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Herbal teas have well-known virtues: sleep, digestion, female ailments, slimming, venous insufficiency, anti-stress, tone, ENT, etc. They are multiple and are part of a universe as broad as it is precise, which sometimes makes it difficult to choose the little miracle package. They perk up, soothe, relieve, warm, drain; herbal teas are quite simply one of the oldest medicines in the world. But how to explain their effectiveness? Like any living organism, plants need to defend themselves against diseases. They do this thanks to specific molecules which also offer active ingredients that can be used for human health. Each plant is also a real factory, whose constituents vary according to the part of the plant – roots, stems, flowers – multiplying their effectiveness and their possibilities.
Depending on your needs, the ideal cure is 3 cups a day for 21 days to relieve chronic pain. Use 1 tablespoon of dried herbs per cup. Along the same lines, mother tinctures or extract capsules are also extremely effective. The downside: they are heavily dosed, making them more vulnerable to the possible harmful effects of the plant. The herbal tea has the advantage of presenting few risks and contraindications for a real benefit which generally proves to be sufficient. If you are fragile, pregnant or the herbal tea is intended for young children, ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice.
The difference between infusion and decoction
Within the herbal tea chapter, it is necessary to make the difference between the infusion, well known to all, and the decoction. The infusion concerns the most tender parts of the plant (flowers and leaves) and is prepared like tea by pouring simmering water over the plant; while the decoction is for the tougher parts (stems, bark, berries, etc.) which must be placed from the start in cold water, which is then boiled, in order to soften them. If you are preparing an infusion, pour simmering water over the flowers or leaves, leave to infuse for 5 minutes, covered, filter and drink. If you prefer a decoction, place the roots, stems, berries or bark in cold water, boil for 5-15 minutes, cool with the plant in the water, strain and drink.
Herbal tea, this Swiss army knife
For banal ailments, universal remedies. The herbal tea of meadowsweet is draining, thyme is antiseptic and lavender calming. Let’s discover more unknown and very gourmet herbal teas. The herbal tea of cinnamon is a slimming must. Cinnamon oils and powders have been used for centuries in traditional and modern medicine. It is a natural appetite suppressant in addition to being beneficial for gastric disorders. Cinnamon soothes the digestive tract, but also has antiviral and antibacterial properties, helping you fight stomach issues and improve the immune system. Because it is now well known, “everything comes from the stomach”. The biggest benefit of cinnamon tea is that it lowers blood sugar, the spike in blood sugar, which leads to weight gain, fat storage, and food cravings.
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The polyphenols contained in cinnamon are beneficial for people with type 2 diabetes. Another slimming herbal tea to discover, that of white mulberry. It is also used in traditional Chinese medicine to relieve anxiety, chronic fatigue and insomnia. Japanese mulberry leaves have very surprising virtues for slimming: they contain a substance that reduces the transformation of sugars into glucose, thus lowering blood sugar. As the entry of sugars is slowed down, the body uses its fat reserves to produce energy. The fat is therefore burned. CQFD. In addition, nettle alkalizes the body, helps regulate blood sugar levels, restores vitality and helps the body to gently detoxify. Herbal tea is known for its invigorating properties, it is the little boost that feels good in this season. If it is this doping effect that you are looking for, the infusions of leaves of lemon or of ginger are for you.
How to grow medicinal plants
You are a woman? Two herbal teas are to be kept preciously at the bottom of your cup. raspberry infusion, known as “the plant of women”. Its leaves, rich in minerals and vitamins, make it an excellent tonic that strengthens the entire female reproductive system. Perfect for stimulating fertility and, from the second trimester of pregnancy, to prepare for childbirth. Also opt for the herbal tea of cat tree. This “pepper tree” or “monk’s pepper” herbal tea comes from a bushy, vigorous and rustic melliferous shrub, the berry of which has medicinal properties that have been known for over 2,000 years. Dioscorides, an illustrious ancient Greek physician, mentions that the seeds present in the berry were made into a drink intended to calm the libido. It is said that in the Middle Ages, monks in southern Europe consumed the berries so that they could better endure the pangs of celibacy. The plant treats both infertility and menopausal disorders. A berry of youth.
