LEARN TO BREW A THERAPY TEA
For Mind, Body and Soul
Therapy tea is actually any tea. As we've all heard recently, green tea is packed with nutrients and antioxidants!
But....if you read the ingredient labels on most of the bottled tea in the soda isle, you'll find that the first ingredient is high fructose corn syrup. This is definitely high on the list of foods to avoid.
It's true, though, that a good, organic tea you brew yourself is beneficial to your health. Each herbal tea can be a therapy tea for many symptoms, from anxiety to digestion problems to fighting cancer. When you learn what to use there's a remedy tea for almost any ailment!
Here's some brief examples for using tea as medicine:
- GINGER - Ginger tea is great for fighting colds and flu, motion sickness or any upset stomach, cramps, indigestion. It also greatly increases circulation which helps with sore muscles. This works when applied topically also.
- CHAMOMILE - Chamomile tea is a great tonic for anxiety, nerves, acid reflux and digestion. Its has flu and cold fighting abilities also.
- PEPPERMINT - Peppermint tea is wonderful for nausea, diarrhea, headaches and menstrual cramps. It is also high in B vitamins so it is stimulating and improves concentration.
- ROSE HIP - Rose hip tea is very high in vitamin C so obviously good for colds and flu. Its also good for the urinary system, water retention and mild rheumatism.
- LEMON BALM - Lemon Balm tea is a great nerve tonic. Its also good for heart palpitations, stress, sleep disorders, gas and other digestion problems and even wound healing.
- RASPBERRY LEAF - Raspberry tea is good for most female complaints though not recommended during pregnancy. Its also good for diarrhea, detoxing, tonsillitis and a gargle for sore throats.
- CATNIP - Catnip tea is a mild sedative. It's great for insomnia, upset stomach or colic and chest congestion. This is a safe remedy for children just as chamomile is.
- PAU D' ARCO - Pau D' Arco tea is anti inflammatory and is great for joint pain! It is also anti fungal and will fight Candida, thrush, athletes foot and ringworm.
Here's a homemade therapy tea to beat the flu, a cold or the chills.
Ginger - Honey - Lemon, The Flu Fighting Tea
Directions:
- Boil 3 cups of water in a saucepan.
- Meanwhile, grate or thinly slice a 2 inch piece of ginger root.
- Turn the boiling water down to a simmer
- Add the ginger and simmer for 15 minutes.
- Remove pan from heat and add the juice from 1/2 a lemon.
- Add 2 big tablespoons of honey and stir.
- Strain and enjoy!
This list is very incomplete as to what a therapy tea can do for you. When using tea as medicine remember that one cup of tea, 3 times a day is going to increase its effectiveness.
THERAPY TEA How to Brew
Here's some tips for brewing tea:
- Never use the microwave to heat your water or warm your tea! A microwave rearranges the molecules in food and water which can destroy any beneficial properties of whatever your cooking or warming.
- Use hot but not boiling water for most teas. The boiling water can also destroy the quality and benefits of the tea.
- When you steep tea always make sure it is completely covered whether in your cup, pot or jar. This prevents all the 'good stuff' in your tea from escaping.
- When using fresh herbs or leaves always bruise or tear them first. This allows them to easily release their essential oils.
- Brewed tea is called tisane in the fancy teashops and restuarants.
THERAPY TEA How to Steep Tea
Always keep your pot or cup covered when steeping tea!
The length of time to steep tea can vary but here's some general guidelines:
- Green teas: 2-3 minutes
- Semi-fermented teas: 3-4 minutes
- Black teas: 3-5 minutes
- White teas: 4-10 minutes
- Herbal teas: 10-15 minutes (exception is delicate flower teas such as camomile, steep only 5 minutes or tea will be bitter)
How to Make Sun Tea (Solar Tea)
Iced tea can be therapy tea too!
- Thoroughly clean a clear, glass container with hot water and soap. Sun tea steeps at an ideal temperature for bacterial growth, so it's important to sanitize the container before you start.
- Fill the container with 4 cups of cold water. Use the most purified water you can get your hands on.
- Add 5-7 teabags or 1/2-1 cup (depending on your taste) of fresh herbs and cover the container securely.
- Place the container in direct sunlight for at least two hours or up to 5 hours for stronger tea. Taste the tea periodically to see if it's ready.
- Remove the tea bags or strain out the herbs.
- Pour into glasses, mix with honey or stevia (optional) and serve iced.
- Keep refrigerated and drink all the tea within 24 hours.
How to Make Lunar Tea
Lunar or moon tea is brewed the same way as sun tea but in the bright moonlight instead of the sun. Tea brewed under a full moon is said to have magical powers!
A coffee press
or french press
makes brewing loose leaf tea
fast and easy!
Quotes about Tea
"Drinking a daily cup of tea will surely starve the apothecary."
~Chinese Proverb
"If you are cold, tea will warm you. If you are too heated, it will cool you. If you are depressed, it will cheer you. If you are excited, it will calm you."
~Gladstone, 1865
"Tea is liquid wisdom."
~Anonymous
"Drink your tea slowly and reverently, as if it is the axis on which the world earth revolves - slowly, evenly, without rushing toward the future."
~Thich Nat Hahn
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