Cuozzo Health Integrative Medicine

02/14/2026

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Chocolate is derived from cacao, a plant that is very high in flavanols. Research is showing that these flavanols provide antioxidant protection and may improve cardiovascular health. One reason for the effect on the cardiovascular system is the trace minerals content in cacao such as magnesium. Other benefits include a reduced risk of cancer, heart disease, asthma, and stroke. They protect the brain and can have antihistamine, antimicrobial, memory- and even mood-enhancing properties.

One concern with cacao is the lipid content. However, keep in mind that one third of the lipids are composed of stearic acid, which does not negatively affect cholesterol. The other percentage tend to be monounsaturated fats, which provide their own health benefits. What gets confusing is when cacao is made into chocolate; the way it is processed can add unhealthy fats, high fructose corn syrup, and other undesirable chemicals. When shopping for healthy chocolate keep in mind that the darker the chocolate, the more flavanols it has. When buying chocolate bars, look for dark chocolate, organic if possible, that is low in saturated fat and added sugars.

References

Health by Chocolate. Webmd.com. http://www.webmd.com/diet/features/health-by-chocolate (accessed Jan 14, 2013).

Steinberg FM, Bearden MM, Keen CL. 2003. Cocoa and chocolate flavonoids: implications for cardiovascular health. Journal of the American Dietetic Association 103 (2): 215-223.

Strand, Erik. 2003. Flavonoids: Antioxidants Help the Mind. Psychology Today Website. http://www.psychologytoday.com/articles/200307/flavonoids-antioxidants-help-the-mind (accessed January 14, 2013).

02/06/2026

Pre-order for your kiddos!
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01/23/2026

You can buy Standard Process products here:
Cuozzohealth.standardprocess.com/products

01/16/2026

I LOVE ARNICA! It is my #1 favorite homeopathic remedy. It's magic for bumps and bruises! I also love the Arnica bath soak and massage oil by Weleda.
You can get Arnica by creating an account on Fullscript:
https://us.fullscript.com/welcome/ccuozzo1690639622/store-start

Ease Muscle Pain and Bruising with Arnica

Native Americans have long used Arnica montana to ease the pain and inflammation associated with sore muscles. Today, many people are familiar with the use of homeopathic arnica creams, gels, and lotions to ease muscle and joint pain, as well as bruising due to injury.

In the wild, Arnica's bright gold blossoms resemble tiny stars. The herb was first used in pagan rituals to celebrate the summer solstice. It was believed that Arnica could enhance the health of crops and the forthcoming harvest. The use of Arnica shifted from metaphysical to medicinal in the 1500s when Italian physician and herbalist Pietro Andrea Mattioli recorded the herb's healing abilities.

Today, homeopathic arnica montana is used in hundreds of products and herbal preparations. Its use is much more common in Europe, but has found a receptive audience in the United States among doctors of natural medicine, chiropractors, herbalists, homeopathic practitioners, massage therapists, and physical therapists.

Arnica montana is available as a homeopathic, a botanical tincture, and as a base for making compresses and poultices. Some of the common preparations include gels, creams, ointments, salves and are available over-the-counter or from botanical medicine specialists. It can be used topically but never ingested as a supplement or herbal tea because of its toxicity. Additionally, arnica should not be used by women who are pregnant or breastfeeding. For most other people, topical use of arnica is generally well tolerated. Consult with a holistic health practitioner regarding the amount of arnica needed to support healing.

Resource

Johnson, R.L., S. Foster, Low Dog, T. and Kiefer, D. National Geographic Guide to Medicinal Herbs: The World's Most Effective Healing Plants. (2012) Washington, D.C.: National Geographic.

01/15/2026

Whole Food Folate - no synthetics! Take what your body knows how to use. 🌱
Cuozzohealth.standardprocess.com/products

01/13/2026

Music to my ears 🎵👂

You don't have to be a neuroscientist to recognize that music has an effect on your mood. Music evokes memory, inspires creativity, alleviates boredom, lifts spirits, and enhances motivation during exercise or study. But can listening to music boost your physical health and, in particular, your immune system?

The answer is a resounding yes.

One large study determined that music has an impact on social bonding and mood management; additionally there is a unique relationship between stress, music, and immunity. It goes like this: frequent stress raises the level of the hormone cortisol in the bloodstream; too much cortisol deteriorates the immune response, making us more prone to illness and certain chronic diseases. Listening to our favorite "uplifting music" calms the mind and body enough to lower levels of cortisol and raise the levels of antibodies associated with fighting infection.

