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Guide to Herbal Teas and how to use them

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The benefits of Herbal Teas.

Not feeling well? Looking for something different? Perhaps something refreshing? Herbal tea could be the answer.

I enjoy my Herbal Tea. It always amazes me how many different types of herbal teas there are. I want to share some of the things I have learned and found out, about herbal tea and the benefits it can bring. It is meant as a guide to herbal teas and how to use them.

As I learn more about herbal teas and where you can use them , I'll expand this lens with more information.

Interesting Fact:Tea is the most commonly consumed drink in the world after water.

Table of Contents

Click on the numbered links to go to where you want.

Use the more button to see all the links

Varieties of teas

Not all teas are herbal teas

herbfarmThere is a large varieties of teas: Black, Green, White, Oolong, Red, Herbal. Within these broader groups, there are a number of varieties found as well.

In tea we find a thing called antioxidant, which is good for our body.

Black, green, white, and oolong teas are made from leaves which come from a warm-weather evergreen tree known as Camellia sinensis.( I'm not that smart done a bit of reading) The leaves from this tree contain polyphenols, which is a chemical made by the sunlight in the leave if i understand that right.. The more processing tea leaves have to go through, the darker the leaves becomes and therefore the name and taste changes.
You see them as either Tea bags or loose leaf in various containers, when you buy tea.

Interesting Fact:Most herbal teas in the market are NOT tea at all, because they are only infusions made with herbs, flowers, roots, spices or other parts of some plants. The proper term for this type of beverage is "tisane"

You see i didn't know this either.

Why do you drink tea?

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What does this mean:

You heard the saying Oils aren't Oils, Teas aren't Teas

herbal mixtureIt means that you can make your own herbal teas, providing you can grow them yourself. Make your own blends of herbal teas

It can be drunk hot or cold.

Make your tea with a teabag or leaves and let your tea sit in your cup for at least 3 - 5 minutes to bring out the beneficial polyphenols.
Enjoy the aroma of tea while you wait!

If you like a cool and refreshing drink in the summer month. then put the tea in the fridge to cool down. This works best with peppermint tea, but you can try others.

Tea is a healthy drink which has many health benefits (if you skip the cream and sugar) and I'll explore some of them next.

Video Series on Basics of Tea

Here is series of short video clips on Tea Basics

Video clip 1:Basics of Tea : What Is Herbal Tea?

Herbal teas are not made from tea plants. Learn more about herbal teas with tips from a tea lounge owner in this free video.

Video clip 2:Basics of Tea : Tea Health Benefits

As mentioned before teas are full of anti oxidants.

Video clip 3:Basics of Tea : Types of Tea

Kim explains that there are 6 types of tea

Video clip 4:Basics of Tea : Identify Tea Quality

In this clip Kim explain what to look for in tea when you buy and when you brew it,


Expert: Kim Pham The Tea Lounge
Basics of Tea : What Is Herbal Tea?
by expertvillage | video info

18 ratings | 4,249 views
curated content from YouTube

Wikipedia

Definition of herbal tea

Here is what Wikipedia says about herbal tea.The link is at the bottom for further reading. There is a long list of herbal tea and i like to go through a few of them and explain a little about them.

Etymology

The English word "tisane" originated from the Greek word ( it wont show up with the greek letters), a drink made from pearl barley. Strictly speaking, the name 'herbal teas' is a misnomer, as they are not made with real tea (Camellia sinensis), but by infusing other plants.

Composition

Herbal teas can be made with fresh or dried flowers, leaves, seeds or roots, generally by pouring boiling water over the plant parts and letting them steep for a few minutes. Seeds and roots can also be boiled on a stove. The tisane is then strained, sweetened if so desired, and served. Many companies produce herbal tea bags for such infusions.

On the other hand, flavoured teas are prepared by adding other plants to an actual tea (black, oolong, green, yellow, or white tea); for example, the popular Earl Grey tea is black tea with bergamot, jasmine tea is Chinese tea with jasmine flowers, and genmaicha is a Japanese green tea with toasted rice.

Herbal teas can also have different effects from person to person, and this is further compounded by the problem of potential misidentification. The deadly foxglove, for example, can be mistaken for the much more benign (but still relatively hepatotoxic) comfrey.

