Are you looking for a delicious and relaxing way to receive the healthy benefits from herbs? Discover how easy it is to 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 can negatively affect the quality of the herbs.
One of my favorite summertime ICED herbal teas is a combination of Lemon Balm, Melissa officinales, Lemongrass, Aloysia triphylla and Lemon Verbena, Cymbogpoon citrate . This tea is quite delicious, cooling and full of health benefits. The herb that I use most frequently is Melissa. This easily grown perennial is best as a tea to calm night-time headaches and nervous tension. A member of the mint family, Lemon Balm is used to treat upset stomach, flatulence and colic. A strong infusion of Lemon Balm can also be used to treat oral herpes. Lemongrass is often used in Thai and Vietnamese cooking and is delicious in soups, curries and stir-fries. Lemongrass has anti-oxidant properties, assists the digestive system and has even been reported to reduce cholesterol in some people. Lemon Verbena is a sweet, wonderfully tasting herb helpful in flavoring any fruit salad, fish and even cookies. Lemon Verbena is also a digestive aid, can strengthen and tone the nervous system and has some anti-spasmodic properties.
Another favorite tea that is nearly always on my stove top is my High Energy Chai Tea: 
http://www.ezherbs.net/teas.htm I drink this in the afternoon during my often occurring, 4pm slump. In the winter time I like it hot, but all summer I ICE it, add some honey and almond or coconut milk and enjoy a cooling, satisfying and yummy treat. It provides me with energy, tastes wonderfully delicious, increases my metabolism, aids digestion and is high in anti-oxidants. What could be better!!
My very popular, Vital-Cal tea is prepared with hot water, then stored in a glass jar where it maintains its properties for two days in the refrigerator. This is a tasty, healthy tea rich in calcium and many other beneficial nutrients. This tea is enjoyed by the whole family including the kids. Try this one ICED, so delicious and so beneficial.
Peppermint, Mentha piperita and Spearmint, Mentha spicata, are wonderful members of the Lamiacea family that are stimulating as well as wonderfully refreshing and cooling on a hot summer day. These mints are also good for digestion and help to ease a stomach ache.
Roasted Yaupon Tea, made from our local, Ilex vomitoria tree (don’t worry, it’s the berries, ingested in very high quantities that may cause vomiting), is high in caffeine and a good substitute for coffee ( as is my Chai tea). Just harvest some leaves, roast them in a low oven for approximately 20 minutes until they’re almost brown and somewhat crisp. Prepare the tea as an infusion and ENJOY!!! Roasted Yaupon can be enjoyed hot in the early morning and/or ICED for an afternoon treat.
My EZ Relax tea is always good anytime you need calming down and can be enjoyed hot, at room temperature or ICED.
Finally, Hibiscus tea (commonly served at many local Austin restaurants) is a cooling herb made from the flowers of Hibiscus sabdariffa. This herb also has digestive and anti-spasmodic properties and tastes wonderful mixed with some dried or frozen fruits (try some frozen blueberries). Great ICED tea for everyone!
Enjoy drinking herbal teas as a safe and easy way to effectively receive the many medicinal benefits of the plants. Imbibing an herbal tea once or twice a day will provide you with a variety of vitamins and minerals while acting as a preventive for continued good health.
Stay COOL during these hot months. Green Blessings, Ellen