Researchers are examining the healing effects of music composed specifically in tune with physiological measures and brain wave patterns. If you have specific health concerns, consider having a music therapist design a customized program for you.


Resources


Chandra, ML. & Levitin, DJ., "The Neurochemistry of Music." Trends in Cognitive Sciences, (April 2013) 17:4. Accessed 4 May 2017:https://daniellevitin.com/levitinlab/articles/2013-TICS_1180.pdf

American Music Therapy Association. "Selected Bibliography on Music Therapy and Mental Health." Accessed 4 May 2017:https://www.musictherapy.org/assets/1/7/MT_Mental_Health_2006.pdf

Ryback, R., "Music's Power Explained." ." (posted Mar 2016). Psychology Today Online. Accessed 4 May 2017: https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-truisms-wellness/201601/music-s-power-explained

Brown,S.etal, "Passive music listening spontaneously engages limbic and paralimbic systems." NeuroReport (2004)15, 2033–2037.http://www.neuroarts.org/pdf/neuroreport.pdf

Khalfa, S. et al., "Effects of relaxing music on salivary cortisol level after psychological stress." Ann. N. Y. Acad. Sci. (2003) 999, 374–376.http://www.mpblab.vizja.pl/documents/publications/Khalfa_et_al_2003.pdf

01/08/2026

Great article about the benefits of castor oil!!

If you're looking to detox your liver and lymphatic system post-holiday season, consider castor oil. Extracted from the seed of the castor bean plant, it is native to India and has been used in topical medicine around the world. In addition, castor oil is often used in commercial products such as cosmetics, soaps, textiles, and massage oils.

Castor oil's healing abilities are derived from its high concentration of unsaturated fatty acids, especially ricinoleic acid. It works by way of absorption through the skin and into lymphatic circulation where it stimulates flow of lymph fluid and helps draw out waste products from the cells of the body. This enhances the body's natural detoxification process, while supporting immune system function. Critical Information: Don't use the seed itself -- it can be deadly and is never used medicinally.

Always use castor oil topically. Ingesting castor oil can cause serious health issues such as severe diarrhea. A pack is an excellent safe approach. As always, consult with your natural health practitioner to determine the best way to implement castor oil into you regimen - there are many ways to prepare packs, and some methods are more suitable for particular needs. For example, for some health conditions, the pack is used with heat; for others, without. Castor oil packs are not recommended for women who are pregnant and should not be used by anyone who has recently undergone surgery.

Resources
Fasullo, Craig. (N.D.) "Liver Detox & Castor Oil." Posted at Livestrong.com Accessed 30 Sept 2017: http://www.livestrong.com/article/496828-castor-oil-nutrition/

Pizzorno, Joseph E. (2013). Textbook of Natural Medicine. St. Louis, MO Elsevier.

Grady, H. "Immunomodulation through Castor Oil Packs." Jl of Naturopathic Medicine (1998) 7:1, 84 – 89. Print.

Cayce, E. The Oil that Heals, a physician's successes with castor oil treatments. (1993)A.R.E. Press.http://www.curezone.org/upload/PDF/Edgar_Cayce_The_Oil_That_Heals.pdf

Thornehill Naturopathic. "Castor Oil Packs." Accessed Oct 1 2017:http://www.thornhillnaturopathic.ca/patienthandouts/TNHCCastorOilTN2011.pdf

11/09/2025

Excellent summary about vitamin D. It's essential to maintain optimal vitamin D levels, yet most people are quite deficient. Also, standard lab reference ranges are too low. So if your conventional provider is telling you your level of 30 is normal...It's not! Learn more below.

The Power of Vitamin D

Vitamin D is vital for good health. Every tissue in the body needs vitamin D, yet a large percentage of the world's population is deficient. Even a mild deficiency can contribute to chronic and autoimmune diseases such diabetes, cardiovascular disease, depression, cancer (including ovarian, colon, and breast), multiple sclerosis, and psoriasis.

Nature intended for us to get vitamin D from exposure to sunlight, but colder temperatures prevents bare-skin sun exposure. Additionally, we don't eat enough D-rich foods, like egg yolk, cod liver oil, shiitake mushrooms, and wild salmon. Fortified milk/dairy is also not the best source because you'd need several cups every day.

The best way to help the body establish optimal levels of vitamin D is to take a supplement.

