Make a Cup of Tea Part of Your Day

People have been drinking tea and using it for medicinal purposes for thousands of years. In recent years we have seen more research being done on the benefits of tea for our wellbeing and the results are confirming many of the traditional uses. There is a long way to go before we see a greater number of studies completed, but it should not be a reason for us to delay enjoying a delightful cup of tea and reaping the benefits.

Green tea and black tea are most commonly thought of when we mention tea drinking and many studies are done on them specifically. Many of their compounds have been identified as powerful antioxidants and nutrients offering great protection to our health and boost to our immune system, as well as aid in recovery from many distressed states.

Aside from green tea and black tea varieties we are also blessed by Nature with an abundance of herbal teas. Herbal teas have the advantage of absence of caffeine (except in few very rare cases). Also, depending on the herb or herbal blend you choose you allow yourself to benefit from their specific effects on our wellbeing. Herbs are one of the vital components of a healthy holistic lifestyle and their use is rather versatile. You can use them to season your foods; to create delicious hot and cold herbal teas; you can use them in salves and medicinal tinctures, oils, baths, etc. They truly are one of the incredible blessings we shall not overlook.

Several of the basic herbal teas that are delicious and of great help to every family are: peppermint, chamomile, yarrow flower, sage, lemon balm, nettle leaf, ginger, marshmallow, rosemary and ginger. There are of course many other wonderful herbs to use in your herbal teas, but these are a few that truly every family kitchen shall have.

To prepare your tea you can use variety of methods. Two most common ones are infusion and decoction. By preparing your tea in this way you allow your body and whole being to appreciate, enjoy, and benefit from the whole plant and its complete range of constituents.

The term infusion comes from the Latin word infundere, which means to pour in. To prepare a hot infusion, you pour hot or cold water over a dehydrated plant(s). For a hot infusion use 1 oz of coarsely chopped dehydrated herb to 500ml of boiling water and allow it to steep 20 to 30 minutes in a warm place. Strain and make sure to press out the pulp while straining. Add enough hot water after straining to make 500 ml and serve while warm with a little bit of your favorite herbal honey.

There are several other ways to prepare your herbal tea, but hot infusion is one of the most simple and delightful ways to enjoy a cup of herbal tea during winter while also reaping the amazing benefits herbs provide us with. You are always welcome to send in any specific questions about herbal tea preparation and selection. Their daily use is very rewarding and I would love to encourage you to discover ways to us them in your own home. Below is a recipe for an herbal tea blend to try and make at home made up of herbs that are traditionally used to help body’s detoxification. We hope you will try it and use your creativity to customize it for your own use.

Herbal Detox Tea
Mix equal parts of dandelion root, burdock root, mullein, red clover herb, and milk thistle seed. Add to that equal half-parts of mistletoe, yellow dock root, cinnamon, orange peel, lemon peel and celandine. Add a pinch of dried stevia leaf. Store in an air-tight container at room temperature.
To prepare your tea: Put 1 teaspoon of herbs for each cup of purified water into a non-metal bowl. Soak overnight. In the morning bring to boil and then simmer for 10 minutes. Strain and drink throughout the day. Do not sweeten, but if you would like to make it milder use ½ tsp of herbs for each cup of water.

Let us know your experience and feel free to contact us at http://bodyandmindstl.com with any questions you may have.

In Health, Love, and Light,

Daniela Sales
Reiki Master Teacher and Holistic Wellness Consultant
The Avokado Studio of Arts for Creative Living
http://bodyandmindstl.com

Disclaimer: The statements in this article are for educational purposes only and have not been evaluated by or sanctioned by the FDA. Only your doctor can properly diagnose and treat any disease or disorder. The remedies discussed herein are not meant to treat or cure any type of disease. The user understands that the above information is NOT intended as a substitute for the advice of a physician or a pharmacist.