“Plants have long been recognized for their therapeutic properties. For centuries, indigenous cultures around the world have used traditional herbal medicine to treat a myriad of maladies.”
I would like to highlight a few herbs to add to your teatime this week! These herbs have numerous health benefits for women and men.
Eleuthero
Eleuthero, Eleutherococcus senticosus, used to be known by the name Siberian Ginseng. Even though it has similar properties to American Ginseng (Panax quinquefolius) or True Ginseng (Panax ginseng), it’s not related. So the common name of Siberian Ginseng has been replaced with the name Eleuthero.
Eleuthero is most often used as an adaptogen. Adaptogens are a classification of herbs that help our bodies adapt to stress so that we are more capable of handling stressful situations. It won’t prevent stress from happening, but it will improve our ability to deal with stress. This is particularly important for people who may be feeling overwhelmed by their jobs, study, or even current events. However, it also has stimulating properties that make it a highly sought-after herb for both mental and physical performance enhancement. In recent years, this herb has become highly valued by athletes for its ability to boost energy, increase metabolism, sharpen mental concentration, and help improve strength and stamina.
Chamomile
There are two Chamomile plants, German Chamomile (Chamomilla recutita) and Roman Chamomile (Chamaemelum nobile). For most purposes, the two plants are used in the same way and are entirely interchangeable. However, the one that has been studied the most is German chamomile, so that’s the one you will likely find most often. Some gardeners prefer one over the other because of their growing habits, but they are very similar and often interchangeable like their medicinal uses.
Chamomile has been used as a bedtime tea for centuries, and with good reason. This happy little flower helps to relax and sedate our nervous system, allowing sleep to come easier and our anxieties to drift away virtually. Many people will diffuse Chamomile Essential Oil at night to help them sleep, but a cup of herbal tea can work just as well. The act of brewing a cup of tea is always a great relaxation and sleep aid, but making sure your herbal blend includes chamomile will help all the more. Try a combination such as Meditative State of Mind, to help reduce those daily anxieties and calm your mind. It’s even gentle enough for children. Chamomile tea, sometimes with a touch of milk, has been a great nighttime drink for children for centuries.
Meditative State of Mind Herbs
Most of us are familiar with the healing benefits of lavender and the yummy scent of lavender in beauty products and teas. When you combine this fragrant flower with mint and chamomile, you are left with a relaxed digestive tract as well as mind and body. The flavors combine in symbiotic harmony, combining a balance that can only be accomplished by working together. Lavender, mint, and chamomile are not the only flowers and herbs in this incredible tea; the master herbalist, Jenifer Vollbrecht, also added moringa. Read more about this delicious tea in our past article here.
Rosemary vitamins and minerals
“A typical one-tablespoon serving of rosemary is also not likely to provide significant micronutrients. However, you will get a small amount of vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin B6, and folate. Minerals in rosemary include calcium, iron, and magnesium, and manganese.”
Benefits of Rosemary
This beautiful herb is rich in antioxidants, improves memory, boosts the immune system, and improves circulation. Read more about the benefits of rosemary.
Mint
We’re all familiar with the sweet aroma of mint, but you may be surprised at just how much power this potent little herb packs. It’s become so commonplace; it’s often overlooked as a powerful herbal tea.
Along with its nausea-fighting cousin ginger, peppermint is renowned for its ability to relax the stomach muscles that cause nausea, bloating, excess gas, and diarrhea. This little leafy green is an antispasmodic, easing the knots in your stomach. Peppermint tea doesn’t just keep you awake; it can improve your focus. It may cause synapses in the brain to fire more rapidly, enhancing cognition and focus. Read more about the benefits of peppermint.
Echinacea
Echinacea in tea form has a pleasant taste, although some may perceive it as bitter. Many echinacea teas are blended with other immune-fighting herbs, increasing the benefits and adding to the flavor. Mixing echinacea tea with ginger and lemon will increase the healing properties. Generally, teas are only steeped for a few minutes. When using good quality whole leaf organic tea, you can steep multiple times. Continue to add boiling water over the used tea leaves multiple times to extract more tea flavor.
Studies concluded that echinacea could reduce a person’s chances of catching a cold by approximately 58 percent. They found that the herbal remedy also reduces the length of time that a cold lasts by 1.4 days.
Taking echinacea with the first symptoms of illness can lessen the chance that it will become severe. Taking echinacea throughout a condition is likely to shorten the duration of the illness. Read more about boosting your immune system with echinacea.
For the full effect of medicinal herbs -steeping for longer times is encouraged. See below.
Herbal Infusions
An infusion is generally a tea that has been steeped in an air-tight container for longer than five minutes. Green and black teas will have a bitter taste if you steep for longer than 2-4 minutes. However, herbal teas can withstand being steeped for several hours. I like to make medicinal teas at night in a mason jar with a seal-tight lid. I let them steep on the counter all night. In the morning, I strain the tea into another mason jar and drink at room temp, heat up in a mug, or place it in the fridge for iced tea. Mixing infusions with juice will make it more tolerable for children and those who do not desire a strong tea.
Refer back to You, Me, and Uni for helpful information on herbs and natural remedies. Check out the articles on the site to increase your knowledge and awareness during a time when having a healthy immune system is paramount.
Anastacia Elizabeth Walden is a writer, editor and the owner of Walden Writes For Women.
