HERBAL TEA RECIPES - make your own delicious herbal tea for keeping healthy and even to cure what ails you!

TEA can have profound healing properties that are quite potent, healing and curing an inordinate amount of ailments and conditions with more and more curative qualities being discovered even to this day. Let's just go over a small list of some of those things, just to get an idea of how healthy a warm cup of leafy goodness can be, shall we?

TEA...

Bolsters your immune system, calms the mind, helps heal lung damage, helps in maintaining healthy eyes, helps maintain good digestive health, helps prevent arthritis, helps prevent cancer, helps protect against diabetes, helps with weight loss, improves circulation, improves your memory, is antibacterial, lowers cholesterol, prevents skin damage, prevents sun related damage, promotes good heart health, promotes younger looking skin, protects liver function, reduces heart attacks, relaxes the body, removes toxins from your body, sharpens your mental focus, soothes stress, strengthens the bones, promotes healthy sleep,

And a whole mess of other good stuff!

TEA RECIPE #1 Lavender tea!

This one uses Lavender - few people realize that this plant is edible (the flowers), and teas from the flowers of this plant have these medicinal properties;

Antiseptic, anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, anti-inflammatory, anti-convulsive, and perhaps the most well known - anti-depressant.

Okay, let's make some TEA! You will need;

2 1/2 tbsp. fresh lavender petals (or if dried and crushed, about 4 tsp.)

3/4 cup fresh mint leaves (or if dried and crushed, about 4 1/2 tbsp.)

Sugar (or better yet, HONEY) to taste

8 cups of water

Okay - bring the water to boil on the stove, then turn off the heat, toss your herbs in, cover the pot, and let it sit and steep for about 5 minutes or so. After that, add the honey (or whatever NATURAL sweetener you prefer, if any), stirring it up, and letting it cool for just a bit - then strain it through a sieve into a pitcher. Either serve warm (not hot), or chilled.

Lavender, taken internally as a tea, can aid your health in many ways, taking care of things including exhaustion, stress, anxiety, insomnia, headaches, migraines, depression, digestion, gas, upset stomach, colds, gallbladder and liver problems, loss of appetite, nervousness, and makes a great breath freshening mouthwash!

Mint taken in this way is good for the digestion, can act as a sedative to help you relax, and aids in perspiration to lower fevers. Now, ain't that nice? ^_^

TEA RECIPE #2 Catnip and Chamomile tea!

Catnip is reported to have blood purifying properties, and also has calming effects as a sedative, but it's mild enough for small children. In fact, it is also said to relieve the effects of colic in children as well. This plant can also be used as a digestive aid.

Chamomile is good for stomach cramps and indigestion.

Alright, let's make some TEA! You will need;

(All ingredients dried.)

1/2 cup of catnip
3/4 cup of chamomile
1/4 cup of lemongrass
1 cup of lemon balm
1/4 cup of mint

Put all of this into an airtight container - you know, like one of those Tupperware thingies... with the lid on good and tight, shake the heck out of it until it's all good and mixed. Now, when you want a cup of this goody-good tea, toss a couple of teaspoons per teacup into however many teacup's worth of boiling water, heat turned off, and let steep for about 5 minutes. Strain, pour, and sip to your heart's content!

Lemongrass reduces cholesterol and soothes the stomach.

Lemon balm breaks fevers, helps regulate the menstrual cycle, is antibacterial and antiviral, promotes longevity, and acts as a calming agent, much like a very weak Valium.

TEA RECIPE #3 Vervain tea!

Lemon Verbena is also known as Vervain - while there may be a few types of Vervain, it is the type known as Lemon Verbena that we are using in this tea recipe.

Lemon Verbena is an antipyretic (fever reducing drug), an antispasmotic (good for fighting cramps), a relaxant, and is also used to treat asthma, fever, colds, upset stomach, and other digestive maladies.

