Herbal Teas

There are two kinds of herbal teas: those that are used primarily as alternative beverages to coffee and regular tea, and those that are valued for their medicinal properties. The former are sold in supermarkets and the herbs are merely used as flavoring agents. These teas are relatively weak and generally harmless, but they do not offer the same benefits as real herbal tea. The real stuff is usually sold in health food stores and herb shops in tea bags or dried herbs. As a rule, these herbal preparations are more potent than the supermarket variety and should be used more carefully. Before you use any herbal tea, however, you should learn as much as possible about the herb. If you are pregnant or have a medical condition such as high blood pressure, check with your doctor before drinking any herbal tea. Avoid using stimulants at night, or relaxing herbs early in the day when you may need a lift.

Teas are made by what is called either infusion or decoction. An infusion is used for flowers, leaves and herbs. Place the herbs in the muslin bag, pour hot water over the bag, cover and steep.

A decoction is used for seeds, roots, bark, and berries. Place the muslin bag with the herb in it in a pot, bring to a boil, cover and simmer.

Making an herbal tea is about as simple as boiling water. Put 1 tablespoon of the herb in a muslin bag and place in 1 cup of boiling water. Let the mixture simmer for 5 to 10 minutes. Remove the bag and drink. To make several cups at once, use a glass or ceramic tea pot. Use 1 tablespoon of herb for every cup of water. You can sweeten your home-brewed tea with sugar or honey. In warm weather, you can add ice cubes to the prepared tea to make your own iced tea. Peppermint, apple, chamomile, cranberry, raspberry, and orange flower are particularly good when chilled.

The following is a list of popular herbal teas and a brief description of their reputed uses.

* Alfalfa - Aids Digestion.
* Angelica - Mild antispasmodic and digestive aid.
* Aniseed - Decongestant for nose and sinuses.
* Basil and Borage - "Pick me up" tonic.
* Bilberry - Aids circulation.
* Black Current - Stimulates taste buds.
* Blueberry - Pleasant before meal tea.
* Borage - Antimelancholy.
* Buchu - Natural diuretic (dangerous if taken to excess.)
* Burdock Root - Helps sciatica and rheumatoid arthritis.
* Butcher's Broom - Good diuretic.
* Catnip - Relaxant and mild depressant.
* Chamomile - Calms hyperactive children; good before bedtime.
* Chicory - Normalizes liver function.
* Cinnamon - Clears the brain and improves thought processes.
* Cornsilk - Reduces pain of urinary infections.
* Couch Grass - Tightens and tones up the bladder sphincter, good diuretic.
* Dandelion - Improves liver function and kidney function.
* Elder Flower - Increases immune function.
* Fennel - Good for the pancreas.
* Fenugreek - Good for colds, clogged ears, and aching sinuses.
* Ginger - Appetite restorer.
* Ginseng - Natural tonic for a "lift".
* Goldenseal - Internal detergent (avoid if you have high blood pressure.)
* Hawthorne Berry - Energizing to the elderly.
* Hops - Relaxant and calming agent.
* Horehound - Helps loosen heavy mucus.
* Jasmine - Mild nerve sedative.
* Juniper Berry - Helps cystitis or bladder inflammation.
* Licorice - Good Laxative.
* Nettle - Increases blood pressure (avoid if you have high blood pressure.)
* Orange Flowers - Sleep aid.
* Parsley - Diuretic (increases flow of urine.)
* Peppermint - Anti-gas.
* Raspberry - Tightens, tones and strengthens the uterus.
* Red Clover - Inner cleanser.
* Rose Hips - Adrenal stimulant during daytime.
* Sage - Improves brain nourishment; known as the "thinker's tea".
* Sarsaparilla - Laxative, hormone balancer (should not be used on a regular basis.)
* Senna - Strong laxative.
* Slippery Elm - Pain reliever.
* Spearmint - Pain reliever.
* Thyme - Sore throats and colds.
* Valerian - Natural sedative.
* Yarrow - General tonic.

Enameled pans are much better than metallic pans.

Metallic pans should be avoided unless made of stainless steel.

Tea balls work quite well for infusions but should also be made of high quality stainless steel.

When I make a decoction I add the plant matter to cold water then boil for 3 to 4 minutes.

The mixture should than steep covered for about ten minutes.

Color is usually a good indication But some teas are light colored in nature, You will quickly become accustomed to the correct color for your favorite teas.

If you don't have a muslin bag you may simply strain the decoction through a standard kitchen screen with handle.

The finer the better.

Some herbs such as valerian root have a very strong disagreeable taste and you may want to pick up some 00 size gelatin capsules rather than taking it in the form of a tea.

A very tasty version of herb magick.

Also you may want to experiment with adding decoctions to bath water.