For thousands of years, plants have provided people with a virtual pharmacopoeia of soothing restoratives and simple home remedies. Mint leaves, for instance, were used by the ancient Babylonians to treat digestive disorders as far back as 1800 C.E. From the Middle Ages through the late 19th century, home-grown herbs served as both food seasonings and staples of the family medicine cabinet.
Across cultures and over time, the folk wisdom of herbal remedies has been passed down from generation to generation. Even today, up to 25 percent of prescription and over-the-counter drugs contain active ingredients derived from plants, including aspirin’s salicylic acid, a derivative of a plant extract in willow bark.
According to Gainesville herbalist Susan Marynowski, one of the most satisfying ways to help the (herbal) medicine go down is in the form of a steaming cup of tea. Marynowski, who holds a degree in wildlife ecology and natural systems from the University of Florida, has had more than 4,000 hours of training and two certificate courses in herbalism, including one course that was led by a medical doctor. She recommends using dried leaves over fresh ones for herbal teas, and says you can buy dried herbs in bulk from Ward’s, Mother Earth and other local health-food stores.
Marynowski recommends her Mint Medley, a blend of spearmint, chamomile and fennel seeds, to settle the stomach and aid in digestion.
“Spearmint is nice because it’s not as strong as peppermint,” she says. “Peppermint tends to relax the sphincter at the top of the stomach, so if you have acid reflux, it may not be the best thing to take.”
Drink this tea after lunch or dinner to help digest your food and prevent gas.
Marynowski drinks ginger tea instead of coffee every morning.
“I can’t say enough good things about ginger root,” she says. “It supports healthy circulation and healthy digestion.” According to Marynowski, ginger tea also has anti-nausea properties that help with motion sickness. It’s even safe in small quantities to help ward off morning sickness during the early stages of pregnancy, she says.
Marynowski says ginger root has anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties, as well.
“It’s a fantastic, all-around healing root, and you can grow culinary ginger here in Florida,” she says.
Got seasonal allergies? Marynowski has just the brew for you: goldenrod tea.
“Goldenrod is a nice astringent plant,” she says. “It helps to dry out things.”
And, contrary to the common belief that goldenrod triggers fall allergies, Marynowski says goldenrod gets its bad rap because it blooms at the same time as ragweed, which is the real culprit.
To make goldenrod tea any time of year, Marynowski says you can collect the flowers and top 12 inches of goldenrod plants. (Avoid plants from the roadside, where automobile exhaust and other pollutants may contaminate them, or under power lines where herbicides are often sprayed.) Hang them up to dry, then strip the flowers and leaves from the stems and store them in an airtight container.
“Goldenrod tea is good for the urinary tract and to dry up seasonal allergies,” Marynowski says. “I wouldn’t propose that anyone substitute it for antibiotics, but it’s a nice complement to antibiotics. And it’s not a bad-tasting tea.”
To ward off colds and flu, Marynowski recommends a blend of equal parts peppermint leaves, yarrow flower (optional) and elderflower. You could use the elderberries instead of the flower, but the elderflower tastes better in this recipe, she says.
“This is a classic formula that’s been used for hundreds of years,” Marynowski says. “These three ingredients are diaphoretic; that is, they bring the circulation out to the skin and make you sweat.” Sweating, Marynowski contends, helps fight off the cold bug.
Elder – either the flower or the berry – is believed to have anti-viral properties.
“So it helps your immune system know better what to do,” she says.
To make a classic herbal tea, start with about one tablespoon of dried herbs or tea leaves per cup of tea – Marynowski prefers to use loose leaves in a teapot or a French press. Pour one cup of boiling water over the leaves. Steep for 15 or 20 minutes, then strain the leaves as you pour the tea into the cup.
If you’re making a tea with roots or berries, simmer them on the stove in two cups of water for 15 to 20 minutes.
Mint Medley
Makes 1 cup
Ingredients:
1 part spearmint
1 part chamomile
1 part fennel seeds (by weight)
Preparation:
For the loose tea, mix together 1 ounce spearmint, 1 ounce chamomile and 1 ounce fennel seeds. Store in an airtight container.
To make a cup of tea, place about 1 tablespoon of the loose-tea blend into a teapot or French press. Pour 1 cup of boiling water over the tea. Steep for 15 or 20 minutes, then strain the leaves as you pour the tea into a cup.
Ginger Tea
Makes 1 to 2 cups
Ingredients:
1- to 2-inch section of fresh ginger root
2 cups warm water
Honey, to taste
Preparation:
Grate or finely chop the ginger root.
Place ginger in a small pot with 2 cups of warm water. Cover and simmer 15 to 20 minutes.
Pour the tea through a strainer into a cup. Sweeten to taste with honey and enjoy.
Cold and Flu Season Tea
Makes 1 cup
Ingredients:
1 part dried elderflower
1 part dried yarrow flower (optional)
1 part dried peppermint leaves
Preparation:
For the loose tea, mix together 1 ounce elderflower, 1 ounce yarrow flower and one ounce peppermint leaves. Store in an airtight container.
To make a cup of tea, place about 1 tablespoon of the loose tea blend into a teapot or French press. Pour 1 cup of boiling water over the tea. Steep for 15 or 20 minutes, then strain the leaves as you pour the tea into a cup.
Brew these all-natural teas for holistic remedies at home
Goldenrod gets a bad rap when it comes to triggering allergies, but ragweed is the real culprit, Marynowski says. Goldenrod tea can actually help allergy symptoms, she says.
Chamomile flower is a tea staple, helping to settle an upset stomach.
Elderflower is believed to have anti-viral properties that can boost your immune system during cold and flu season.
Via: The Gainsville Sun
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