Alrighty, let's make some TEA! This one's real easy - you will need;

1 cup of fresh Lemon Verbena leaves
1 quart of water

Pretty simple, eh?

Bring the water to a boil, turn off the heat, toss in your leaves, cover and let steep for about 5 minutes. Uncover, allow it to cool just a little, strain, and serve.

Ah, nice, warm, lemony goodness! ^_^

HEALING with tea can be very beneficial. There are many, many illnesses and diseases that certain types of teas can remedy and even cure - really, you'd be quite surprised.

Have you ever heard of Stacy Harris? You may have seen her on TV. She's the one who wrote about the many diseases that can be treated and cured through the use of herbal infusions and medicinal teas. Her writings train people to make their own homemade teas for healing, maintaining excellent health, and increasing longevity.

If you'd like to learn more about her sensational work, please visit her website by clicking here. (Don't worry, it opens in a new window, so you won't lose this nice litte tea recipe page ^_~)

TEA RECIPE #4 Medicinal Dandelion tea!

Dandelions are exceedingly plentiful - just ask anyone struggling to care for their lawn! hehe ^_~

This powerhouse plant of healing properties has quite a lot to offer. It supplies the body with much needed iron and copper, is very high in vitamins A and C, has way more beta carotine than carrots, and has much more potassium than even spinach and broccoli. For internal organ health, as medicinal plants go, they are very safe and effective in treating many problems.

Their medicinal properties help to strengthen the intestines, pancreas, gallbladder, stomach, spleen, liver and kidneys. They also help to improve the flow of bile, and reduces inflammation of cirrhosis and hepatitis. These wonderful little plants also aid in the dissipation of gallstones, improve the function of the kidneys, and they also help clear up an inordinate variety of skin problems (even bee stings and warts) by directly applying the sap from broken stems.

Tea from these little botanical gems also helps with digestive disorders, constipation, and things like fatigue and lethargy, and even helps combat diabetes in regards of low blood sugar. It is reported that a cup each day after a few months shows undeniable results.

Now this recipe is by no means as powerful in healing as some of the better treats offered by Stacy Harris, but it is very, VERY healthful and curative. This is said to help those suffering problems from congested liver and kidneys, as this will clean them both out.

Okay, now let's make some TEA! You will need;

1/2 ounce of Dandelion root
1/2 ounce of Juniper berries
1 ounce of broom tops
3 cups of water

Bring the water to a boil, toss the other ingredients in and boil for about 10 minutes or so. Strain out the tea, and take a pinch, between thumb and forefinger, of cayenne, and toss it into the tea.

Three times a day, take just ONE tablespoonful.

Yeah, that's right - it's that potent. Don't mess with the dosage!

Juniper is a blood purifier and a diuretic.

Broom is an organ cleanser and detoxifier, especially used for the liver and kidneys.

TEA RECIPE #5 Hyssop tea!

Hyssop taken as a tea has antiseptic and antiviral properties, and when used as a gargle can soothe a sore throat. Drinking the tea is good for the digestion, and can be used as an expectorant and as a remedy for bronchitis.

The cleansing qualities of hyssop are even of biblical fame, as in Psalms 51:9, it says, "Purge me with hyssop and I shall be made clean".

If you grind up the fresh leaves of hyssop, put in a little of the hyssop tea as well, and add some flour for consistency, you can make a very potent antiseptic/antiviral ointment which is excellent for the treatment of cuts, scrapes and bruises, healing scars, and also herpes/cold sores.

The tea we will be making here can be cleansing and even stimulating on many levels.

Alrighty then - let's make some TEA! You will need;

4 tsp. of dried hyssop leaves
1 tsp. of dried vanilla bean
1 tsp. of cinnamon
1 tsp. of freshly crushed cloves
4 cups of water

Bring the water to a boil, turn off the heat, toss in your ingredients and cover to let steep for about 5 minutes. Strain, and serve warm.

Vanilla stimulates brain activity, and vitalizes the skin and sexual organs.

