Herbal
tea
Although not classified as tea in a technical sense, herbal tea still
offers many health benefits. Herbal teas are made from leaves, roots, seeds,
bark, flowers and other plants are medicinal. This tea contains no caffeine at
all, making it suitable for children. So, you can enjoy it all day until
bedtime because this tea will not disrupt your night's sleep. Avoid drinking
herbal tea to lose weight, because it may contain dangerous laxatives. Herbal
tea contains antioxidants and vitamin C are high. Here is a list of herbal teas
that you can choose from.
1. Alfalfa. Arabs call this the “father
of all foods” while westerners treat it as cattle fodder. It is rich in
minerals and nutrients, so useful against heart disease and cancer, and good
for cystitis or inflammation of the bladder, and rheumatism. It boosts a sluggish
appetite, and gives relief from bloating and water retention, and it relieves
constipation.
2. Angelica
Root. Tonic for stomach
troubles, colds, fevers, colic, and strengthens heart. The tea can also be put
into eyes and ears as drops, and will help marvelously. Notice that you don’t
always have to drink to get the herbal tea benefits.
3. Anise
(Star Anise). Helps
expel gas, promotes digestion, relieves nausea and abdominal pain, soothes
coughs and colds, and helps clear up congestion. It stimulates milk production
in nursing mothers, and may reduce menopausal symptoms. It is also a spice, and
can help other herbs taste better.
4. Black
Cohosh. relieves menopausal symptoms, and when used as a muscle relaxant, a
natural anti-inflammatory treatment for rheumatoid arthritis. Devotees love
these herbal tea benefits.
5. Blackberry
Leaves. Picked, dried in the sun and infused
with boiling water, blackberry leaves are the essence of most berry-flavored
teas. Studies suggest that the leaves contain a healthy dose of flavonoids,
which are known for their antioxidant activity, and it is really good for our
health.
6. Boneset.
Brings down a fever,
relieves flu symptoms, has a calming effect, and in a warm drink/tea is an
excellent exporant – that is, it gets rid of the phlegm. In a cold drink, or
herbal tea, it benefits as a mild laxative.
7. Borage.
This herbal tea can be
used to bathe inflamed eyes, drunk as a tea, it is good for cleansing the
blood, for fevers and jaundice, and to expel poisons. Can also be used as a
gargle to loosen phlegm.
8. Burdock.
Burdock is nature’s
best blood purifier, it helps rid the body of excess water weight, soothes pain
of arthritis, rheumatism and backache, and relieves skin irritations.
9. Butcher’s
Broom. Butcher’s broom is
popular in Europe to treat poor circulation in the legs (restless leg
syndrome). It improves circulation in hands and feet, reduces edema in legs or
feet, and reduces swelling from arthritis and rheumatism. It has also reduced
pain from hemorrhoids.
10. Calendula.
Externally, it smooths
skin irritations, and promotes healing. Taken internally, as in a tea, it may
help prevent macular degeneration.
11. Caraway
Seeds. Used in baking
is an excellent digestive aid, expels gas, reduces nausea, and improves the
appetite. Helps to bring out phlegm in coughs and colds, and increases breast
milk in nursing mothers.
12. Cardamom. Cardamom tea is made from
dried white cardamom flowers and the sweetly aromatic seeds. Cardamom is an
evergreen plant that’s grown mainly in India and Guatemala. Cardamom tea has a
pungent, sweet and aromatic flavor. Cardamom tea helps treat indigestion,
stomach pain and reduces flatulence and the problem of feeling nauseous. Cardamom
tea fights pulmonary disease where lots of phlegm is present. It also works as
a good expectorant and relieves coughs. If you have drunk too many cups of
coffee, drink a couple of cups of cardamom tea to help detoxify the caffeine
from your system. Drinking a cup of cardamom tea is helpful for women who
experience mood swings during their menstrual period.
13. Cascara
Sagrada. One of the
best herbal tea remedies for constipation, but not habit-forming, also for
gallstones, and bile or liver complaints, Native peoples called it “sacred
bark” because of the wonderful results, however, it has a bitter, disagreeable
taste, so it is wise to go buy the chocolate covered tablets instead of taking
it straight.
14. Catnip.
Excellent herbal tea
benefits for clearing up colic and gas and cramps in bowels, safe for babies
and children too.
