Herbal Teas

Herbal teas are a natural medicine and as such it is important to find out from your practitioners the perfect teas for you. Many people simply use them as a caffeine replacement but they are much much more. When you drink a tea that is right for you it is so cleansing and healing to your system. Teas can be had hot or cold which is great to know in summer. This is a very brief summary of some of the most common herbal teas and their uses. All these teas are available at Possum Hollow. Enjoy.

Horsetail Tea - equisetem arvense

Horsetail is a great tea for Silica so good for hair and nails and bones, it can speed up metabolism and is a strong diuretic. Not advisable to have at bedtime.

 

Fennel Tea - foeniculum vulgare

Fennel is great for flatulence and colic whilst stimulating digestion. Can be used whilst breast feeding too to reduce wind for the baby and increase milk supply. A good liver tonic. Fennel has an aniseed flavour and like aniseed is calming on broncitis and coughs.

 

Ginger Tea - zingiber officinale

Ginger is a warming tea and very good in winter on those cold days. It is a stimulant and really good for peripheral circulation. My grandfmother used it for raynards.  In colds and infections it mixes well with rosehip to fight off a common cold. 

 

Rasberry Leaf Tea - rubus idaeus

The classic use Raspberry leaf has is for is the later stages of pregnancy, after miscarriages and at times of menstruation. It tones the uterus in a healing way at these times. 

 

Peppermint Tea - mentha piperita

Peppermint is a stimulating yet calming tea. It is antiseptic, analgesic, anti-emetic. It is fabulous for stimulating bile yet it is calming in cases of intestinal gas, nausea and desires to vomit. It can be good in fevers and especially in colds and influenza. If migraines are associated with digestion peppermint can give relief.

 

Nettle Tea - urtica dioica

Nettle is an astringent, diuretic and tonic tea. It is said that nettle can strengthen and support the whole body. It is high in Chlorophyll, iron and vitamin C. 

 

Yarrow Tea - achillea millefolium

Yarrow is not my tastiest tea but when used for the right purposes has a great effect. I suggest this with fevers, high blood pressure and it tones the blood vessels. With fever it is often mixed with peppermint.

 

Marshmallow Tea - althaea officinalis

Marshmallow root is a mucilaginous herb so great for coating and settling inflammation within the digestive tract. It is often useful in peptic ulcer cases.

 

Lemon Mrytle Tea - backhousia citriodora

This tea is one of my favorite. It tastes like a treat. Lemon Mrytle has relaxing qualities but is so so healing for the digestion. It helps in cases of digestive inflammation and has antifungal properties too. 

 

Liquorice - glycyrrhiza glabra

Liquorice has it's most effect on the endrocrine system. the glycosides have a similar structure to the natural steroids of the body. It can be used to stimulate the adrenal glands and as  a mild laxative. It is certainly not right for everyone.

 

Dandelion Tea - taraxacum officinale

Dandelion can be used in leaf or root form and both have different medicinal values. To simplify the leaf is more therpeutic to the kidney (it is diuretic yet contains potassium so the perfect mix) Whilst the root is great at aiding with the liver detoxification pathways and gallbladder troubles.

 

Chamomile Tea - matricaria chamomilla

Chamomile is a calming tea. Many people use it to relax before going to bed. It is calming to digestion and great for relaxing the gut. Many breastfeeding mothers use it to settle their baby and help at times of teething. Use at times of anxiety and insomnia. 

 

Lemon Balm Tea - melissa officinalis

Lemon Balm or Melissa is a lovely tea with antispasmodic, antidepressive actions. It can help in hypertension and is an excellent calming tea. It has a mild vasodilating property so lowers down the blood pressure gently. 

 

Rosehip - rosa canina

Rosehip is a great non acidic form of vitamin C , pectin and carotene. It helps in colds , infections and building of the immune system. It helps increase energy at times of exhaustion. It is a tonic for the liver, bladder, kidney and gallbladder. I have also seen it really useful for joint inflammation and arthritis.

 

Sage - salvia officinalis

I suggest Sage as an antihidrotic as it helps bring the heat away from the surface of the body. This can be useful in hot weather but also in cases of meopausal hot flushes. other qualities include antiseptic, astringent, calming. It can be excellent in cases of mouth ulcers and inflammed gums.