Teas for any situation, part 2
Wow, I was not expecting the last post to be as popular as it is! I’m so glad that people are finding this useful. Please enjoy part 2 of (…?) of my “Teas for every occasion” series.
Digestion issues? Ginger tea, which you can either buy or make at home, should do the trick. If you don’t like ginger, a peppermint tea should also work! No peppermint? Spearmint has the same digestion-aiding benefit– the only difference is the taste. Rosemary, lavender, and fennel can also help with gas build-up. (Not something fun to talk about, but for many it’s a real problem!)
Bad breath? Mint teas, of all types, are your friends.
Need a little self-love? Either brew a cup of your favorite tea (if you could actually pick one!!), or make a tea with rosehips and honey. A tea brewed with catnip (a relative of the mint plant) can also be a good self-love tea. Sweeten with either honey or sugar.
Want a gentle tea-boost to assist you in weight-loss? Green or white teas are both rather helpful in that regard. Brew it with another delicious blend, like mint (if green tea) or raspberry (if white tea) for extra fun benefits. Fennel tea has also traditionally been used to reduce bloating, curb the appetite, and boost the metabolism. I tend to avoid sweetening green teas, but that’s just me. Feel free to add a quarter teaspoon of honey.
Headaches/pain? Willow bark and leaves has been a natural remedy for pain and inflammation for centuries. In fact, willow bark is the natural source of the chemical that we use in aspirin! Some specialty shops sell willow tea, but if you can’t find any (and that’s probably the norm for about 97% of us– I’ve never had willow tea), skullcap, ginger, feverfew, and chamomile are all great for relieving headaches as well. If I take a tea to help with a headache, I avoid sweetening it, because I’ve noticed that using sugar (and even honey) makes my headaches worse. This is a personal observation, however, and does not apply to everyone.
Disclaimer: Please consult a medical professional about any health problems that you have. Tea, as wonderful as it is, is no replacement for modern medicine. I have used many of the teas on these lists, but not all of them, and these results are based on a combination of personal experience and research. Results may vary (sorry, couldn’t resist). Once again, no amount of tea will help you with a serious medical problem, so if you have any condition, please consult your doctor. Also, I would suggest that you research the health information of each herb you work with if you aren’t using pre-made tea– it would be even better if you consulted with a certified herbalist, to make sure you don’t ingest something toxic, or make something that is too potent.
Much love. Enjoy!
