Kitchen Pharmacy & Herbal Teas

Webinar notes - Week 5: Kitchen Pharmacy

• Introduction to Kitchen Pharmacy

  • Week 5 of NMdm 121 live stream workshop.

  • Focus: Utilizing common pantry and fridge items for health.

  • Benefits for self, family, clients, and content creation.

• Workshop Agenda

  • Quiz recap (covering Week 1-4 content).

  • Content summary: Herbal teas and nutritionist scope.

  • Case study: Chamomile tea consumption.

  • Rapid-fire questions to test knowledge.

  • "In the news" article discussion.

  • Workshop portfolio activity overview.

• Quiz Details

  • Opens Monday, closes Sunday at 11:55 PM (Australian Eastern Standard Time).

  • Covers Weeks 1-4.

  • 30-minute time frame; do not exit once started.

  • Hint: Match definitions to Week 4 phytochemicals modules.

  • Content is equally distributed across all four weeks (25% each).

• Content Covered This Week

  • Kitchen pharmacy, teas, food remedies.

  • First aid, topical remedies.

  • Edible weeds and flowers.

Herbal Teas and Nutritionists

• Prescribing Herbal Teas

  • Naturopaths can freely prescribe herbal teas.

  • Custom blends are a good business selling point.

  • Tailored prescriptions for nervous system support, specific times of day.

  • Customizable taste profiles (e.g., chamomile, mint adjustments).

• Wholesale Herbal Teas

  • Sourced from wholesale companies (details learned in clinic).

  • Clinics often sell sample herbal tea blends.

• Nutritionist Recommendations

  • Nutritionists can recommend safe tea variations found in gardens and used in regular diets.

  • Examples: green tea, peppermint, lavender, sage, ginger, cinnamon tea.

  • Caution: Avoid mixing herbs due to potential interactions and absorption issues.

  • Selling pre-made blends from reputable companies is acceptable.

  • Be cautious with elderberry and passionflower due to safety concerns for children/adults.

• Chamomile Tea Considerations

  • Generally safe, but frequency and strength matter.

  • Teas are diluted, less therapeutic than capsules/tablets.

  • Strong doses can have therapeutic effects and potential interactions/kidney issues.

• Practitioner Responsibility

  • First rule: Do no harm.

  • Refer clients to tea places for custom blends to avoid liability.

Case Study: Chamomile Tea Overdose

• Scenario: Friend Betty consumes 10 cups of chamomile tea daily (tea bag left in), complains of fatigue.

• Analysis

  • Chamomile has sedative effects; excessive consumption leads to over-relaxation.

  • Important to ask about the quantity of tea consumed.

  • High doses can cause adverse effects.

• Alternatives to Water

  • Address the aversion to plain water.

  • Suggestions: lemon, citrus, strawberry, cucumber infusions.

• Recommendations

  • Reduce tea bag usage for 10 cups (use 2-3 tea bags in a large thermos).

  • Switch to teas without calming effects.

  • Determine the reason for chamomile consumption (calming vs. taste).

  • Explore different brands with varied tastes (e.g., T2).

  • Limit chamomile to evenings; use energizing blends in the morning.

  • Consider cold water infusers with dry flowers/fruit in summer.

Favorite Tea Blends & Suppliers

• Personal Preferences

  • Green tea with jasmine and goji kola.

  • Echinacea and elderberry blend.

• Wholesale Suppliers

  • Access to a variety of brands and blends.

  • Opportunity to experiment with custom blends.

• Custom Blend Companies

  • Potential for creating custom blends for friends, family, or clients.

  • Some offer online shops for graduates.

  • Certifications and sourcing practices are important.

  • Courses available for teaching tea blending.

  • Wholesale accounts often require clinical subject enrollment.

• Tea Supplier Examples

  • Organic certified options (e.g., television).

  • Companies that allow custom recipe submissions.

  • Basic companies with tea blends (e.g., T2).

• Recommendation: Try Different Things

  • Familiarize yourself with various tastes and brands.

