Tea is one of my favorite tools for maintaining health. I generally buy loose herbs at my local organic herb store, and then brew my own herbal tea based on my body’s needs that day. Here are some of the dried herbs I keep on hand for making tea:
- Nettle: reduces symptoms of hay fever and mild allergies, dark green leafy nutrition, high in iron.
- Chamomile: calms, reduces headache and stress, warming.
- Rose Hips: vitamin C, flavorful.
- Calendula: sooths sore throats and boosts immunity during illness.
- Peppermint: good for digestion, bad breath, can open airways, mild stimulant (not like caffeine).
- St. John’s Wort: calms nerve pain and headache, antidepressant, mildly sweet flavor. Use sparingly.
- Elderberries: vitamin C, great for fighting cold and flu season!
- Gunpowder Green: these are green tea leaves, and Gunpowder is one of my favorite flavors of green tea. I add it to other mixtures because green tea is very nutritional and can boost energy by providing a mild form of caffeine.
- Lavender: mild astringent for sore throats, floral, calming.
- Melissa (Lemon Balm): sooths sore throats, slight lemon flavor, relaxing.
- Echinacea: boosts immunity, helps fight off colds and common flu before they start. Do not take more than two weeks in a row, as this herb can thin the blood over time.
There are tons of great books about herbal remedies, including tea, for both nutrition and home health care. One of my favorites is the Family Herbal by Rosemary Gladstar. Also, check your local community college for weekend workshops. Pre-packaged teas are often so processed that the herbs lose efficacy. Also, you want at least a heaping tablespoon of most herbs for best medicinal/nutritional effect. Boil water, pour, then steep herbs in closed container for about five minutes to get full effect. If you can’t find an herb store in your town, there are several reliable websites like Mountain Rose Herb to order through, or try the "spices" section of your bulk foods. You’ll be surprised at what you find!
