All herb teas have medicinal properties; some may be so slight one doesn't notice, and some tea bags may be so old that they have no active ingredients, but basically any herb is medicinal. However, herb teas made as a beverage are different from herb teas made as herbal medicine. An herb tea is steeped for just a few minutes according to taste whereas a medicinal tea is brewed for ten to thirty minutes to attain the proper effectiveness.
In general medicinal teas are alternatives to over-the-counter medications. They are not replacements for pharmaceuticals. They are strong enough that there may be interactions with pharmaceuticals so you should discuss medicinal teas with a medical professional if you are going to take them on an ongoing basis.
Symptoms which may be addressed by medicinal herbs include:
- Occasional constipation
- Occasional indigestion
- Mental and physical fatigue
- Nervousness and sleeplessness, and
- Minor seasonal conditions
Brewing the tea
Buy the teas from a source that you trust to provide fresh ingredients. Store herb teas in sealed containers away from humidity, light and air.
Generally pour boiling water over the tea leaves and let it brew (infuse) for at least 10 minutes. Chemical reactions are occurring during the infusion as more and more chemistry is extracted from the leaves. In some cases the cell walls of the plant need to break down and this takes time. Some chemicals like flavonoids are only partially soluble in water so a longer brewing time is necessary.
Making a Typical Medicinal Tea
The general recipe for making medicinal teas is:
- 4 parts medicinal herb with the primary effect you're looking for. Research the internet for your specific symptom taking note of any contraindication or drug interactions. There are many herbs recommended for various conditions. When you think you've found the right herb, look at more than one site that discusses the herb. Do a search such as “ginger contraindication warning risk” and see if there is negative information on authoritative websites.
- 1 part aromatic herb, such as Allspice, Anise, Caraway, Cardamom, Cinnamon, Clove, Coriander, Ginger, Lemon peel, Orange peel, Vanilla bean,
- 1 part demulcent herb, such as Arrowroot, Borage, Coltsfoot, Comfrey root, Licorice root, Marshmallow leaves and root, Oatmeal, Sassafras pith, Slippery elm bark, Solomon's-seal root
Use one teaspoon of herb mixture to one cup of water.
Please note: The information in this article is not to be followed as medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please consult with your physician or primary health practitioner for information regarding your own personal health and necessary treatments.
