Four Herbal Teas, Two Herbs

 

Trying to come up with more herbal tea ideas? Here are a few more ways I use lemon balm and lavender in my beverages. Both herbs produce a relaxing effect that helps me sleep at night and also helps me keep an edge off my stress levels after a crazy work day... 

1) Lemon Balm Tea with Milk

*steep lemon balm leaves in hot milk for five minutes, strain out leaves, and add 1 tsp maple syrup. This makes a delicious, relaxing bedtime drink

*1-3 tsp. dried leaves or 1-3 tbsp. fresh leaves per cup of milk. 

2) Lemon Balm with your favorite loose leaf tea

*Lemon balm leaves can be combined with Earl Grey, green or black tea. Fresh leaves are best for tea.

  

3) Lavender with your favorite loose leaf tea
*1 teaspoon dried lavender flowers (English lavender)
*1 tablespoon English Breakfast tea
*a dash of fresh lemon
*sugar or honey to taste

*To prepare, pour two cups of boiling water over the tea leaves and lavender and allow to steep for five to ten minutes. Add lemon, strain, add sugar or honey to taste.

4) Lavender & Black Tea Infused Milk
*1 tsp. dried lavender blossoms
*1 Tbsp. black tea (darjeeling, english breakfast, earl grey)
*1.5 cups whole milk

*Put all of the above in a small saucepan and starting at medium heat, bring slowly to warmth, removing from heat before boiling/simmering. You will see a softening, frothiness around the edge of the milk, and a gentle steam will be rising from the milk. Add honey if desired!

Depression

Depression is a serious problem for many people today. There are some herbal teas that should help bring cheer to the depressed. However, please note that depression is best cured in combination with doctors, exercise, etc.

Here are some combinations of herbs to make the best herbal teas for depression:

*lavender flower infusion, taken 3 times a day
*lavender and rosemary infusion, taken 3 times a day
*any combination of lavender, rosemary, and skullcap, 3 times a day
*vervain, taken 3 times a day
*vervain and skullcap, taken 3 times a day

Herbal tea infusion:
*Use 1-3 tsp. of dired herb or 1-3 tbsp. fresh herb per 1 cup boiling water. Let it steep for 20-30 minutes, strain and sip slowly.

For additional information, see: references and warnings

Medicinal Uses of Lemon Balm

Lemon balm is medicinally amazing for tension, restlessness, anxiety, headaches, and depression. Lemon balm helps promote a calming and relaxing feeling, so it is also good to take in addition to other herbs for insomnia. If taken as a herbal tea infusion for a long period of time, there should be wonderful results for uplifting the spirits.

Herbal tea infusion with Lemon balm:
*Infuse 2-3 teaspoons of the fresh lemon balm leaves (lemon balm does not dry well, it is best used fresh. If it is dried, use a similar dosage as the fresh) per 1 cup of boiling water. Steep for 15-20 minutes and strain. Drink 1 cup of the herbal tea 2-3 times per day.

This herb has a mild sedative action, so if you are someone who often suffers from fatigue, it is best to take this only in the evening.

For additional information, see: references and warnings

Medicinal Uses of Chamomile

Chamomile's highly scented flowers possess powerful antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties. If taken as an infused herbal tea, it can help with a number of problems: improving appetite, easing anxiety, lessening tension headaches, calming and healing the stomach after nausea, relaxing the body to get rid of insomnia issues, and calming children with teething problems.

To make a Chamomile herbal tea infusion:
Boil 1 cup of water per 1-3 tsp. dried chamomile or 1-3 tbsp. fresh chamomile. Let it steep for 15-20 minutes. Strain and drink 3 to 4 cups per day. Children over the age of 4 years can take a third to half of the adult dosage.

For additional information, see: references and warnings

Medicinal Uses of Lavender

The scent of lavender has long been known to promote relaxation. Inhaling lavender's essential oils helps ease anxiety and improves feelings of calmness and well-being in stressful situations. Research also proves that lavender reduces the body's production of the stress hormone called cortisol. Lavender can also be taken to get rid of stress-related headaches.

To relieve anxiety and stress-related headaches:
Buy a good quality Lavender essential oil (which is not for drinking but is for the outside of your body). Massage this essential oil into the shoulders and temples. Or, you can inhale the steam by putting 4 drops of the essential oil into 4 teaspoons of hot water. You can also put some drops of lavender essential oil into a hot bath and soak away the stress.

You can also make a herbal tea infusion with the actual lavender plant. Pour 1 cup boiling water over each 1-3 tsp. dried lavender flowers OR 1-3 tbsp. fresh lavender flowers. Let it steep for 15-20 minutes. Strain and drink 1 cup of the infusion 1-3 times per day.