The UK does not require herb teas to have any evidence concerning their efficacy, but does treat them technically as food stuff and require that they are safe for consumption.

More of Wikipedia

Reasons for people to consider drinking herbal tea

herbsThere are many reasons why people look for a more natural solution when it comes to simple ailments. One of the important ones for me is not having to run to the doctor all the time ( I'm not keen on doctors or hospital ) for every little thing wrong with me such as a stomach upset. Most of the times it is just a virus and it just has to run it's course.
The herbal tea can help sometimes lessen the symptoms. By no means think that I think you should give the doctor a miss, far from it. If you need to see a doctor you go and see one, but for people like myself I like to have a look at alternatives.

Please feel free to leave comments on this lens as I'm not an expert

Using herbal tea as a stress relief is not that uncommon and I may be corrected on this.

Boost your immune system with vitamin C rich herbal tea is another just simple way to enjoy the pleasures of herbal teas.

Improve and help with what you eat, to go through your body and possibly lose some weight. I'm not saying use it as a weight loss program, but it could be part of it.

Herbal teas can help you relax and help you to sleep better.

Try a few different herbal teas and see if you you like them to start with. I keep adding more info to this lens and if you can't find here what your are looking for, you can leave a comment or google the world

Herbal tea before bed

Some people consider drinking herbal tea before they go to bed.

Why?

Herbal teas can help you relax and therefore makes it easier to fall asleep. If you are more relaxed there is less tension in your muscles. This applies also when you have had a stressful day at work or at home. Being a mum is never easy.

It also can help your digestive system after a big meal perhaps and we all have eaten to much of a good thing. Heartburn or indigestion come to mind.

You may not feel to well with an upset stomach and a cup of herbal tea could be doing the trick in getting a good night sleep.

We all know how important a good night sleep is.

Herbal tea as a cold remedy

What did people do before modern medicine?

What did people do? It has long being recognized that herbs have medicinal properties.

In cases of cold's and flu's the herbs are helping in stimulating the immune system. It also soothes sore throats, settles upset stomachs and allows easier breathing.

Herbs infused in hot water are also more palatable ( easier to take) for most people. Some herbs are rich in vitamin C, while other are rich in other minerals our bodies need.

Some People will come up with a cocktail of herbs to make up a mixture to achieve the best results for their ailments, while other add just simple ingredients to it such as honey. Garlic is also used and Cayenne powder being one of the more unusual items used.
I guess some like it hot.

Herbal Tea remedies videos

This may help and could be easier to follow then reading blocks of text.

still working on what to do with the first clip.

The second clip "Herbal Plant Remedies : Herbs: Rosemary for Stress" shows and explains a little about the uses of Rosemary other then just tea. Not very long but I think very useful

The third clip " Herbal Tea as Medicine" explains a little about pills vs herbal teas. It is brilliant in the way this lady makes the point of the
difference when taking a pill and making you own herbal tea. I think when you doing things yourself you get better results.

"Herb Tea for Immunity " is another brilliant clip as it explains not only how to make it but also what the purpose is for using it.
Making Herbal MASTER TONIC " how to Cure Anything "cold cure
by HealthyHerbalist | video info

341 ratings | 90,517 views
curated content from YouTube

Herbal tea remedy for headaches

Feverfew

I'm not that familiar with herb, but i'll look into it further and add more info about it.

Peppermint

Peppermint is very versatile when it comes to herbal teas. Here is just another use for it. Just be aware that if you have got heartburn or other troubles with your stomach, peppermint may not be the best option.

Passionflower

Another herb i'm not that familiar with and i do some more research on it too. People say it is great for migranes.

Ginko

Ginko is a very popular herb when it comesto headaches. No one really knows why it works and it is thought to increase the blood flow.
Note: Can have side effects when taken with medication.

Cayenne
Here is a hot one for you. You can also get it as a nasal spry. It bring a tear to your eye.

Willow
This is an interesting one. I will look into this a bit further as well.

