The Coffee Crutch
In the natural world coffee (Coffea arabica) is considered a drug alongside tobacco, alcohol, and cocaine. You definitely won’t make any friends by saying this. It is this herbalist’s opinion that anything you need to “wean”, “detox”, or “ration” is an addiction.
Now, before you lose your collective minds, I am and have always been a coffee drinker. I am currently taking a break from my morning coffee. As with every break I take there’s the 3 day detox with the peak of the withdrawal headache landing on day 2. Now that I’ve passed the worst of it there’s no craving.
The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly
The Good
Herbalists generally fall into two categories when it comes to coffee, for or against. I am both. I truly believe that this powerful stimulant is healthy and effective for short term use. I love recommending it as a diuretic for all manner of issues. It is also hands down one of the easiest herbs to relieve constipation. An enema of this powerhouse herb is a thing of beauty. It is also an effective CNS stimulant which can help in mental alertness and perception.
New research has shown that coffee may protect from Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s.
The Bad
Although some say it is non-addictive, I beg to differ. Getting someone off this caffeinated drink has proven more difficult than quitting hard drugs or cigarettes. A chronic coffee user will experience symptoms of constipation, headache, sleeplessness, and agitation after quitting coffee abruptly. One of the biggest upsets with caffeine in general, especially coffee, is with women and PMS. Caffeine increases symptoms and period pain. I always suggest no caffeine, dairy, or salt 3 days before or during the menstrual cycle. Coffee is just so depleting to the nervous and endocrine systems. It is exhausting.
Coffee(caffeine) is such a strong diuretic that it is responsible for flushing out much needed magnesium and calcium through the urine before renal absorption can happen.
The Ugly
Anxiety affects roughly 359 million people worldwide. Caffeine can trigger and increase existing anxiety. This can last hours with rapid heart rate, rapid breathing, and adrenaline spikes. If you have never suffered through an anxiety attack I do not recommend. 0/10.
For The Coffee Lover
Enjoy your cup of coffee in the morning but after you have a cup of hot herbal tea with lemon first. You can also just do a cup of hot water with lemon and a dash of cayenne. Then drink a glass of regular water with lemon and a tiny pinch of baking soda and sea salt. Finally after you’ve done the above, have a beloved cup but make sure to have it with your protein and fiber rich breakfast.
