The Benefits of Herbal Teas

Are you looking for a delicious and relaxing way to receive the healthy benefits from herbs?  Discover how easy it is to use and benefit from common herbs for health, relaxation and well-being by drinking herbal infusions and decoctions! 

The fresh plant or high quality dried herbs are the best ingredients for these two different types of medicinal teas.  The first is a MEDICINAL INFUSION that is made from the leaves and flowers, the soft parts of the herb.  The second type of tea, a MEDICINAL DECOCTION, is made using the roots, stems or berries, the hard parts, of the herb. Medicinal teas are brewed with hot water and commonly drunk as a warm tea.  However, the health benefits/ medicinal qualities are gained at any temperature, so give them a try at room temperature or iced.  In preparation, ALWAYS use stainless steel, glass or ceramic kettle/ pot.  Copper and aluminum as negatively affect the quality of the herbs.

Here’s how you create a tea:

Creating a Medicinal Infusion:

1. Use a tea kettle or large stainless pot to heat the water.

2. In a separate teapot, measure and add your fresh herbs ((2 teaspoons per cup water) and place in a teapot.  If you are using dried herbs, use 1 heaping teaspoon per cup of water.

3.  Pour the desired amount of water over the herbs, cover the teapot and let infuse, or steep, for at least 20 minutes.

4. If you do not have a teapot, place the desired amount of cold water in a pot.  Add your measured herbs and bring to a boil.  Remove from heat and infuse, covered, for at least 20 minutes

5. Strain and enjoy! 

Note:  Many herbs can infuse longer, even overnight for a stronger medicinal tea.

Others, like Chamomile, require a shorter infusion time (usually from 5-7 minutes).  Chamomile is rich in tannins and if it is infused longer, it will taste quite bitter.

One of my favorite Herbal Teas is Nettles Tea: I brew Nettles several times a week either by itself or mixed with other herbs for variation and other nutritive and medicinal properties.  Nettles (January’s H of M) is very high in vitamins and mineral and tastes GREAT!!

Another favorite tea that is nearly always on my stove top is my High Energy Chai Tea:   I drink this in the afternoon during my often occurring, 4pm slump.  It provides me with energy, tastes wonderfully delicious, increases my metabolism, aids digestion and is high in anti-oxidants.  What could be better!!