So since returning from my weeklong trip to DC, I've had horrible allergies, stuffed up sinuses, a sore itchy throat, and a terrible cough. I decided to try putting our herb garden to use, and make a tea from scratch which is something I've never done before.
I gathered some soothing herbs from our garden, such as 2 varieties of peppermint, lemon balm, and stevia for a natural sweetener. Instead of pruning off individual leaves, I chopped off stems from each herb since the plants haven't been pruned in a while and are growing like wild. You can use any natural herbs that will blend well together to make a fragrant and flavorful tea. Other herbs and plants that may be growing in your garden that work well in teas include chamomile, fennel, rose hips, ginger, dandelion, lemon grass, rosemary, yarrow, thyme, spearmint, sage, skullcap, and moringa.
I rinsed off the stalks and leaves well in cool water, to get off any excess dirt or residue from outside. We do not use pesticides so that was not a worry.
I stuffed our tea kettle with the herbs after rinsing, and filled with fresh water. Our tea kettle is electric so I just plugged it in and turned it on. The same can be done for a stovetop kettle. Allow water to come to a boil and spread the fragrant aroma into the air. Get close to the kettle and breathe in the steam to help loosten mucus and open up sinus cavities. The peppermint is great for this.
Once the water had reached boiling, turn the heat down and allow the herbs to steep in the water as the water cools a bit. Pour into mugs or insulated cups and allow to cool before drinking. Great additions include local honey, cinnamon, lemon juice (if you want a lemony flavor and don't have a lemon herb) and a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar if you really need to open your sinuses and thin mucus even more.
Make sure it cools enough before eating so you don't burn your tongue. Enjoy this completely natural, decaffeinated and homemade tea :)
No comments:
Post a Comment