Cinnamon keeps nausea and vomiting in check, as well as diarrhea, stimulates digestion, improves memory, vitalizes the complexion and also prevents nervous tension.

Cloves have antiemetic and antiseptic properties - the oil of cloves can be used as an oral anesthetic by some dentists, and can also be used to disinfect root canals.

As an antiseptic, clove oil is used by many commercial mouthwash products and over-the-counter toothache pain relievers as an active ingredient. It is reported that a drop of the oil on a tooth with a cavity will stop the pain. A few drops of the oil in water will stop vomiting, and drinking clove tea halts nausea in its tracks.

Cloves can also fight infection, kills intestinal parasites, and has broad antimicrobial properties against fungi and bacteria. Eating cloves has even been said to be an aphrodisiac! ^_~

TEA RECIPE #6 Yarrow Rose Hip tea!

Yarrow is a wonderful little plant which is very common. It is the white variety which is most potent for medicinal uses, the many coloured types having the same properties, but only in lesser strengths. Everything from the ground up on this plant can be used, stems, leaves, flowers and all.

The medicinal properties of yarrow are quite plentiful; taken as a tea, it is said to be able to aid digestion and increase the appetite. For common colds or fevers, it aids in detoxifying the body by making you perspire, ridding you of the toxins that make you sick.

Yarrow is also said to cleanse the urinary tract and the kidneys, and also may be useful for some liver ailments due to its antiseptic properties. Traditionally, yarrow has also been used for relief from cramps, both menstrual and generally stomach related, hypertension, rheumatism, diarrhea and as a general all-purpose tonic.

Making a tea from the flowers alone, this can be used externally as an astringent skin cleanser for acne, a general skin toner, and even as a hair conditioner. The crushed stems and leaves can stop bleeding and aid in healing cuts and scrapes, bruises and burns. Yarrow can also be added to your bath water for its anti-inflammatory qualities in order to soothe hives and other inflammations.

CONTRAINDICATIONS - Listen... you must NOT use yarrow if you have any allergies to any plants from the Aster family, and you must NEVER use this herb at all if you are pregnant, as it may cause complications, and according to some people, even the possibility of a painful miscarriage.

Okay, having said all that, let's make some TEA! You will need;

3 tbsps. of crushed, dried yarrow
3 tbsps. of crushed, dried anise hyssop*
2 tbsps. of crushed, dried rose hips
1 tbsps. of crushed, dried bee balm (Also known as Bergamot.)
4 cups of water.

* Anise Hyssop (Agestache Foeniculum) is neither anise, nor hyssop - it is native to the US and Korea, and is sometimes called Korean mint. A favourite of bees, anise hyssop is tasty and soothing.

Boil the water, then turn off the heat. Toss in your herbs, cover and let steep for 10-15 minutes or so, strain and serve warm.

Rose hips are very nutritive herbs, with an exceedingly high content of Vitamins A, C, bioflavinoids, selenium, niacin, chromium,riboflavin, and they also have a modicum of thiamin and calcium. Please see the highly important contraindications of this herb in the recipe below this one!

Bergamot, or Bee Balm, has a long history of use as a medicinal plant by the Native Americans, including those of the Blackfoot Nation. Due to its very strong antiseptic qualities (Thymol - a main active ingredient in many commercial mouthwash products), it can be used as a poultice for minor wounds and infections. Taken as a tea, it can stave off mouth and throat infections caused by gingivitis and other dental problems, and is also used as a carminative to treat excessive gas. The Winnebago Nation also used the tea as a general stimulant.

TEA RECIPE #7 Rose Hip tea!

Rose Hips (also known as rose haw) are the seed bearing fruit of the rose plant. See the pretty picture? ^_^

One of the richest plant sources of vitamin C, for every 10 grams of dried rose hips, there can be 170-200 milligrams of this vitamin - I believe the minimum daily requirement is around 60 milligrams. They are also rich with vitamin D, vitamin E, essential fatty acids and antioxidant flavonoids, the antioxidant value far exceeding that of even blueberries.