15. Chamomile
or Camomile. Chamomile tea helps to digest food. Chamomile also calms the mind
and helps people relax and deal better with their stresses. Chamomile soothes the stomach and
relieves bloating and indigestion. Good for relaxing, rheumatoid arthritis, relieves back pain,
soothes skin irritations, and good for sunburns. Chamomile is one of the best known
popular herbs which is used all over the world. People who find it hard to go
to sleep should drink a cup of chamomile tea before going to bed. Chamomile is
known to fight insomnia by relaxing the body and the mind, enabling the person
to fall asleep naturally. People who are allergic to chamomile should abstain
from drinking this tea.
16. Chickweed.
While considered a
nuisance by gardeners, it can be eaten like spinach, and makes a fine salve. It
can also be used fresh, dried, or powdered. It is useful for bronchitis,
pleurisy, coughs, colds, hoarseness, and inflammations. It heals and soothes
anything it comes in contact with.
17. Cinnamon.
It has many health benefits, and it is really easy to prepare. It is extremely
beneficial for weight loss. It enhances our bodily strength to fight against
viruses and also helps to control blood sugar. Cinnamon tea becomes even more effective when it
is blended with honey. Cinnamon tea clears the brain and thought processes,
excellent for upset stomach gas and diarrhea. It is also a spice.
18. Cleavers
(galium aparine). Can
be eaten like spinach, good herbal tea benefits for kidney and bladder
troubles, makes a good wash to clear complexion, and has cooling down effect in
fevers, and good for stone in bladder, for scurvy and dropsy/edema.
19. Cloves
(or clove blossoms). Relieves
toothache, controls vomiting. You could try the dried clove, but the herbal tea
might be better. You get more of the herbal tea benefits.
20. Corn
Silk. A good remedy for kidney and bladder
troubles, especially when there is pain in the prostate gland in urinating, and
for any painful urination. It can be useful to prevent bedwetting too.
21. Dandelion.
Dandelion tea is made
from the plant’s leaves and flowers. A natural diuretic and digestive aid, excellent
source of vitamin A, and protects against iron-deficiency anemia. It contains immense
vitamins and minerals. It lowers fluid retention and provides soothing pleasure
to pain and swelling caused by arthritis.
It improves our digestive system and liver function because rich in potassium and lecithin.
22. Dong
Quai. Overall tonic for
female reproductive system, reduces menstrual cramping and PMS, prevents
anemia, and lowers high blood pressure. You can get this as a supplement.
23. Echinacea.
The presence of anti-oxidants in Echinacea tea increases the power of the
immune system. It reduces pain and inflammation and helps us to reduce at least
twelve clinical symptoms of bad colds. The leaves and flowers of the uppermost
part of the plant are the section believed to contain polysaccharides (a
substance known to trigger the activity of the immune system). The native Indians of the Great Plains
used this herb as a remedy for snakebites and skin wounds, and applied it
directly to the mouth for toothaches and sore throats. It has also been
successful in treating candida.
24. Earl
Mindell. Earl mindell
warns that since it stimulates the immune functions, those with autoimmune
diseases should not take echinacea.
25. Elderberry.
Used for centuries by
gypsies for colds, influenza, and neuralgia. A tea of the flowers is good for
inflammation and twitching of eyelids. As an ointment and/or a tea, it is
valuable for all skin diseases, and a blood purifier. Useful herbal tea
benefits for headaches in colds.
26. Elecampane.
Good for coughs,
asthma, and bronchitis, and works well for tuberculosis when combined with
echinacea. It relaxes and is a tonic to the mucous membranes, bringing out
phlegm, so it strengthens the lungs and a tea of elecampane is good for
whooping cough. It has other herbal tea benefits too.
27. Eucalyptus.
Just a few whiffs, will
clear upper respiratory tightness in colds and flu. It is good for bringing up
phlegm, as an antiseptic, it can help sooth stiffness and swelling brought on
by arthritis and rheumatism.
28. Fennel
seeds and leaves. Good
for flavouring foods and medicines. A good eye wash, and for gas, acid stomach,
gout, cramps, colic, and spams. Okay for small children if given in small
doses. The herbal tea benefits also good for snake bites, insect bites, food
poisoning, and for obstructions in the liver, spleen and gall, clearing up
jaundice. Increases both urine and menstrual flow.
29. Garlic.
helps prevent heart disease, reduces blood pressure and blood lipids, helps
fight infection, and can even destroy some cancer cells. It is an excellent
digestive aid.
