Herbal Teas

Herbal teas have been used through out the centuries for relieving pain and soothing away stress. They are also used for entertainment and social functions as well, but we are going to focus on the use of herbal teas for the relief of various ailments.

Please do not attempt to grow your own herbs for remedy teas unless you have taken a class to learn how to do so. Some herbs are poisonous until cooked, some are poisonous after being cooked, and most just won't be strong enough to make any difference, because of soil conditions.

I do not like tea. I never drink it, herbal or otherwise. This is because I had parents who were very into herbal remedies, and at the slightest hint of stomach trouble, I would be forced to drink the worst smelling, foulest, vile tasting teas in the universe.

However, they did work, and so I do recommend them, just don't try to make me drink them! While all the other kids were running around with Bactine and a Band-Aide on their knees, I was forced to hop along with a comfrey poultice tied around my leg
Please note that most of these remedies refer to a tincture rather than a tea. A tincture is thicker than a tea and contains more of the actual herb, infused in the mixture rather than steeped, as in tea.

Anemia: Boil stinging nettle leaves and drink the tincture. ( Yum!, no it really does work, but remember that stinging needle leaves HURT if they're not boiled, so wear gloves when handling them.)

Arthritis: Birch, celery seed, devils claw, or juniper made into a tincture will help alleviate pain. Yes, it tastes as bad as it sounds, and it's not the celery seed you have in your cooking cupboard.

Siberian ginseng root tincture helps with the side effects of chemotherapy and is one of the tinctures which taste good. It sooths the insides and helps keep skin healthy. It has been found to alleviate fatigue associated with chemo treatment, and the ginseng is an ancient herb used in healing.

For a colicky baby, make a tincture of fennel and dill, and add 5-10 drops to their bottle. Fennel tastes like licorice and they like it. You can keep this tincture stored in the fridge for up to a week.

A liter of rhubarb root a day will help with constipation, but I think it has as much to do with the water intake as I do with the rhubarb. ( just a thought.)

A tea made from garlic bulbs and ribwort leaves will quiet a cough.

Depression: Grind up an entire oat plant, root to tip, and add St. John's wart flowers. Boil in just enough water to cover the mixture, and let it steep down to a tincture, drink daily.

A very hot tea of lemon balm, yarrow, and ginger will take down a fever and is palatable.

Caraway, fennel, ginger, and peppermint made into a strong tea will ease flatulence.

Catnip, Echinacea, and yarrow made into a tincture will ease flu symptoms.

The list goes on and on. You can also use herbs for creating your own lip balms, creams, and ointments. Most herb stores or family co ops have classes were you can learn to make all of your own herbal remedies, make up, balms and ointments for unique gifts or instant pain and fever relief. Herbs have been around since the beginning of time-learning how to use them properly could save you tons of money on doctor bills and over the counter medications.

By Readabout Alternative Medicine Guide Editorial Team