  • Helpful for advising clients on food and tea preferences.

  • Example: Know the textures of protein bars to make informed recommendations.

  • Educate yourself on flavors like lemongrass, hibiscus, licorice.

Kitchen Pharmacy Applications

• Diverse Uses

  • Different teas.

  • Baths, face washes, foot soaks.

  • Topical applications: rubs, gels, oils.

  • Homemade gargles and syrups.

  • Food as medicine remedies.
    *

Rapid Fire Questions

• Constipation Remedies
  * Prunes.
  * Psyllium husks.
  * Water.
  * Exercise.
  * Massage techniques.
  * Fruit and vegetable skins (fiber).

• Wound Infections
  * Salt water or vinegar wash.
  * Probiotics.
  * Manuka honey.
  * Vitamin E capsules.
  * Historical use of honey for wound healing.

• Restless Legs/Sore Muscles
  * Magnesium (Epsom salt bath, sprays).
  * Foot soaks.
  * Magnesium spray (potential stinging indicates deficiency or skin barrier issues).
  * Carrier moisturizer with magnesium spray.
  * Exercise, stretching, massage.
  * Hydration and electrolytes.

• Improve Gut Health
  * Bone broth, potassium broth.
  * Fermented foods (sauerkraut).
  * Prebiotic foods (onion, garlic, Jerusalem artichoke).
  * Chewing food properly.
  * Limiting liquids during meals.
  * Avoiding caffeine with meals.
  * Mindful eating practices.
  * Addressing underlying causes (medications).

• Urinary Tract Infection (UTI)
  * D-Mannose.
  * Sitz bath.
  * Cranberry juice.
  * Vitamin C.
  * Food and preventative measures.

• Skin Health (Eczema, Psoriasis, Acne)
  * Avoid sugar.
  * Limit inflammatory foods (dairy, gluten).
  * Topical treatments (poultice, oats).
  * Vitamin C and E moisturizers.
  * Natural makeup.
  * Gut health regulation.
  * Bowel regulation (toxin elimination).
  * Holistic approach involving diet, sleep, and overall health.

• Asthmatic Attack/Symptoms
  * Caffeine (bronchodilator).

In The News Article: Caffeine as Bronchodilator

• Personal Experience

  • Colleague's asthma attack.

  • Administered double shot of coffee as a temporary solution.

    • It was he was having an appetite with a panic attack.

• Article Discussion

  • Identified reflux as a potential asthma trigger.

• Alternative to Coffee
  * Ten black tea bags steeped for a few minutes.

• Considerations
  * Individual preferences/aversions to caffeine.
  * Medical 1st aid knowledge crucial.
  * Food as medicine takes time (dietary changes and supplements).

• Other Benefits of Caffeine
  * Headache relief (in some cases).
  * Potential reduction of delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS).
  * Short-term energy boost.
  * Cardiovascular health (when taken appropriately).
  * Social benefits.

• Article Critique

  • Wish for a comparison of caffeine content in various products, like soft drinks.

Portfolio Activity

• Task: Select two different herbal teas.

  • One for stress and anxiety (e.g., chamomile, Lemon Balm, Lavender).

  • One for mild indigestion and bloating (e.g., Mint).

• Requirements

  • Keep tea selections separate.

  • Provide sufficient detail for each tea's benefits.

  • Portfolio structure:

    • Tea selection one: Chamomile nervous system.

    • Discuss two potential health benefits (e.g., reduce cortisol).

    • Tea selection two: Mint intestinal bloating.

    • Mention mint's properties and soothing effects.

• Client Application

  • Include a sentence relating the tea to a client's experience (e.g., bloating after heavy meals).

• Mechanism of Action

  • No need for complex explanations, focus on overall health benefits.

• Word Count

  • Aim for 150-250 words per week.

• Tea Blends

  • If selecting a blend, summarize benefits for each tea in the blend (e.g., chamomile, lemon balm, lavender).

• Resources

  • Utilize Google Scholar or PubMed to research tea benefits.