Another magical usage for lavender essential oil is as a first aid item. Essential oil is expensive. One tiny bottle can cost around 20 dollars. However, if you can only afford ONE essential oil, I recommend the lavender essential oil. It can be useful for not only stress and headaches, but also to take the sting out of insect bites.  Lavender essential oil quickly relieves inflammation and swelling when applied topically to insect bites and stings. It also has antimicrobial properties to help prevent wounds from becoming infected. Simply dab undiluted lavender essential oil onto insect bites and stings as soon as possible. Watch in wonder as the sting of that bee no longer hurts so badly...

For additional information, see: references and warnings

Valerian: good for the central nervous system

Valerian is a strong medicinal herb for the central nervous system. It is good as a sedative for insomnia, helps with sudden emotional distress, headaches, intestinal cramps, nervous exhaustion, and as a pain reliever.

Since you use the root of Valerian for medicinal purposes, you do not make an infusion tea with it, but rather a decoction.

To make a Valerian decoction, place 1-3 tsp. of the dried root in a small saucepan and over with cold water. Heat slowly and simmer, covered, for 20-45 minutes. The longer you simmer the herbs, the stronger the tea will be.

Another option is that you can crush 1 tsp. of the dried root and soak it in cold water for 12-24 hours. Then drink.

For additional information, see: references and warnings

Passionflower Herbal Infused Tea

Having problems with falling asleep? Passionflower is traditionally given to aid those with insomnia as well as those that suffer from nervousness or anxiety. Thus, if you think your insomnia might have an emotional basis, passionflower tea is the ideal medicine for you. You can also combine it with another important relaxing herb, valerian.

Herbal Infused Tea for Insomnia:
*Infuse 2-3 tsp. of dried passionflower leaves (or 2-3 tbsp. fresh) in boiling water. Let it simmer for 20-ish minutes. Strain and drink 1 cup an hour before bedtime.

*For anxiety, take the same dose twice more during the day. It may take several weeks to achieve the optimal effect.

For additional information, see: references and warnings

Medicinal Recipe: Tension Infused Herbal Tea

 If you are having problems with tension or stress, try this herbal tea:

Tension-ease Infusion
1 part skullcap
1 part sage
1 part peppermint
1/4 part lavender

Infuse 1 – 3 tsp of the above blend of dried herbs (or 1-3 tbsp. fresh herbs) per one cup of boiling water for 10-15 minutes minimum. A longer infusion results in a stronger tasting brew with more medicinal effect, but the weaker infusion is perfectly fine & therapeutic. Feel free to add honey, lemon, and/or stevia to taste.

For additional information, see: references and warnings

Medicinal Recipe: Sage Tea

Sage tea will calm your frazzled nerves, provide relief to aching gums, help heal a sore throat -- and it even offers a reliable reprieve from hot flashes. Making the tea is easy:

Sage Tea Recipe

Pour eight ounces of boiling water over ten large, fresh, sage leaves (or a heaping teaspoon of dried sage). Steep for five minutes and strain.

Sage tea may taste bitter. Sweeten it with sugar, honey, or home grown stevia. You can also combine sage with a favorite black tea (Earl Grey or English Breakfast, etc.).

Note: Avoid using sage tea medicinally if you're pregnant.

For additional information, see: references and warnings

Herbal Iced Tea: Lavender and Lemon Balm

Lavender and Lemon Balm Iced Tea Quencher 

Fresh and thirst-quenching, this cool summer iced tea is perfect for a garden party or simply to calm nerves and aid digestion. Makes about four 8-ounce servings.

• 1/4 cup fresh lemon balm leaves, chopped OR 1 tablespoon dried leaves
• 1 tablespoon fresh lavender buds OR 2 teaspoons dried buds
• 2 cups hot water
• 2 cups cold water and ice
• Fresh lemon for garnish

1. Steep lemon balm and lavender in hot (80- to 90-degree) water about 3 minutes.

2. Add cold water and ice.

3. Serve over additional ice with lemon wedges.

Medicinal Recipe: Borage Infused Tea for Stress

A standard infusion of borage leaves is a restorative tonic for the adrenal glands, which help the body to cope with stress.

In addition, borage flowers and leaves in wine have a reputation for bolstering courage because it causes a significant rise in blood adrenaline levels and relieves one of nervous tension and stress.

A standard infusion:
*1-3 tablespoons of fresh herb or 1-3 teaspoons of dried herb per cup of water
*Boil the water, pour over the herbs. Let it steep for up to 20 minutes. Strain, sweeten with stevia and/or honey, and sip slowly until finished. Drink 1-3 cups per day.

For additional information, see: references and warnings