Useful herbal teas: what, from what and for what

In the cold season, it is so nice to warm up with a cup of aromatic tea. But if you replace the usual black or green tea with herbal tea, then you can get, in addition to positive emotions, benefits for the body. Many herbs are a source of beneficial essential oils, vitamins, and tannins. Infusions help to strengthen the immune system, get rid of chronic diseases. Ready-made fees can be purchased at a pharmacy or specialty stores. But to be sure of the quality of the herbs and to save a little, you can prepare the herbs yourself.

Herbal tea for every day

The main difference between tea for every day from herbal teas is its absolute safety for the body, including children. It has no side effects, so it can be used without restrictions.

Raspberry and blackberry leaves form the basis of tea collections. The infusion will have a pleasant taste, mild effect on the body. It is important that raw materials are collected in ecologically clean places, remote from highways and industrial production. The most suitable time for harvesting is from mid-May to mid-June. At this time, the leaves are still tender, but already filled with useful substances.

The collected leaves of raspberry and blackberry are mixed in a 1: 2 ratio, laid out in a thin layer on paper to dry. After a few days, the leaves will dry out and become brittle, they should be kneaded with a rolling pin. Then the mixture is slightly moistened with water and placed in cloth bags. The bags are hung in a dark place for 2-3 days. The finished mixture is finally dried in open bags, and then stored in dark jars with a screw cap. The infusion obtained from the mixture does not contain caffeine, therefore it can be taken at any time of the day.

Another popular tea for daily use is an infusion of young birch leaves. They are harvested in May, after the tree blooms. It is dried according to the above scheme, then used as an independent drink or mixed with other useful herbs.

It is also beneficial for the body drink from Ivan-tea.

The benefits of herbal teas

Herbal preparations were harvested in the old days. All herbal teas can be divided into groups according to their effect:

• tonic,
• appetizing,
• vitamin,
• diuretics,
• sedatives.

Before using infusions, you need to study the effect on the body that its components have. It soothes you after a tough day, or helps you wake up in the morning, or is intended to increase appetite. To improve the taste, honey, pieces of berries and dry fruits are added to the tea.

Herbal infusions contain many useful vitamins and minerals. They help to increase efficiency, strengthen immunity, tone up and activate the body's defenses. It is especially useful to take them in the spring during the period of vitamin deficiency, as well as for the prevention of colds. Regular intake of sedative infusions restores healthy sleep, relieves nervous excitement, including in children. If medicinal herbs are added to the herbal collection, then the tea helps to speed up recovery or even cures chronic diseases.

Contraindications for medicinal herbs

Even the safest herbs can be harmful if you take infusions in excessive quantities or do not first make sure that there is no allergic reaction to the components. In addition, common contraindications for taking herbal teas include:

• individual intolerance to phytocomponents,
• the presence of acute diseases requiring medical treatment,
• oncological diseases,
• acute phases of chronic diseases (asthma, bronchitis and others),
• venereal, mental, septic diseases,
• pregnancy and lactation.

If your body is prone to allergic reactions to pollen, aromas, then you need to use herbal infusions carefully. If the herbal preparations are planned to be used for medicinal purposes, then you need to contact a herbalist. A competent herbalist knows all the indications and contraindications of plants, and will make a collection with exact dosages of components. This is very important, since there are many poisonous medicinal plants. It is the toxic components that are treated, but it is important not to get an overdose.

Preparation of herbal teas

The best herbal tea can be prepared from raw materials prepared by yourself. At the same time, I preliminarily study the indications for the use of various herbal infusions; herbs with a mild effect are used for daily intake. The collection of raw materials is performed during the flowering period of plants. If young shoots or buds are required, they are harvested as available. Plants cannot be uprooted, otherwise the species will degenerate. Linden, jasmine, rosehip flowers are harvested in full bloom, ripe berries. For harvesting, choose a sunny day, starting work in the morning after the dew has dried.

The collected raw materials are dried in the open air or in special dryers. Plants containing essential oils (oregano, calamus) should be dried at a temperature of about 30 degrees. Berries of currants, rose hips, barberries, characterized by a large amount of vitamin C, are dried in a dryer at a temperature of 85-90 degrees. The finished dry components are stored in linen bags, glass or ceramic jars. It is best to use them within 1-2 years, but the berries are usable for up to 3 years.