Where can herbal teas help

Just remember Herbal Teas don't replace a doctor

Chamomile:

Chamomile is known for its calming attributes. Also it is said to have a number of anti-inflammatory benefits. I enjoy drinking it with a bit of honey in it. It also seem to help when you have a bit of a stomach upset. I use for the reason that I just mentioned before which is for an upset stomach or sometimes before I go to bed to calm me down a little.

Fennel:

Fennel has been used for centuries as a digestive aid and to help with blocked noses or nasal problems. The seeds also help if you have trouble with bad breath. All you have to do is chew them.They taste a little like aniseed. I have tried this one and quite like it, but iI found it harder to get. The other option is to grow the fennel myself.

Peppermint:

Peppermint is thought to have greater stress-relieving attributes than chamomile tea and help with stomach and digestive issues. It also helps freshen breath. It really comes down to taste and i like both. In summer i like peppermint tea cold out of the fridge. It is very refreshing. This is the one I drink the most myself.

Ginseng:

Ginseng stimulates your body and helps the body stay healthy. I'm not quite sure if the is some preventative properties against colds and lesser body ache and pains. Not sure if I have tried this one, but I will. Just need to remember to buy it.

Rose hips:

Rose hips are a good natural source of vitamin C. They are a liver, kidney, and blood tonic (which i didn't know), and are a good help for fatigue, colds, and cough. It just comes down to what you like better as there are other herbal teas, which help with the same problem. Another one tea I like and have in winter to help minimize colds.

Hawthorn Berry:

This is another herbal tea which i have heard of but haven't tried. From what i have read the Hawthorn Tea is a traditional heart tonic. It is an antioxidant that strengthens blood vessel walls and heart function and has a beneficial effect on cholesterol. Haven't tried this, but will see if i can find it.

Hibiscus tea:

Hibiscus tea is said to be very tasty tea and is known to lower blood pressure and lower cholesterol levels in some individuals. Can't say I have tried this one either. I like to know a bit more about this one, so i can write more extensive about it.

Herb Videos

Container Gardening: Container Herb Garden
by RecipeCook | video info

421 ratings | 261,236 views
automatically generated by YouTube

Chamomile

The herb

People drink a cup of chamomile tea before bedtime to help them sleep, because it seem to have a charming effect on your body. (Some herbal experts suggest that the tea can even help ward off cases of insomnia and nightmares.) I'm not sure about that, but if you have any knowledge about it, please tell me and i add your story to it.

The herbal tea is made by pouring boiling water over fresh or dried flower tops of the Chamomile plant in a teapot, which is grown in many part of the world including Eastern Europe, Egypt, Germany and Argentina. Our neighbor was growing herbs as well. I'll try to get some pictures of his garden. I mainly use teabags to drink most of my herbal teas.

Brewing time is around five minutes and chamomile tea is commonly taken with honey (the way i like it), also know for its soothing properties. In addition to drinking it as a sleep aid, here are some other uses i have found of the net:

* Use cooled tea bags to make a compress to treat skin irritations, burns and inflammation
* Relieve mouth and gum pain by gargling the brew
* Add several cups to bath water for relaxation
* Place cooled teabags over the eyes to reduce puffiness and eye strain
* Calm nerves by inhaling the aroma of dried or fresh chamomile flower tops
* Soothe stomach cramps and digestive issues by drinking a cup
* Blend the tea with powdered milk as an exfoliating paste for sensitive skin.
* Apply a dab of the liquor to fungal infections to reduce symptoms

Just remember herbs can help, but they don't replace a good doctor

Chamomile teas are readily available in grocery stores, specialty food shops and health food retailers.

Interesting Fact:Approximately one million cups are consumed annually, indicative of the long-term popularity of the tes for pleasure as well as therapy.

Photos of Chamomiles

Here are some pictures of what the chamomile flower looks like

simple - a not so simple tea bag by Ambernectar 13
Echte Kamille (Matricaria chamomilla) by blumenbiene
Fresh tea by ericabreetoe
Trouble Brewing by CarbonNYC
Chamomile Flowers by ericabreetoe
automatically generated by Flickr

Peppermint

Peppermint tea is a fragrant and distinctive herbal tea. I really like the smell of peppermint. It is so refreshing, that it can be enjoyed hot or over ice. The tea is made from the leaves of the peppermint plant, which originated in Europe and Asia. Varieties of the peppermint plant now grow around the world.
You just got to be careful as it grow wild very quickly, if you grow it in your own garden.

