flavonoid and antioxidant, are the keys to tea's health benefits. Here's a tip: The longer you steep the tea, the more flavonoids you'll get in your brew. To get the best tea benefit, some studies suggest drinking three cups each day to cut heart disease risk.

Thearubigins, epicatechins, and catechins are among those listed in a USDA chart. All are considered flavonoids, a type of antioxidant. Brewed green and black teas have loads of those. The amounts of EGCG varies widely. A brand of loose-leaf tea, Teavana Green Tea Gyokuro, provided the most EGCG, with 86 mg per one-teaspoon serving. Bigelow Green Tea has the least, with 25 mg per tea bag.

L-theanine is found primarily in tea; it is an amino acid that helps calm the nervous system. It's also thought to be the secret to tea's subtle calming effects despite the caffeination. While it can help improve your quality of sleep, L-theanine is also helpful for reducing anxiety levels. Tea can be a drug-free alternative that enables you to take the edge off and warm you up on a cold day or ice it and cool you down on a hot day!

Green and black tea both contain antioxidants, which may prevent cancer and other diseases. For years research focused on the health properties of green tea. Recent studies indicate that black tea has benefits as well. In each case oxidation or non-oxidation gives the tea a different set of antioxidant compounds.

Teas in General

Green, black, and white teas are loaded with polyphenols, plant-derived compounds that boost the immune system and may even protect against certain inflammation-causing diseases. But, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center, green tea contains the highest concentration of powerful antioxidants called polyphenols, since it's made from unfermented leaves. When it comes to fighting inflammation, green tea may help fight inflammatory conditions like Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, inflammatory bowel disease and certain cancers. Try long brews for roots and leaves—this will boost the tea's potency.

Note: Delicate flowers and leaves should not be boiled, as this can reduce their medicinal properties. A longer steeping time, ten minutes up to two hours, will yield a stronger tea with more beneficial properties. I would boil 6-8 cups of tea at night and then let it sit all night till it cools. Then I would have it all day to sip on. I haven't done that in years because I no longer have asthma and I love my Purity coffee. Now I am mixing it up and doing coffee some days and teas on other days. It works great! (Photo: Herbal Tea/Creative Commons/Pixabay)

If you want to try either one, you can with this coupon code. For the Purity coffee you can use the code HealthyJava at: www.puritycoffee.com/ref/168/  and for my uncle's famous tea you can go to www.trivita.com/14719780. Search Rainforest Treasure Tea.  He does a quick video explaining these herbs in his tea.

The herbs in my uncle's famous tea:

Jatoba: A canopy tree used to provide energy and support gastrointestinal health.1

Una de Gato: Also known as Cat's Claw, Una de Gato is a woody vine native to the Amazon Rainforest. It has been used by South Americans to stimulate the immune system and ward off poor health.2,3

Pau d'Arco: In scientific studies, Pau d'Arco has been discovered to contain active chemicals known as naphthoquinones that contain anti-inflammatory properties.4

Quebra Pedra: A plant used in Brazil to support urinary health.5

Stevia: A natural sweetener containing zero calories.6

Serve steeped tea hot or iced. If you wish, add sweetener, lemon or spices to taste.

I also love matcha tea which is high in antioxidants, more so than wild blueberries or chocolate. Matcha is the most nutrient rich green tea available.

Sage tea: The herb sage has anti-inflammatory properties that are both antibacterial and antifungal. It can help relieve strep throat.

Kombucha Tea is a potent detoxifier known for its anti-microbial and anti-cancer properties. It is a source of amino acids, antioxidants, polyphenols, probiotics, vitamins and minerals. It contains B12. It is a source of glucosamine which reduce pain and inflammation, particularly arthritis. It acts similar to NSAIDs. My kids love GT's Kombucha Gingerade. We also make our own.

Ginger Tea works to reduce chronic inflammation and soothe the gut. Ginger is widely known for its anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory properties, and its ability to alleviate symptoms of gastrointestinal distress by relaxing and soothing the intestinal tract.

According to research in the National Center for Biotechnology, ginger exhibits analgesic and potent anti-inflammatory effects that decrease inflammation, swelling and pain associated with osteoarthritis and rheumatism. Research published in the U.S. National Library of Medicine also suggests that ginger has anticancer activities because of its ability to curb the life or death of a cell.

How to make ginger tea

Boil the ginger for ten minutes. Place in a cup and add lemon or lime.

