Medicinal Uses of Yarrow

Fevers/Colds/Flus:
Yarrow has long been used to treat feverish conditions. It is often used at the beginning stages of a cold or flu and is commonly combined with elder flower to help lower high temperatures. For a herbal tea infusion with yarrow, see below.

To Lower High Blood Pressure:
Yarrow reduces high blood pressure by dilating peripheral blood vessels. It combines great with hawthorn berries to reduce high blood pressure. For a herbal tea infusion with yarrow, see below.

To Stop Bleeding:
Yarrow has a medicinal quality that helps stop or slow down bleeding from cuts and scrapes. Clean the wound. Then apply a compress or a poultice made of yarrow. Dip the leaves in hot water briefly before applying to sterilize them.



Herbal Tea Infusion:
*Infuse 1 teaspoon of dried yarrow (flowers and leaves) in boiling water. Let it steep for 20 minutes. Strain and drink 3 cups per day.

For additional information, see: references and warnings

Thyme: Medicinal recipe for respiratory tract infections

Most of us use Thyme in the kitchen with our cooking (if not, you are missing out. It is one of my favorites! SO good), but very few people know that thyme has medicinal attributes as well. The essential oils in Thyme are one of nature's most potent antimicrobial and antispasmodic substances. Thus, it is good to help cure respiratory tract infections from colds, flus, coughs, tonsillitis, and laryngitis.

Herbal Infused Tea Recipe:
*Infuse 1 tsp. dried thyme leaves OR 2 tsp. fresh leaves in each 1 cup of boiling water. Let it steep for 15-20 minutes. Strain and drink 3 cups per day.

For additional information, see: references and warnings

Medicinal Recipes: Using Peppermint

There are many ways to use peppermint medicinally. Here are a few suggestions:

At the first sign of a cold:
Take a mixture of elderflower, peppermint, and yarrow. Infuse 1 tsp. of each dried herb (or 1 tbsp. of each fresh herb) per 1 cup of boiling water. Let it steep for 20 minutes. Strain, and add 1tsp. of honey and 1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper.

This should decrease the intensity and the discomfort of a cold or a flu. In addition, sipping this tea during a cold or flu will promote perspiration and reduce body temperatures.

To reduce nausea:
Peppermint is good for nausea because it has antispasmodic actions in the gastrointestinal tract.

You can either make a tincture and add 10-15 drops of the peppermint tincture to water, or you can infuse 1 tsp. fresh or dried peppermint leaves to each 1 cup of boiling water. Let it steep for 15-20 minutes. Strain. Take it 3-4 times per day.

For irritable bowel relief:
Peppermint is an ideal remedy for people with irritable bowel syndrome, again, due to its' antispasmodic effects.

You can either make a tincture and add 10-15 drops of the peppermint tincture to water, or you can infuse 1 tsp. of fresh or dried peppermint leaves to each 1 cup of boiling water. Let it steep for 15-20 minutes. Strain. Take it 3-4 times per day.

For additional information, see: references and warnings

Medicinal Recipe: Suggestions for the flu

Some of the best herbs for flu care are diaphoretics, because they stimulate sweating.
Diaphoretics support the body’s natural response rather than “fighting” the illness.
Some of the best diaphoretic herbs include: lemon balm, bee balm, yarrow, elder flowers & berries and ginger.

If you make an infused tea with any of these herbs (or all of them, or some combination), you should see great benefits in seeing comfort from your flu. An infused tea is simply using 1-3 tbsp. of fresh herbs or 1-3 tsp. of dried herbs per cup of boiling water. Pour the boiling water over the herbs and let it steep for anywhere between 10-30 minutes. The longer you let it steep, the stronger it will be medicinally. Strain and add honey, lemon, or stevia to taste.

Here is one such infused tea:
Elderberry and ginger make a delicious tea that you might want to drink all winter, whether you’re sick or not...

To make pink ginger tea:
Slice up 2-3 inches of fresh ginger.
Put the ginger in a pot and cover it with about a quart of water.
Add 2-3 tablespoons of elderberry (frozen, canned, juice, syrup or dried).
Simmer the mixture until it tastes strongly of ginger—usually at least 15 minutes. (The tea turns a muddy purple-brown as it simmers.)
When it’s ready, remove the tea from the heat, let it sit a minute to cool, and add good quality raw honey to taste. (Don’t boil raw honey. You’ll kill the enzymes.)
Squeeze the juice from one small or half a large lemon. Add it to the tea. Watch the color change from muddy to clear pink. :)

Drink hot, preferably while wrapped in a blanket.

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

Medicinal Recipe: The Wonders of Marsh Mallow

Marsh Mallow Tea

Marsh mallow alone, or blended with other herbal teas, is soothing to upper respiratory tract irritations and combats bacteria. It is very helpful in relieving sore throats and dry, raspy coughs. Make a typical infusion tea (see below) with the Marsh mallow leaves, OR you can use the stronger medicinal roots: infuse 2-5 grams of the dried Marsh mallow root in cold (not hot) water and let is steep for 8 hours. Drink up to 3 cups per day.




In addition, you can use marsh mallow in much the same way for pets with coughs. Add 1/4 teaspoon of
marshmallow tea to food or water for lubricating and expelling fur balls in cats or to help dogs with a cough. Marsh mallow powdered root added to pet food also provide relief for constipation.

A typical infusion tea:
*Pour boiling water over the herbs. Let it steep for anywhere from 10-25 minutes. The longer you let it steep, the stronger the medicinal properties of the tea. The typical ratio is 1-3 tbsp. of fresh herbs or 1-3 tsp. of dried herbs per cup of water.

For additional information, see: references and warnings

Medicinal Recipe: Borage Infused Tea for Colds, Flus, and Fevers

This tea is good for colds, flus, and fevers:
1) It lowers the fever by inducing sweat
2) It helps with colds and flus, especially if they have affected the lungs and produced a cough
3) It is rich in potassium and calcium and therefore good for the blood and body

Borage Tea:
Ingredients:
*a small handful of fresh borage leaves
*2 cups of boiling water

Directions:
1) Pour boiling water of the borage leaves. Simmer for at least 5 minutes.
2) Strain out the leaves. Add natural sweetener (stevia leaves or honey) as preferred
3) Inhale the steam and sip until finished

For additional information, see: references and warnings