Interesting Fact:Peppermint tea in addition to its pleasing aroma and appetizing flavor, the mint tea has been used for more than 3,000 years as a medicinal remedy, according to historical Greek, Egyptian and Roman records.

The plant's primary, active property is menthol, which is what ascribes the tea's many therapeutic properties.
Quote about peppermint:
"Peppermint herbal tea is thought to help soothe upset stomachs, aid digestion, calm irritable bowel syndrome, reduce flatulence, relieve menstrual cramps and treat minor headaches".

In addition, peppermint can also help with the symptoms of coughs and colds, sore throats and allergies. I have with honey just like the chamomile tea.

Photos of Peppermint

Peppermint is also used in many foods mainly sweets

Peppermint Camellia by moonlightbulb
Peppermint Cookies! by Capeside.
Peppermint by brad montgomery
Peppermint/Chocolate Whoopie Pies by Larkyn.
cookies & cream cheese frosting on top of chocolate cuppies by jennnster
automatically generated by Flickr

Fennel

I myself haven tried fennel tea, but i use the seed to chew on when i have a bad taste in my mouth.
This is what i found on the internet about it. There is just a little of what is on fennel here. for more info go to the link at the bottom of the paragraph.

Fennel has been called the pearl of aphrodisiacs, and more recently, a popular British concoction of fennel seeds, licorice root and water was named the tonic for happy lovers. Fennel has featured for benefits to the lungs, liver, pancreas, spleen, kidneys, and to help dissolve stones. The herb increases gastric secretions, which has a beneficial action on digestion, and helps to regulate intestinal flora. It was traditionally used for: indigestion, gas, hiccups, colic, cramps, nausea, vomiting, excessive stomach acidity, sweetening the breath, gum disorders, diarrhea, increase peristalsis of the stomach and intestines, constipation, colon disorders, blood disorders and anemia, fatigue, lethargy and depression, giddiness of the head, frenzy, epilepsy, earache and toothache, kidney and bladder infections, bedwetting, difficult or burning urination, gout, rheumatism, aching joints, hoarseness, sinus, congestion, expel mucus, coughs, sore throats, bronchitis, shortness of breath, emphysema, recovery from strokes, convulsion, nervous disorders, headaches and migraines, sciatica, relieve period pain and morning sickness, hernia, pain in testes, intestinal worms, and to make the taste of yucky medicines more palatable.

More about Fennel

Alfalfa Tea

Alfalfa is something I considered more of eating rather then drinking

I always thought of Alfalfa as a sprout not as a tea. As I keep learning more about herbal tea tea the more fascinating it all becomes.

Alfalfa Tea has got a number of uses as a medicinal tea such as:
- weight loss
- high blood pressure
- intestinal / digestive system
- lower cholesterol
- arthritis and joined discomforts
- prostate and bladder problems
- body detox

Alfalfa is full of vitamin K. Many of our foods contain vitamin K, gets broken down when we consume alcohol or are on some medication. A cup of Alfalfa Tea can replenish our need of vitamin K.

Alfalfa is also full of other vitamins and can help in all the above mentioned ailment. Like with so many things in life there is most likely someone who can't drink Alfalfa Tea because they are being allergic to it.

Where to buy herbal teas

A question from my daughter

It is funny how you think about so many different thing on a subject that sometimes you miss the most important one.

The other day my daughter had another look on what I had written and she ask me

" Dad, where can you buy some of these more unusual herbal teas, if you can't grow them yourself?"

What a good question. I will add some links here on where to find them online.

The more common herbal teas, such as chamomile, peppermint and rosehip, you find in the supermarkets. Some organic shops will also have them and some of those less common herbal teas.