Herbal teas can be prepared in one of the following ways:

1. Using a conventional teapot, all the ingredients are ground, mixed and poured into the teapot. Then the herbs are poured with boiling water, kept for 10-20 minutes. The infusion is used as an independent drink or diluted with water. When choosing components, you need to take into account the time required for brewing them, fruits and berries are infused longer than herbs. This affects the taste of the drink.
2. In a water bath. To prepare the infusion, use a small glass jar, inside which they put dry raw materials and pour boiling water over it. Water is poured into an enamel pot or bowl, a jar of infusion is immersed in it and a small fire is turned on for 20-30 minutes. In such a bath, herbal infusions retain all the beneficial substances.
3. In a thermos. To make tea, you need to use a thermos with a glass flask. The required amount of herbs is poured with hot water, insisted for at least half an hour.

If you brew a ready-made purchase collection in a filter bag, then it is placed in a mug and poured with hot water. Cover the mug with a saucer and leave for 10-15 minutes. The finished infusion should be drunk during the day. With long-term storage, all useful substances lose their effectiveness.

Lingonberry tea

Tea with lingonberry leaves has a mild laxative and choleretic effect on the body. But most often it is taken as a diuretic. Lingonberry contains the antiseptic component arbutin, which is indicated for diseases of the urinary tract and bladder. Infusion of fresh leaves heals the body, improves digestion, tones up. It is taken in the complex treatment of gastritis, pneumonia, bronchitis, rheumatism, stomatitis.

The astringent and antipyretic properties of lingonberry tea have been known for a long time. The lingonberry leaf contains benzoic acid, which has anti-inflammatory and antibacterial effects. For colds and viral diseases, the infusion is used instead of regular tea.

With increased swelling during pregnancy, the infusion helps to remove excess water from the body. But it is important not to make it very strong, so as not to provoke the tone of the muscles of the uterus.

Contraindications to the use of lingonberry tea is a tendency to low blood pressure. In case of urolithiasis in the acute phase, it is recommended to take a decoction in small doses.

Chamomile tea

Tea made from dried chamomile flowers has a calming and analgesic effect on the body. The plant materials contain an essential oil that has anti-inflammatory effects. The infusion is used for viral or colds. Also, chamomile contains useful proteins, a spasmolytic substance apigenin, gum. Drinking a lot of chamomile tea with honey can cause you to sweat a lot, which will speed up your recovery.

Some studies confirm that regular consumption of chamomile tea can help lower blood sugar levels and stop the progression of diabetes. However, you should not abuse the infusion, with too large amounts of consumption, it can cause depression of the nervous system and a decrease in muscle tone.

Mint tea

Freshly brewed mint leaf tea has an excellent aroma. It refreshes and helps to relax, relieves nervous excitement and fatigue. The most active active ingredient in mint is menthol, which is contained in mint essential oil. Menthol tea lowers blood pressure, is used in the treatment of angina pectoris, hypertension, activates the work of the heart muscle.

Tea made from mint leaves is very useful for women, it corrects hormones, increases estrogen production, and reduces headaches. With regular consumption of mint tea, a woman's skin acquires a pleasant aroma. In addition, mint helps to reduce discomfort with toxicosis, but you can use very little infusion. In large quantities, it can tone the uterus. It is also not recommended to drink it during lactation, mint inhibits milk production.

Peppermint tea helps relieve nasal congestion and relieve discomfort from diarrhea or muscle pain. In case of sleep disorders and depression, it helps to get rid of negative emotions and stress.

Herbal tea

If you combine several herbs, then the effect of taking herbal tea will be higher. Many plants complement each other in taste, enhance the healing effect.

The most popular herbal teas are:

• A soothing lemon balm infusion has a positive effect on the nervous system, reduces blood pressure, eliminates headaches and muscle pain. Tea is brewed at the rate of 1 tsp. herbs on a glass of hot water. The mixture is kept for 15-20 minutes.
• Infusion of thyme helps with migraines and insomnia. The drink is drunk freshly prepared warm with the addition of honey or sugar.
• Tea made from black currant leaves, raspberries, oregano, and bergenia has a tonic effect on the body. Raw materials are taken in a ratio of 1/1/1/3. The broth is infused for 20-30 minutes, it is used sweetened.
• A mixture of chamomile, peppermint and thyme, cooked in equal proportions, is infused in boiling water for 15-20 minutes. The resulting infusion improves digestion, eliminates bloating, and has a sedative effect.
• During the period of vitamin deficiency, vitamin tea helps to increase immunity. It is made from nettle leaves mixed with rosehip, black currant leaf, dried carrot root, taken in equal proportions. The infusion is consumed freshly, the maximum preservation of vitamins occurs when brewing in a thermos.

Herbal teas are a great alternative to black and green teas.

They have different tastes and aromas, have a tonic and strengthening effect on the body. Many herbs contain flavonoids, essential oils, vitamins, and minerals for health. Regular consumption of herbal teas boosts immunity.