These days, many people are turning to alternative therapies and treatments for ailments, and for skin and hair care, and herbs have once again become popular as food flavourings, as well as being used in preparing many of the alternative medicines.  Drinking herbal teas is one of the easiest ways to benifit from their medicinal properties.  Here are some of the herbs you can use, and a guide to how they may help, and how they taste.  Please, always remember not to over-use these teas; we should have a wide and varied diet, and be moderate in our intake of all foods.  If you have any serious ailments, it is wise to check with your doctor before starting on alternative remedies.

Mint teas can be a digestive aid, calm nausea, and help to relieve cold and flu symptoms.  I also find them to be a good pick-me-up after a hard day at work!!  You can get peppermint, spearmint, and mixtures of the two (my favourite :-) )

Rosehip tea has a high vitamin C content, a pleasant fruity taste, and can be used to help ease cold and flu symptoms.

Lemon Verbena, as its name suggests, has a citrus flavour, and can be used to help calm the nerves, and also as a digestive aid.  I like lemon and lime together, and you can use this as an iced tea in summer - very refreshing......

Chamomile is generally used as a sedative tea, often mixed with Passion Flower and Valerian, which are also sedative.  It also has anti-inflammatory properties, and can be used as a general tonic.  It has a bittersweet, apple-like flavour - good for a bedtime drink.

Ginseng has an earthy flavour, and can also help to relieve stress and rejuvenate the body.

Alfalfa has a high mineral content and can be used as a tonic, nutritive and digestive aid.  It has a new mown hay taste - I haven't actually tried this one myself, but I will look out for it.  I have always liked chewing tender grass stalks......:-)

Comfrey is a slightly bitter, grassy flavour, and can be helpful as a blood purifier, to sooth sore throats, and as a digestive aid.

Slippery Elm is also used to soothe sore throats, and may help relieve constipation and aid digestion.  It has a pleasant, sweet flavour.

Licorice - no need to describe this flavour - is used in Chinese herbal medicine to soothe sore throats and coughs, and quench thirst.  If you buy it in loose leaf form, start with a small amount per cup - it can be a bit over-powering if you make it too strong..

Fenugreek is another I haven't tried.  It is said to have a sharp, pungent flavour, and be useful for shortening fever, to dispel headaches, and to treat acne.

Dong Quai, a strong, slightly bitter herb, is said to help relieve menstrual cramps, and menopause and PMS symptoms.

There are many other herbal teas on the market, in loose leaf and tea-bags.  Strawberry and Raspberry are two others I like, and while I don't think they have any particular medicinal qualities, the great thing about them, and all herb teas is that they don't contain caffeine. Although some people say they can't live without their caffeine fix, we really don't need as much as a lot of people do drink, and herb teas can be a great altenative.

If anyone has any favourite teas, maybe something that you have found to be helpful, please email me and let me know so I can try it, and if you would like me to, I will add it to my list (with thanks to you, of course :-o)  )

     Back to applets Back to Home page