I keep searching for more and add as I find them

Other articles on herbal teas

Tales of horsetail and other plants native to Central Texas
Three herbs that have multiple uses. yaupon holly, spotted horsemint (Monarda punctata) and horsetail (Equisetum hyemale). The leaves of the Yaupon holly can be used to make a caffeinated green tea. The evergreen shrub is popular with Central Texas ...
Drink your tea ... and eat it, too
With a 400-percent increase in sales over the decade, tea is hogging specialty-food headlines. Are local people drinking more and better teas? Area vendors say yes, with the biggest bump in green and decaf teas, including those made with fruits, herbs ...
ORGANIC INDIA Launches New Kine of Wellness Teas
New line of Wellness Teas combines Tulsi (Holy Basil) with other herbs to address specific health concerns. ORGANIC INDIA launched a new line of wellness teas designed to address specific health concerns. Each of the four teas contains Tulsi (Holy ...
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Herbal Tea Forums and Blogs

Here are some links to some forums and blogs to answer or expand on things from this site.
Herbal Tea Group
Do You Love Herbal Tea? Join friendly people sharing true stories in the I Love Herbal Tea group. Find forums, advice and chat with groups who share this life ...
Permaculture-Herbal Tea as extra Income
I've been trying to come up with ways to generate a little farm income and it has evolved into a small herbal tea enterprise at the local organic ...
Healing Well
I use the Lemongrass green tea (ingredients also say rose petals and peppermint) and drink about 2 cups per day. As for purely herbal teas, ...
Herbal Tea and Pregnancy
Discussion regarding Herbal Teas at Hong Kong expat forums' Pregnancy & Fertility discussions. View original post and user responses.
Herbal Tea Blog
As we love Dandelion leaf to get water out--we love Dandelion root to assist in keeping very regular movements. Roasted Dandelion root is now in stock.
Herbal Tea Recipes Questions
I absolutely LOVE this tea, I just started making this one a couple months ago and cannot stop! (This recipe is for a pot, rather than a cup, you can reduce amount of each ingredient if it is only for yourself).

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wolfie10

Hi my name is Wolfgang and I live in Australia.
I very much enjoy herbal teas and I am facinated by the variety of herbal teas available.
Little did... more »

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A book worthwhile having 

From one of the reviewers of this book

Herbal Teas: 101 Nourishing Blends for Daily Health & Vitality

Herbal Teas: 101 Nourishing Blends for Daily Health & Vitality

by: Kathleen Brown, Jeanine Pollak

Amazon Price: $8.75 (as of 02/17/2012)Buy Now

I adore this book - it's creative, well-written, informative, and with a wealth of ideas and information. I use it constantly to reference for my business, and use it personally to make teas for myself and as gifts for family. The names are a hoot! This truly shows you how useful, versatile, and helpful herbal teas are, with a wide range of ingredients, flavors and moods. if you're interested in making your own teas, get this book! May be a bit daunting for herb "newbies" but don't be scared, you don't need to buy all the herbs mentioned in this book. Just pick one recipe at a time and start to experiment. A great way to learn! I've been playing with herbs for years and still find a new one or two to taste, explore and learn about with this book

Another good book 

Review of a reader of this book

The Book of Herbal Teas: A Guide to Gathering, Brewing, and Drinking

The Book of Herbal Teas: A Guide to Gathering, Brewing, and Drinking

by: Sara Perry

Amazon Price: $9.96 (as of 02/17/2012)Buy Now

This is a really neat book - it starts out with the history of tea and definitions of different "tea speak" like infusion versus decoction etc. Then it talks to growing/finding and harvesting your own herbs. Then it talks to how to prepare tea and then there are a few recipes. I was expecting more recipes but there are some nice lists that you can just figure out the ratios yourself. For example there's a list of two-herb blends (e.g. bergamot and sweet celery, chamomile and apple mint etc) - the point of these lists is to give you the basics you need to get more adventurous and create more of your own blends. There are lists for three-herb blends too. The recipes are for more complicated things like making a chai, or making specific teas (there are about 6 recipes like that which are good). Then there are recipes for syrups etc too. The last 50 pages or so are all about the herbs themselves, telling you which parts to use and text on taste, special properties, how to grow & harvest that specific herb, and more. Its really a great book. As I mentioned I had expected a book of just recipes but this book is different (and ultimately better I think) in that it gives you the information and some of the baby steps to actually create your own tea blends. Its a lot of fun. Definitely recommend it for anyone who enjoys playing around with herbs, grows and herb garden or just loves teas.

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