A Drink To Your Heart!

I first learned about the health benefits of Cayenne pepper, Ginger, Acv (apple cider vinegar...Bragg's) and hawthorn berry tincture a few  years ago when reading a book called "Left for dead."  The book is very good and informative on the health benefits of these and other herbs which specifically target heart health.  I checked it out at my library when I read it.  If you haven't read it, it's definitely a worthy read.
 (Recipe below)

Product Description

(Via Amazon)

http://www.amazon.com/Left-Dead-Dick-Quinn/dp/0963283901/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1299122750&sr=8-3

From The Publisher Left for dead by his doctors after a 1978 heart attack and failed bypass surgery, Dick Quinn discovered an herb that saved his life. LEFT FOR DEAD tells his remarkable story and shows how he controls blood pressure and cholesterol, cleans arteries, prevents heart attack and enjoys a wonderful quality of life without drugs or special diets.

Heart Health Drink Recipe
Here is a recipe for a healthy heart drink based on the info.  I found in the book Left for Dead.

4-8 oz. filtered water

1-2 tsp Bragg's Acv 

(some will say up to 2tbsp but that is just too tart for me)

(Bragg's because it is raw and has living enzymes still present which makes it beneficial to your body)

1/4-1/2 tsp cayenne pepper 

(the hottest you can find.  I have 140,000 HU (heat units) which I purchased from Azure Standard)

honey to taste or stevia
(I've used both and both are great)

1/2 tsp Hawthorn berry tincture

(I purchased my hawthorn berries from www.bulkherbstore.com  and then made my tincure)

1/4 tsp powder or fresh ginger

This drink has a sweet/ tart kind of taste, if it were not for the smell, I'd say it almost has a lemon flavor.  I actually kind of like it.  I am going to be working on a couple other "drinks" that I will share as I work out the ingredients.

It's not pretty and it smells of Acv so it's not for the squeamish but truly, it doesn't taste bad...really!

Cayenne benefits:

Excerpts from Left for Dead

One of the most effective stimulants, cayenne targets the digestive and the circulatory system primarily. Cayenne regulates blood pressure, strengthens the pulse, feeds the heart, lowers cholesterol, thins the blood, cleanses the circulatory system, heals ulcers, stops hemorrhaging, speeds healing of wounds, rebuilds damaged tissue, eases congestion, aids digestions, regulates elimination, relieves arthritis and rheumatism, prevents the spread of infection and numbs pain.

In the circulatory system, it helps the arteries, veins and capillaries regain the elasticity of youth by feeding the cell structure. It helps equalize circulation by regulating the flow of blood from the head to the feet. Cayenne strengthens the pulse by increasing the power, not the frequency... In addition to helping prevent the build-up of cholesterol which can narrow the veins and arteries, cayenne also helps thin the blood and prevent blood clots that can clog the arteries and cause heart attack and stroke.

By increasing the circulation of the blood to peripheral tissues throughout the body, cayenne helps deliver necessary nutrients to inflamed and infected areas. Studies show that the nutrients in food ingested with cayenne are assimilated faster and more easily.

Just a small quantity of Cayenne can dramatically increase the efficiency of most herbs, this catalyst herb is added to nearly every herbal combination available. Added to garlic, for example, Cayenne speeds up the antibiotic action of the other herb. Cayenne boosts the power of garlic so much it’s akin to taking liquid penicillin. Together, garlic and Cayenne lower blood pressure safely and rapidly.

Externally, the aromatic herb makes a very effective pain killer or anesthetic. Cayenne has been used in poultices for centuries as an irritant or counter-irritant. Exposure to the pungent herb can cause pain but prolonged exposure deadens the nerves to pain.

Hawthorn berry benefits

Excerpts from Left for Dead

Hawthorn regulates high and low blood pressure, arrhythmic heartbeat and irregular pulse. Hawthorn prevents hardening of the arteries, treats arteriosclerosis and cools inflammation of the heart muscle. Used regularly, hawthorn strengthens the heart muscle and the nerves to the heart.

Controlled medical studies in Europe showed that hawthorn lowered blood pressure and reduced the strain on the heart by dilating the blood vessels away from the heart, strengthened the heart muscle by increasing the metabolism of enzymes in the heart muscle, boosted the utilization of oxygen by the heart and slightly dilated the coronary vessels. Almost all the heart patients given hawthorn showed improvement. Hawthorn normalized and enhanced the function of the heart and circulatory system without side effects.

Hawthorn is a gentle heart tonic that nurtures the entire circulatory system. Hawthorn has proven effective as a treatment for functional heart disease arrhythmia, angina pectoris, age-related circulatory insufficiency, arteriosclerosis and regulation of the circulatory system.

To thwart the damaging effects of a heart attack hawthorn is the ‘ounce of prevention that is worth a pound of cure.’ Hawthorn improves coronary circulation by dilating the coronary arteries to bring more oxygen directly to the heart muscle and reducing the chances of heart attack or angina. Increasing the ability of the heart to function smoothly, hawthorn imparts a gentle but persistent toning action that compensates for age-related degeneration of the heart. Simply put, hawthorn helps keep the heart healthy enough to head off a heart attack.

Used in conjunction with a healthy diet and stress management, hawthorn is the perfect preventative prescription for persons who have a family history of heart disease. Considered a safe and effective long-term treatment for the gradual loss of heart function that comes with age, hawthorn is not habit forming, accumulative or toxic.

For patients who have already suffered a heart attack, studies show hawthorn speeds recovery, lowers blood pressure, strengthens the heart and forestalls any onset of coronary disease. No other herb in the plant kingdom provides the nourishing regeneration of hawthorn both before or after a heart attack.
Excerpts for this book obtained from: http://www.morethanalive.com  

How to make a tincture

To make the tincture, steep four ounces of the berries in a pint of brandy for 4 weeks, then filter and place in a glass jar with tight fitting lid and store in cool, dark room  (also, I double the recipe and make a quart at a time but that is up to you). Fifteen drops is considered one dose. For hawthorn tea, add one or two teaspoons of berries to hot water.

**Note:  If you are new to making tinctures, I encourage you to jump in and do it.  It's crazy easy and once the herbs have been submerged in the alcohol, the final product will last at least 3 years and some say indefinitely if stored properly in a cool dark place with secure lid.  I will do a post to list some herbs that you might consider having in your "medicine cabinet" soon.  I am a tincture freak.  I started making them as single ingredient but now often make them as multi-ingredient tinctures so they have more benefits.

Blessings, Traci

****Just in case a stranger stumbles in here who doesn't know me and reads this...This blog does not intend to give any medical advice. This is just common sense information that any Tom, Dick or Harry can apply to every day living situations.  You are responsible for whatever info. you find here and choose to use and for how you use it. I suggest you research this info for yourself also.  The writer of this blog is not liable for any problems arising from the use of this info.  Please check this book out if you can.

I guess I have to say stuff like that, so I did:)

Gooood day!