Healthy herbal teas: what, why and why

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

Herbal tea for every day

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

The basis of tea collections are raspberry and blackberry leaves. The infusion will have a pleasant taste and a mild effect on the body. It is important that raw materials are collected in environmentally friendly places, away 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 raspberry and blackberry leaves are mixed in a 1:2 ratio and 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 crushed with a rolling pin. Then the mixture is slightly moistened with water and placed in fabric 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-on lid. The infusion obtained from the mixture does not contain caffeine, so 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 collected in May, after the tree blooms. Dried according to the above scheme, then used as an independent drink or mixed with other beneficial herbs.

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

Benefits of herbal teas

Herbal preparations were prepared in ancient times. All herbal teas can be divided into groups according to their effects:

• tonic,
• delicious,
• vitamins,
• diuretics,
• sedatives.

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

Herbal infusions contain many useful vitamins and microelements. They help improve performance, strengthen the immune system, tone 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 and relieves nervous agitation, including in children. If medicinal herbs are added to the herbal tea, the tea helps 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 ensure that there is no allergic reaction to the components. In addition, general 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 period.

If your body is prone to allergic reactions to pollen and aromas, then you should use herbal infusions with caution. If you plan to use herbal remedies for medicinal purposes, you should consult a herbalist. A competent herbalist knows all the indications and contraindications of plants and will make a collection with precise dosages of components. This is very important, since many medicinal plants are poisonous. It is the toxic components that are treated, but it is important not to overdose.

Preparation of herbal teas

The best herbal tea can be prepared from your own prepared raw materials. At the same time, I first study the indications for the use of various herbal infusions; herbs with a mild effect are used for daily use. The collection of raw materials is carried out during the flowering period of plants. If young shoots or buds are required, they are collected according to availability. Plants cannot be uprooted, otherwise the species will degenerate. Flowers of linden, jasmine, and rosehip are collected fully bloomed, the berries are ripe. 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. Currants, rose hips, and barberries, which are distinguished by a large amount of vitamin C, are dried in a dryer at a temperature of 85-90 degrees. Ready dry ingredients are stored in linen bags, glass or ceramic jars. It is better to use them within 1-2 years, but the berries are usable up to 3 years.

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

1. Using a regular teapot. All components are crushed, mixed and poured into the teapot. Next, the herbs are poured with boiling water and left for 10-20 minutes. The infusion is consumed as a stand-alone drink or diluted with water. When choosing ingredients, you need to take into account the time required for brewing them; fruits and berries take longer to infuse than herbs. This affects the taste of the drink.
2. In a water bath. To prepare the infusion, use a small glass jar, put dry raw materials inside and pour boiling water over it. Water is poured into an enamel pan or bowl, a jar of infusion is immersed in it and the heat is turned on low for 20-30 minutes. In such a bath, herbal infusions retain all the beneficial substances.
3. In a thermos. To prepare tea you need to use a thermos with a glass flask. The required amount of herbs is poured with hot water and left for at least half an hour.

If you brew a ready-made, purchased mixture in a filter bag, then place it in a mug and fill it with hot water. Cover the mug with a saucer and leave for 10-15 minutes. The finished infusion should be drunk throughout the day. During long-term storage, all beneficial 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. An infusion of fresh leaves heals the body, improves digestion, and tones. It is taken in the complex treatment of gastritis, pneumonia, bronchitis, rheumatism, and stomatitis.

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

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

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

Chamomile tea

Tea made from dried chamomile flowers has a calming and analgesic effect on the body. The plant material contains essential oil that has an anti-inflammatory effect. The infusion is used for viral or colds. Chamomile also contains useful proteins, the antispasmodic substance apigenin, and gum. If you drink a lot of chamomile tea with honey, you can sweat a lot, which will speed up your recovery.

Some studies confirm that regular consumption of chamomile tea helps lower blood sugar levels and stop the progression of diabetes. However, you should not overuse the infusion; if consumed in too large quantities, it can cause depression of the nervous system and a decrease in muscle tone.

Peppermint tea

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

Tea made from mint leaves is very useful for women, it corrects hormonal levels, increases estrogen production, and reduces headaches. With regular consumption of mint tea, a woman's skin acquires a pleasant aroma. In addition, mint helps reduce discomfort during toxicosis, but you can only use a little infusion. In large quantities it can cause uterine tone. 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. For sleep disorders and depression, it helps get rid of negative emotions and stress.

Herbal infusions for tea

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

The most popular herbal mixtures for making tea:

• A soothing infusion of lemon balm has a positive effect on the nervous system, reduces blood pressure, and eliminates headaches and muscle pain. Brew tea at the rate of 1 tsp. herbs per glass of hot water. Leave the mixture for 15-20 minutes.
• Thyme infusion 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 general strengthening effect on the body. Raw materials are taken in the ratio 1/1/1/3. The decoction is infused for 20-30 minutes and consumed sweetened.
• A mixture of chamomile, peppermint and thyme, prepared in equal proportions, is infused in boiling water for 15-20 minutes. The resulting infusion improves digestion, eliminates bloating, and has a calming effect.
• During periods of vitamin deficiency, vitamin tea helps boost immunity. It is prepared from nettle leaves mixed with rose hips, black currant leaf, dried carrot root, taken in equal proportions. The infusion is consumed freshly brewed; maximum preservation of vitamins occurs when brewed in a thermos.

Herbal teas are an excellent alternative to black and green tea.

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