What is the one thing that you can consume, besides organic, local produce, that will help you on your journey to good health? The answer is tea. Just like food, tea is medicine. Each plant has different health benefits, each a unique taste, and some you need to boil in order to release the healing properties, while others you can just steep. Tea can do all sorts of things, from cleansing the liver, the kidneys, the colon, to clearing acne and helping people through menopause. Some tea even helps maintain a healthy weight. There is a lot of tea out there, but today I’m going to share with you some of my favorites.
I get my green tea and oolong from a little tea shop in Seattle, but the herbal teas are made from a very awesome lady nearby who sells at the local farmer’s market. If you are having a hard time finding any teas, I highly suggest shopping online at Mountain Rose Herbs (click the name to be redirected to their site)
Raspberry Leaf Tea
Raspberry Leaf Tea:
This tea does not taste like raspberries, although its really yummy. Raspberry leaf tea is used as a diuretic, and can be used to help ease diarrhea, and to calm sore throats. One of the best things to use it for, however, is if you are trying to get pregnant. It is a uterine stimulant, and as such should not be taken during the early stages of pregnancy.
Be Calm Tea
Be Calm Tea:
This tea is a mix of different things:
wood betony – cleanes the kidneys, eases anxiety
Rose petals- also help to stimulate the kidneys
Calendula- helps with skin problems and aids in indigestion
Basil leaves- Soothing and cleansing, intestinal parasites, acne, immune
stimulant, antidepressant
Lavender – also an antidepressant; Headaches, nervousness
Red Clover Tea
Red Clover Tea contains isoflavenes, which latch on to estrogen receptors. This tea is excellent for people going through menopause. Or as I like to use it for, to keep my skin acne free. This tea must be boiled in order for the isoflavenes to be released.
Moon Beam Tea
Moon Beam Tea:
Another blend of herbs:
Red Clover: Red clover flowers (simmer): Colds, skin problems, blood cleanser
Nettle: Kidney troubles, hypertension, gout, hay fever, PMS, and scurvy. Nettle is wonderful if you are trying to loose or maintain your weight.
Peppermint: aids in easing coughs and lends a wonderful flavor.
Calendula: helps with skin problems and aids in indigestion
I also drink Dandelion tea, and roast the roots into coffee quite often. It is an excellent liver tonic. You can read more and about dandelion at my post here.
Keep all your herbal teas in glass containers so they stay fresh for a long time. It doesn’t take very much of the leaves to make a tea, you can steep 1 tsp in 3 cups of water and still have wonderful tea. I drink my teas plain, but by all means add stevia or honey to yours, or some fresh squeezed lemon juice.
