One of the best places to start if you’re new to bringing herbs into your life is to sip on some herbal teas. There are so many easy ways to begin, not least of which is simply wandering down the aisles of any major grocer and choosing from the herbal teas that are already prepared for you there. I do advocate that you read labels and avoid ‘herbal teas’ that contain artificial flavors and additives. If possible, choose organic, and look for brands that have been formulated by herbalists.
If you’re ready to go a step further, it’s easy and fun to blend your own herbal teas at home. The advantages to doing this are many. You can choose the herbs you like best and select them according to the healing properties you most want to bring into your life at the moment. Herbal teas are a safe way to begin playing with herbs, as the dosage of any active constituents is very small, so the likelihood of side effects is as low as a lightning-strike. (Probably lower.) Here’s what you’ll need:
- 1 tbsp of dried herbs of your choice (see below for suggestions)
- 6 oz of freshly boiled water, filtered if you can
- Some means of straining the tea. Possibilities include a cloth teabag, cheesecloth, fine mesh strainer, or an herbal tea brewer with built-in filter.
One of my favorite herbal teas to make at home is a calming blend of lavender and chamomile. Here are my herbs before steeping. I made my tea a little stronger than you may prefer, and used more than 6oz of water, which is why this is more than 1 tbsp of herbs.
dried lavender and chamomile for tea
Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia is what I’ve used here, though the officinalis species is preferable for medicine-making as it contains additional constituents that the plant forms when living in high altitudes) is perhaps one of the most famous and widely used medicinal plants in the western apothecary. You can simply take one big whiff of its aroma and feel its calming effects upon the nervous system take effect. It is primarily the aromatic components of its medicine that we’re getting when we make tea. It’s a wonderful herb to choose if you want to relax without passing out.
Chamomile (Matricaria recutita) is another herb beloved for its gentleness and efficacy in working with the nervous system. It has a particular affinity for the digestive tract and can even be used in very large doses to ease the pain of passing a gallstone. Remember, the digestive system works best when we are in a state of relaxation. This tea is equally lovely when winding down for sleep, to help digest a meal, or to calm down before dinner.
Directions:
1. Place your dried herbs into a brewing vessel. (This can be anything—just not the glass you plan to drink from. You still have to filter it!)
2. Pour 6oz of recently boiled water over your herbs. Cover and let steep for 15 minutes. The covering and long steep time are important to retain the aromatic essential oils and to give the water enough time to extract the good stuff from the plants.
3. Strain the tea from the herbs. You can do this by pouring the material through a strainer lined with cheesecloth, using a re-usable cloth teabag from the start, or purchasing a container with a built-in strainer for tea-making.
If you like, you can sweeten this blend with a little honey, but I think it’s just lovely as it is. For extra digestive help, add a little dried peppermint to your blend!
