Tea Herb Gardening
Chamomile tea is widely advertised as a relaxing tea to be drunk before bedtime. The reason for this is the dominant effect it has as a muscle relaxant. Harvest and dry the flowers to later brew for your tea. Because is relaxes muscles it can prove beneficial to relieving menstrual cramps. The benefits of chamomile are cumulative, meaning that while you receive immediate benefit from drinking its tea, the more regularly and longer period of time you consume the tea the greater its benefits. Chamomile has no known adverse side effects so drink as much as two or three cups of chamomile tea in the evening. To brew simply put a heaping tablespoon of dried flowers into your cup and cover with boiling water. Cover and steep for ten to fifteen minutes. Strain out the herb, squeezing to get every last drop.
The herb is best known for its calming of the digestive tract. It soothes the stomach muscles, stimulates digestive juice secretion, and can reduce inflammation from irritable bowel syndrome. Mint has been shown to have anti-microbial properties. That a big word that means it kill bad bacteria in your gut, which is a good thing. It can also calm the nervous system, reducing anxiety and tension. Plus, it just tastes good. To make mint tea from fresh herbs simply harvest the desired amount of leaves placing these in a cup or tea steep. Pour hot, but not boiling, water over the leaves, cover (this is critical to prevent evaporation of the volatile oils) and steep for several minutes.
Called this because its white flower has a lemony smell. The leaves, stems, and flowers are used in herbal medicine. The tea has several important qualities such as; combating insomnia and problems with sleeping. It has a calming effect on the central nervous system and can reduce anxiety. Lemon balm has a positive effect on memory and is even use with Alzheimer patients to aid short term retention. Place one tablespoon of dried flowers or two tablespoons fresh into tea steep. Cover with boiling water and steep until desired flavor is reached. Lemon Balm makes a refreshing sun tea as well.
Well-known in the culinary world (where both the bulb and seeds are used), fennel herb, which is the seed has an interesting reputation as a medicinal herb. Reportedly it has a relaxing effect on smooth muscles where it can provide relief for digestive problems and menstrual cramping. The tea is gentle enough for babies and can relieve colic. Some report that it boosts metabolism and thus helps with weight loss and is also a diuretic. Pour one cup of boiling water over one to two teaspoons of slightly crushed fennel seeds, cover, steep for five minutes, and strain.
In the Southern United States this herb is best known as an important ingredient in pork sausage and cornbread dressing, served during the Holidays. As a tea it combats the effects of fever, including sweats. It is known to fight colds, liver and kidney problems. When gargled, sage tea treats a sore throat, mouth sores and mouth ulcers. To brew use ten fresh leaves or one teaspoon of dried sage per one cup of hot water. Steep covered for ten minutes and strain.
Also called aniseed, pimpernel seed, and sweet cumin, this sweet smelling herb is also commonly used to flavor foods and is what gives licorice its, well, licorice flavor. Anise is a member of the parsley family and is a natural breath freshener. Unsweetened anise tea is a natural mouthwash and many commercial mouthwashes contain anise. Lactating mothers can use anise tea to increase milk flow. The essential oil extracted from ground anise seeds helps loosen phlegm in the throat and lungs. Anise tea can be made by steeping two teaspoons of crushed anise seeds in one cup of hot water for ten to fifteen minutes.
Echinacea tea is one of the best known herbal remedies for boosting the immune system by boosting the production of white blood cells. Native to the United States, it grows primarily in the heartland and the south and has been used by Native Americans for over 400 years as a general cure-all. Echinacea has recently been touted as a common cold fighter. It is also known to relieve inflammation due to arthritis. For tea use one to two teaspoons of Echinacea in one cup of unheated water. Slowly heat the mixture until it is boiling and let simmer for ten to twelve minutes. Strain and serve.
Peppermint is a naturally occurring hybrid of spearmint and water mint and is prized for its wonderful flavor and medicinal qualities. Within its volatile oil peppermint contains the powerful therapeutic agent menthol. This is the well known ingredient in “cough drops” that help clear congestion and cough due to cold and allergies. Like other mint, peppermint tea relieves many digestive symptoms and reduces heartburn. It has even been known to dissolve gallstones. Pour hot, but not boiling, water over the leaves, cover (this is critical to prevent evaporation of the volatile oils) and steep for several minutes. When combined with spearmint it, like the gum, is called doublemint tea.
Lavender has been valued as a scented herb throughout the centuries but few people think of it as a medicinal herb. Just as the fragrance causes relaxation and soothing the mind so does consuming the tea. Lavender helps to ease insomnia and calms nervousness and anxiety. To make lavender tea, simply infuse a handful of dried lavender blossoms in a pot of boiling water. Let the tea steep for about seven to ten minutes. Then strain and enjoy.
Rosemary helps to improve memory and aids in the prevention of Alzheimer’s disease. Rosemary tea contains rosmarinic acid and many other antioxidants that have shown to prevent the breakdown of a neurotransmitter that preserves brain tissues. It also reduces arthritis inflammation and headache pain. Add one teaspoon of dried rosemary leaf to one cup of hot water, cover, and steep for five to ten minutes, strain, and drink.
Lemon Verbena
Lemon Verbena, which has a lemony scent, can act as an anti-depressant and digestive aid, helping with metabolism. Lemon Verbena tea is made from the leaves of this herb is very calming and mildly sedative too and gives it the reputation for stress reduction. To infuse Lemon Verbena tea use one-fourth cup of fresh leaves or two teaspoons of dried covered and steeped in one cup of boiling water for five to ten minutes. Strain and enjoy.
Known mostly for its contribution to the culinary world; basil has many health benefits. Basil exhibits anti-inflammatory properties so is beneficial to arthritis sufferers. Basil leaf tea tends to combat nervous system fatigue, insomnia and menstrual cramps. Basil tea should only be made with fresh leaves. Begin with about a dozen leaves or two sprigs. Steep in a cup of very hot water for five to seven minutes. Strain and enjoy.
Well known for its effect on cats, catnip makes a very healthy tea for humans. It is shown in reducing fevers and as a decongestant. Catnip is well known to remove toxins from the body. Historically, fresh catnip leaves were chewed to reduce or eliminate toothaches and was give to babies when teething. Catnip tea helps relieve severe migraine symptoms and is a digestive aid, relieving severe diarrhea, especially in children. As an anti-inflammatory it relieves arthritis pain. Catnip herb is extremely safe to use and consume and infuse the leaves with very hot water to make the tea.
Happy Herb Gardening!