-6 thin slices raw ginger

-1 1⁄2 cup boiling water

-1/2 lemon or lime, juiced

Dandelion tea can detox the body and fight chronic inflammation. Dandelions are more than just a weed. They can detoxify your body, relieve constipation, soothe an upset stomach, help reduce water weight and help fight inflammation. Dandelion tea is made from the roots or leaves of the plant and has been used in ancient Native American and Chinese medicine for thousands of years.

Ingredients

-1 to 2 tablespoons dried dandelion leaves

-1 cup water

Here are some of the characteristics and healing properties of the major tea families:

Black Tea
This tea is more oxidized than other teas, which gives it a darker color, and a stronger flavor profile.

Health Benefits of Black Tea:
-aids the digestive system
-anti-inflammatory effects on the body
-protects the skin
-burns calories

Green Tea
This tea has not been processed as much as other forms, and so it has a gentler color and flavor profile.

Health Benefits of Green Tea:
-protects against cancer
-maintains heart health
-increases fat burning

Oolong Tea
This tea is made by a process of withering the leaves and drying them in the sun. This creates a light-colored tea with a mild flavor profile.

Health Benefits of Oolong Tea:
-manages diabetes
-protects your teeth

White Tea
This tea is not oxidized or rolled, and this creates a mild flavor profile.

Health Benefits of White Tea:
-supports mental health
-fights bacteria

Herbal Tea
This tea is comprised of the dried properties of petals, leaves, seeds, roots, stems, and petals of a multitude of plants and flowers.

Health Benefits of Herbal Tea:
-aids in digestion
-relieves anxiety and stress
-helps with sleep
-provides anti-inflammatory properties

With all of the benefits of drinking tea, choosing a tea for your specific needs is a great way to discover what is out there, because with over 1500 varieties, finding one that fits your ideal flavor profile can be a little overwhelming.

Here are a few common symptoms that many of us experience, and a tea blend that can help:

Stress Blend
-chamomile
-lavender
-passion flower

Fatigue Blend
-mint
-nettles
-ginseng
-licorice root

Exhaustion Blend
-chamomile
-nettles
-licorice root
-lavender
-Ashwagandha Root
-clove

Consult your health practitioner if pregnant or nursing to establish which teas are safe for you and your baby. Right now, my sister is due to have her baby any day. I have her drinking red raspberry tea because red raspberry leaf is said to aid the mother's immune system, ease morning sickness and promote better circulation. Taking raspberry leaf is believed to help strengthen uterine muscles and tone the pelvic floor in preparation for childbirth, as well as assist with breastmilk supply.

If you want more healthy tips you can subscribe to my YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/drcorinneweaver. Like and comment on my channel so I will know what tips and topics you want to know about. I am forming a community of people who want to take action in their own health with my social media channels and I want to know what health topics you want to hear.  

I hope my column speaks to you and you can wake up each morning with a purpose. What I do every day is a calling, and I give God the glory for allowing His gifts to work through me. I do believe in miracles, because I get to see them every day!  For more information you can go to www.nomoremedsmovement.com  and sign up for my closed Facebook group #NoMoreMeds-Community for more healthy tips.

Keep Breathing,

Dr. Corinne

Email: Dr@DrCorinneWeaver.com
Website: www.DrCorinneWeaver.com

Dr. Corinne Weaver is a compassionate upper cervical chiropractor, educator, motivational speaker, mother of three, and internationally bestselling author. In 2004, she founded the Upper Cervical Wellness Center in Indian Trail, North Carolina. Over the last 13 years, she has helped thousands of clients restore their brain to-body function. When she was 10 years old, she lost her own health as the result of a bike accident that led to having asthma and allergy issues that she thought she would always have to endure. Then, after her first upper cervical adjustment at age 21, her health began to improve thanks to upper cervical care and natural herbal remedies. This enabled her to create a drug-free wellness lifestyle for herself and her family, and she also enthusiastically discovered her calling to help children heal naturally.

Dr. Weaver was named one of Charlotte Magazine's "Top Doctors" in 2016 and is now a number-one internationally bestselling author to two books: Learning How to Breathe and No More Meds.

Upper Cervical Wellness Center is known for finding the root cause of health concerns through lifestyle changes, diagnostic testing, nutraceutical supplementation, and correction of subluxation (as opposed to just medicating the symptoms). The practice offers cutting-edge technological care at its state-of-the-art facility, including laser-aligned upper cervical X-rays, bioimpedance analysis (measures body composition), digital thermography (locates thermal abnormalities characterized by skin inflammation), and complete nutritional blood analysis, which is focused on disease prevention.