In powder form, rose hips also serve as a natural remedy for rheumatoid arthritis.

This wonderful little botanical powerhouse can also be used as a preventative herbal remedy for urinary infections.

Due to the enormous iron content, many women drink the tea in order to replenish iron lost during menses.

Brewed into a decoction, rose hips can also be used to treat constipation.

CONTRAINDICATIONS - Due to the enormous amounts of vitamin C, this can interfere with some anticoagulant medications. Therefore, you should NOT use this herb if you are taking any blood thinners. Also, those with sickle cell anemia should not take this herb.

Okay, now that all that has been said, let's make some TEA! You will need;

1 tbsp. of dried, crushed rose hips for each 1 cup of water, boiled for about 15 minutes.

Let it sit for a bit, and serve warm.

Yes, it's pretty darned simple - but this is one of those main ingredients that you can mix other herbs with in order to create your own healthy tea!

You can also make an excellent vitamin rich rose hips preserves of sorts, by tossing some FRESH, crushed hips into a jar, and then pouring in some honey until it is all submerged. Cover the jar with a porous cloth so as to allow the honey to evaporate and thicken over a week or so on a sunny windowsill. You can do this with many herbs, but it only works if they are fresh to begin with. The goodness of the herbs is extracted into the honey, and makes for a wonderfully healthy and tasty toast spread, or sweetener for your tea!

TEA RECIPE #8 Sage and Lemon tea!

Sage, a small perennial evergreen shrub, can be used in many ways; as a culinary herb, as an incense or smudge, as a tea or as a natural herbal tea remedy for a variety of ailments.

The medicinal properties of sage are rather interesting, as not many realize that this "spice" often used for cooking has such benefits. The tannins and oils in this plant have antiseptic, astringent and irritant properties, making it a useful part of many herbal oral medications, such as those for mouth ulcers and sores, and even sore throats.

The Latin word for sage is salvia, which means to heal.

In a placebo-controlled, randomized, double blind test, sage has proved to be helpful as a natural herbal tea remedy in mild to moderate cases of Alzheimer's disease, as it helps protect a key chemical which is destroyed in the brain by this condition.

For an excellent mouth rinse against sore throats, try mixing apple cider vinegar and a bit of salt with some sage tea as an antiseptic gargle. For something a little milder, try a mix of one part sage with one part chamomile as a mouth rinse tea.

You may have heard of some medications that include Clary sage - this is a type of sage which originates in the Mediterranean area (as do most sage plants), but it has the same amount of medicinal value as other types of sage.

Taken as an infusion, sage can also have a subtle effect in colouring silver hair. As an astringent, it makes for a refreshing herbal aftershave splash.

Alright then, having said all of that, let's make some TEA! You will need;

1/2 ounce of *FRESH* sage leaves,
The juice of one lemon,
1/4 ounce of fresh lemon zest (grated lemon skin),
1 ounce of sugar,
And 1 quart of water.

Bring the water to a boil, then turn it down to a simmer, and toss your ingredients in, letting it simmer slowly for about five minutes or so. Then, turning off the heat, cover and let steep for about a half an hour, then strain, and serve warm, or iced.

Sage can also be used as an antiperspirant. In clinical tests, it has shown the ability to lower blood sugar in cases of diabetes. There are many ailments that this and other herbs, especially used as teas, can heal and even cure naturally. There are a vast amount of herbal remedies in the form of tea that can be wildly beneficial for the green-minded natural healer.

I'll be working on this site once or twice a week, so do please feel free to come back again and join me for some tea! ^_~

Don't forget, you'll find tons more information on this subject in the writings of Stacy Harris (see "my favourite link" below!) than you can ever find here, including how to make teas that help you lose weight, do away with allergies and even cure diseases outright. but I'll do my best here on this site to serve up something as nice as I can!

Thank you for stopping by! ^_^