The recommended blood level of vitamin D (above 25 nmol/L) was established to protect people from bone disease (rickets and osteomalacia). From the natural medicine perspective (and emerging scientific data), that threshold is too low to protect against serious illness or to promote optimal health. Depending on the individual, holistic physicians identify 45-90 nmol/L as the ideal vitamin D blood level for disease prevention.

Age, gender, diet, stress level, and lifestyle factors affect absorption of vitamin D. A holistic physician can order a blood test prior to starting a supplement to help ensure you take the appropriate amount and form of vitamin D.

Resources:
The VitaminD Society. Accessed 5 June 2018: http://www.vitamindsociety.org/videos.php?sub=Misc%20Vitamin%20D%20Videos

Holick, M.F., "Sunlight and vitamin D for bone health and prevention of autoimmune diseases, cancers, and cardiovascular disease." The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, (1 December 2004) 80: 6,–1688S. Accessed 5 June 2018: https://doi.org/10.1093/ajcn/80.6.1678S

Grassroots Health. "VitaminD*Action" brochure. Digital copy available:http://www.vitamindsociety.org/pdf/New%20D%20Action%20Call%20to%20action%20and%20FAQ%20sheet%20Jan%2011.pdf

NIH.gov "Vitamin D Fact Sheet for Health Professionals." Accessed 5 June 2018: https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminD-HealthProfessional/

11/06/2025

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Broth's Best Health Benefits:

From moms and grandmas to holistic doctors everywhere, soup broth tops the list of healing foods to eat when you're feeling sick, or when you need a soothing, simple, and nutritious meal.

Varieties of soup broth include vegetable, fish, chicken, beef, and bone (made without meat). Broth is typically made by simmering ingredients, straining off the solids, and serving the liquid. Overall, broths are low in carbs, don't contain much protein, and are abundant in nutrients. This makes broth compatible with many diets.

For robust flavor and nutrition power, you'll want the broth to include a variety of veggies and herbs such as carrots, celery, garlic, mushrooms, onion, spinach, leeks, broccoli, green beans, bay leaf, turmeric, ginger, parsley, and pepper. As an added bonus, many of these ingredients have their own health benefits too.

The soothing effect of drinking warm, steaming broth happens to be an effective way to loosen up mucus when you have a stuffy nose and it can ease irritation from a sore throat. Broth helps provide what the body needs to prevent dehydration and manage nausea. This is because broth contains many minerals, including potassium, sodium, and calcium, which are important to hydration and heart and muscle function. Broth also contains Vitamin A which is important for immunity. The wider the variety of veggies and herbs included in the broth, the more robust the vitamin and anti-inflammatory power.

Resources

Lynn, D. "Is Soup Broth Good for You?"posted at Livestrong.com Accessed 13 Dec 2018: https://www.livestrong.com/article/439591-is-soup-broth-good-for-you/

Saketkhoo,K. et al., "Effects of Drinking Hot Water, Cold Water, and Chicken Soup on Nasal Mucus Velocity and Nasal Airflow Resistance." Chest Jnl (Oct 1978) 74:4, 408-410. Accessed 15 Dec 2018: https://journal.chestnet.org/article/S0012-3692(15)37387-6/fulltext

11/03/2025

Ever seen people (or athletes on TV) walking around with 🟣 on their bodies?

Cupping therapy is a science-backed technique that uses negative pressure to gently lift tissue, increase microcirculation, and stimulate the lymphatic system.

🟣 How does it work?

The suction draws blood and fluid toward the surface, bringing oxygen + nutrients to stagnant tissues, while removing metabolic waste and inflammatory byproducts by improving lymphatic drainage to the area.

Cupping can help the body clear toxins more efficiently and reduce inflammation deep in the fascia and muscles.⁠

The 🟣 left behind are areas of increased circulation, showing where blood flow and detoxification have been activated. Color variation can reflect the degree of stagnation or inflammation in that region, and fades within a few days.⁠

🟣 Does it hurt?

I've been having cupping done for years and I find it to be very relaxing. To me, the gentle pulling sensation feels like a "reverse massage" and I always fall asleep during treatment. 😴 There's no pain, just occasionally some mild soreness over an area that needed it most.

🟣 Healing from Lyme and co-infections?

Cupping can be a powerful adjunctive therapy: supporting detox pathways, decreasing muscle and joint pain, and helping regulate the immune + inflammatory response.

Cupping was a regular therapy I used while healing Lyme, and it remains an important part of my wellness regimen. I recommend it often to my clients. 💡

🟣 Ready to get intentional with your healing? Let's put together a strategic plan just for you. DM "HEAL".