30. Ginger.
Ginger increases our energy and also acts as a stimulator. It helps to digest
our food and to control problems like nausea and restores appetite. Also good
for morning sickness. It is a spice as well. Arthritic people have found ginger
tea helpful since it has anti-inflammatory properties.
31. Ginkgo
(Ginkgo Biloba). Most researched/prescribed herb. Improves circulation through
the body, improves mental functioning and the ability to concentrate, maybe be
useful to relieve symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease, and has been used to treat
hemorrhoids.
32. Ginsing
(Panax quinquefolia). used a lot in hot, tropic climates to prevent all kinds
of diseases. Effective herbal tea benefits for cold, chest troubles, and
coughs. Taken hot will cause perspiration. Also good for stomach troubles and
constipation. It promotes appetite, and heals digestive disturbances.
33. Goldenrod.
used internally to treat kidney and bladder stones and infections, as well as
general urinary infections. It is sometimes included in cough medicine and is
used to treat rheumatism.
34. Gotu
Kola. improves memory, has a calming effect, good expectorant, that is, it can
eliminate congestion due to colds, promotes healing after childbirth, improves
circulation, and it reduces pain and swelling in phlebitis.
35. Hawthorn. Peach and berry flavored
teas are made of the leaves, flowers and berries of the hawthorn plant. The
plant is believed to contain flavonoid-like complexes that help improve
cardiovascular health by helping to relax and dilate blood vessels, which
increases blood circulation and lessens stress on the heart. Hawthorn berries are also believed to
relieve water retention by draining the body of excess salt.
36. Hibiscus
Flower. Hibiscus flower
tea (sorrel) is made from dried hibiscus flowers that offers very high
health benefits.. Hibiscus tea is known to lower blood pressure, reduce high
cholesterol and strengthen the immune system (it’s rich in Vitamin C). Hibiscus
flower infusions have known to reduce hypertension as well, in people prone to
this condition. The presence of
anti-oxidants in hibiscus tea gives us protection against cell-damaging free
radicals. Red zinger tea and sorrel tea contain hibiscus.
37. Honey.
Soothes the throat and
is loaded with immune-stimulating antioxidants.
38. Hops.
Contrary to its name,
hops has a calming effect, relieves indigestion, and is an old-time
pain-reliever. Another good after-dinner tea. It also relieves cramps and
muscle spasms, and stimulates the appetite. It used to be used in ale as a
preservative. Sprinkle in your pillowcase for insomnia.
39. Horsetail.
Also known as fleabane,
and silica, among other names. It helps the body to absorb calcium and
nourishes the nails, skin, hair, and connective tissues. It will remove excess
oil from skin and hair and makes individual hairs stronger, thicker and more
resilient.
40. Hyssop.
Helps relieve that
stuffed head feeling and congestion in the chest, it is a good expectorant,
relieves gas, improves the appetite, and is a good gargle for a sore throat.
41. Jasmine.
The flowers make a
delicious and appetizing tea (many commercial varieties now). Jasmine has a
calming effect, and makes a good after-dinner drink. Some think it is an
aphrodisiac.
42. Kava. Kava nature’s valium without side effects or
affecting one’s mind, or making one sluggish. It helps you get a good night’s
sleep, relaxes you, and reduces water retention.
43. Lady’s
Mantle. Arabic women
use this to restore beauty and youth. In the western world used to stop
bleeding, regulate menstruation and stimulate appetite. It makes a soothing douche
for vaginal irritations.
44. Lavender.
Lavender tea is made out of the dried purple, pink and white colored flowers
that grow on lavender shrubs. Used
as a scented herb for many centuries, lavender’s medicinal uses have been
appreciated and documented for centuries It helps us in many ways. A cup of
lavender tea can soothe your mind and body, inducing sleep. If you are feeling
down and depressed, a cup of lavender tea can help uplift your spirit. Very
popular in aromatherapy. Recent studies show it has many other herbal tea
benefits, and one study shows it can replace sleeping pills. Lavender tea helps sooth and treat
flatulence, colic, bowel infections and an upset stomach. Lavender tea can be
used as a wash on the chest to help reduce cough, bronchitis, asthma, cold and
other respiratory issues, and is used for treating fever. For both children and
adults, lavender is used to reduce body temperature during fever. Lavender also
has healing properties,
use a wash of lavender tea to help heal wounds, cuts, ulcers and sores.
