The power of a simple cup of tea:
The process of preparing a cup of tea enables you to slow down for a moment. When you are not stressed out and “running from the tiger” your body has a better chance of being well. So many simple herbs have scientific support for healing your body. These are my key “go-to’s” to have in your home medicine chest to gently heal your body and restore balance.
Where do I get the good stuff:
My preference is to use organic loose-leaf teas and herbs which are more flavorful and have the potential to provide more of the important medicinal compounds. We carry organic bulk herbs in our practice to create custom tea blends for our patients, but these can easily be a part of your home.
For bulk herbs, Mountain Rose Herbals is a reliable resource but be sure to check out your local herbalists and growers, and plan to start your own medicinal herb garden, even one herb at a time with such “simples” as lemon balm or peppermint. www.mountainroseherbs.com
And don’t forget the important role that your spice cabinet can play in a pinch!
For brewing teas with ease, a French press is easy to use with minimal clean up and allows you to get a bigger dose per cup then tea balls. You can also buy “make your own tea bags” that can be put into your compost after use.
You can use high quality tea bags as well for ease. I always steep with 2 tea bags to get more of those medicinal effects. My favorite brands include Gaia Herbs, Traditional Medicinals, Rishi tea, Numi, Pukka, Harney and Sons teas, just to name a few.
This is my list of favorites for every home to on board as simple medicine to heal during the winter (and year-round)
Chamomile
My go-to for calming the body, digestive support, and sleep. The beautiful aromatic bitter can be used for children from 1 year up as a simple with a bit of local honey and kids love it at bedtime. But so do adults! Start the evening with a warm epsom salt bath and a cup of chamomile tea and a good book! And you will start to feel better no matter what is going on. Chamomile is my first answer for every kind of imbalance in kids and digestive/stress related imbalances in adults. The tea bags can be cooled and applied to the eyes for dry eyes or nonbacterial inflammation.
A great resource on some of these simple herbs is the writings of Rosalee LaFolet, Rosemary Gladstar or Kat Maier.
Peppermint
Lowers fevers; soothes the tummy; for headaches – soak a wet washcloth put into the freezer for 10 to 15 minutes; apply to back of neck while your feet are soaking in hot water for 15 minutes. Instant headache relief.
Ginger:
Soothes digestive upset; warms the body in the case of colds; combine with lemon and honey.
Lemon Balm:
cooling; in the mint family; Soothes irritability in fever, particularly in children. New research has pointed to its role as a brain tonic.
Echinacea/Elderberries
Echinacea alone or with Elderberries. Or add a local elderberry syrup to your echinacea tea. This is a powerful anti-viral compound. Elderberry prevents the attachment of viruses to the cell. Echinacea is so safe it can be used in pregnancy, breastfeeding and with children starting at 6 months old in a tea or glycerite tincture format.
Throat Coat Tea tea bags by Traditional Medicinals–
Obtain the original with Slippery Elm. Soothes a sore throat and prevents gastric reflex symptoms when taken before the meal.
Some of our favorite proprietary blends that we prepare in our practice.
Favorite children blend for illness:
- Favorite blend to calm and relax: lemon balm, chamomile, and catnip
- Favorite blend to reduce fever: peppermint, yarrow, elderflower
Remember, fever is important and kills pathogens; its our bodies natural way of healing. Let the fever go to 102 degrees before you reduce it.
Or check out our bulk herb apothecary; and let us recommend the teas for your family wellness this winter.
Let us venture to the spice cabinet:
- Rosemary, Thyme- great for herbal steams for colds. Put one teaspoon of each herb into a pot of cold water. Let it slowly simmer on the stove. Once it has reached to a rolling boil, remove it from the stove and, safely, create a “tent” with your head over the pot with a towel. Steam your nasal passages and face for 5 minutes off and on. When you are sick, enjoy the relief of this soothing treatment twice a day.
- Fennel, Cumin and Coriander- to reduce digestive upset; particular gas and bloating; put ½ tsp of each into a French press; add 8 ounces of water; steep 10 minutes; add local honey and enjoy
- Thyme, Sage- great tea or gargle for sore throats