Before liquid herbal extracts and herb tablets were widely available, people regularly used herbal teas to treat their symptoms. You can use them as a refreshing alternative to coffee and black tea, or as a simple home remedy.
When using as a beverage, just pour over boiling water and infuse for a couple of minutes for a delicate flavour. To use therapeutically, infuse for 15 minutes, making sure that the pot or cup is covered. This prevents evaporation of some active constituents like essential oils. The resulting brew will be much stronger, so feel free to add more hot water to make it palatable.
Here are six of the best:
Licorice root: This tea is naturally sweet. It will nourish your adrenal glands (important for your stress response) and is a natural anti-inflammatory. Note that it will also tend to increase blood pressure in large quantities, so if you suffer from elevated blood pressure you should use it only occasionally. Steep the licorice for at least 10 minutes for the best effect, as it takes time for the active constituents to emerge from the root.
Ginger root: Fresh ginger is a great way to wake up. Cut up about one teaspoon of fresh ginger root and pour over hot water. Add a little honey to sweeten. Ginger is traditionally used as an anti-nausea remedy, and is safe to use in pregnancy in moderate quantities. It will also boost your peripheral circulation and is naturally warming. Great for those of us who suffer from cold hands and feet!
Peppermint leaf: Another great anti-nausea herb, refreshing peppermint will help your digestion too. Some people who suffer from irritable bowel syndrome find that peppermint calms their abdominal bloating.
Camomile flowers: If you have trouble getting to sleep at night, try a camomile tea in the evening. This is one of the 'relaxant' herbs. Another great way to use it is in your bath water, for a calming effect. (Hint: It might help calm the kids in their evening bath too.) Either use tea bags or tie the dried camomile in a muslin bag. Don't throw the camomile flowers loosely into your bath water or they will stick to you and you will feel like you're bathing in grass clippings!
Lemon Balm leaves: This is a great anti-stress herb with a subtle lemon flavour. Make yourself up a cup of lemon balm tea to sip on just before you embark on that long list of stressful phone calls!
Green tea leaves: A fantastic anti-oxidant tea, and very refreshing. You can buy jasmine enhanced green tea too if you find the plain variety lacking in flavour.
