Brewing an herbal tea is a time-honored ritual that begins when you decide what herb you want to use. There are different reasons we make herbal tea, to help us sleep, to fight a cold, to help with menopausal symptoms etc. What ever your reasons the healing process begins as soon as you pick your herb and place it in boiling water. It’s smell, color, and texture is part of the healing process.
Herbal Teas from Your Backyard By Pamela Yarborough
Brewing an herbal tea is a time-honored ritual that begins when you decide what herb you want to use. There are different reasons we make herbal tea, to help us sleep, to fight a cold, to help with menopausal symptoms etc. What ever your reasons the healing process begins as soon as you pick your herb and place it in boiling water. It’s smell, color, and texture is part of the healing process.
“ Many Herbalist believe that this simple ritual unites a healer (you) and a healing substance (herb) with a healing intention.” (A Woman’s Book of Healing Herbs)
Herbal teas come from many sources, health food stores, grocery stores, mail order companies, or maybe even your back yard. Depending on where you live you might find Birch (black, yellow, white) birch leaves can be dried and used year round. Use a large handful of the fresh leaves to steep in hot water for 10 to 15 min. Drink 1 or 2 times daily for rheumatism, headaches, and as a fever reducer.
Black Berry tea can be made from dried mature leaves steeped until cool. Strain and drink 2 cups per day as a blood purifier and tonic. This can also help inflamed Kidneys and increase urine flow.
Wild Strawberry tea, again use the dried leaves. Pour several cups of boiling water over a handful of leaves at night. Cover and let sit till morning. Strain out leaves and reheat. Believed to be good for stomach troubles, eczema and diarrhea.
Wild Rose Hip tea, Use a handful of hips with several cups of hot water and let set for 10 min. Then stir and drink. Use all year round. This tea is high in vitamin C and can also help with sore throat and the flu.
Yarrow tea, Use 1/2 leaves and 1/2 flowers. Helps balance hormones, useful for PMS because it stimulates the liver.
Red Clover tea, Use 1-3 tsp. of the dried flowers with 1-quart boiling water, let sit for 10 to 15 minutes. Drink 3 tines a day. Use as an all around wellness tea and blood purifier. Believed to be good for menstrual cycle, fertility, balancing hormones and calming restlessness.
Mullein tea, use 1-2 tsp. Of dried leaves or flowers with several cups of boiling water. Let sit for 10 to 15 minutes. Should be drunk 3 times a day. Beneficial for respiratory problems, for toning the mucus membrane of the respiratory system.
This is only a few of the “back yard” plants that can be used to heal our bodies. Plants like Dandelion, Golden Rod, Milkthistle, Nettle and Elder can also be used.
So explore your back yards, the beginnings of your healing are in finding these herbs, making and drinking these teas and believing in the desire to heal yourself.
Tags: black berry tea, chamomile tea, herbal tea, strawberry tea