Have you decided to make yourself, in the garden or on the balcony, a small vegetable garden with your plants to infuse? Good idea. Keep a few tricks in mind though. After harvest, do not rinse the plants, only the roots if they have dust or soil. Dry immediately after picking, in the shade and in a ventilated place. Lay out flowers and leaves spaced out on a clean cloth or paper towel (no newspaper because of the toxicity of the ink). If necessary, dry them upside down, in a bouquet, on a mosquito net.
If you want to save time, drying in the oven is possible even if it spoils some of the benefits. To limit this inconvenience, opt for drying at 50°C, in a dehydrator or on a radiator. Once dry, the plants are kept in a dry place and in a container that protects from light. A simple paper bag or fabric pocket that allows moisture to evaporate is ideal. Close with two staples and keep them for a maximum of 12 months. Don’t have a green thumb? Nothing prevents you from collecting your plants in the wild, in dry weather, in the morning or early evening. Prefer pollution-free areas and cut cleanly with pruning shears. Bag cash separately and take it home in boxes. Avoid plastic which generates fermentation. Unless you buy your plants in specialized stores?
Pharmacies have a monopoly on the sale of the 585 plants listed in the pharmacopoeia. And since 2008, 148 medicinal plants can be sold outside pharmacies, i.e. in herbalists, organic stores, health food shops, etc. Pay attention to the quality, even dry, they must keep their original color, a sign of ideal drying and storage. Buy organic, without pesticides, without additives, without preservatives. We look at the label, which must be precise – origin of the plant, botanical variety and limit of use. Stroll also in the magnificent herbal shops in our area: the Herboristerie du Valmont in Wavre, Les Jardins de la Grange in Ellezelles, Sentilèges in Tournai, L’Herboristerie moderne or the Herboristerie de Louise in Brussels, etc.
Against winter depression
Stress after the start of the school year in September, sleep disturbed by the change in brightness or time, ENT disorders… Winter is not the most harmonious period for the body. Your first instinct? Hops. Drop this beer, it is here about the plant, a vine whose females produce kittens, the future cones, used in herbal tea. You need 5 to 6 cones per cup, to steep for 10 minutes. Traditionally, we made pillows of hops and lavender flowers, to allow young children to sleep better. Hops are the anti-stress plant par excellence, they promote relaxation, serenity and control blood and nervous pressure. It is a powerful mood regulator.
Marjoram is also a strong anti-stress. It is a tranquilizer, very indicated for people who are depressed, insomniac or prone to migraines. In the same order of ideas, lemon balm, this beautiful aromatic plant, is renowned for its action on the nervous system. It is ideal for exhaustion, burnout, melancholy or mood swings. Its antiviral, carminative and digestive actions make it a good companion for digestive problems related to stress.
For the flu and everything that nails you to bed, thyme, sage, eucalyptus, pine or even poppy, expectorant, or mallow, softener, have proven themselves. Stronger than all of them put together, the herbal tea of broth-blanc flowers almost worth a chemical drug. The European Medicines Agency also recognizes its usefulness on the ENT plan to relieve sore throats associated with dry coughs and colds. Recent studies would also show its propensity to inhibit the spread of the flu virus. It is an antiseptic plant that fights against inflammation of the mucous membranes.
The cereals in herbal tea?
It’s full of benefits! For herbal teas that could not be more gourmet and life-saving, consider barley, corn, oats and buckwheat. Rich in protein and fibre, barley is also easier to digest than wheat. In Asian countries, such as Japan and Korea, a drink made from tea leaves and barley grains is consumed. This cereal has many antioxidants and vitamin E, inhibiting the proliferation of cancer cells and many nutrients. In herbal tea, it is used to relieve cough. Buy ready-made herbal tea, called mugicha, or buy the seed, toast it dry in a pan before pouring simmering water over it. Leave to infuse for 5 to 10 minutes. This method of preparation applies to all cereals.
As for roasted buckwheat, or kasha, also called sobacha in Japan (because “soba” means buckwheat and “cha” means tea), it is a drink somewhere between roasted tea and coffee, caffeine-free and gluten-free, with flavors toasted bread. This roasted buckwheat infusion is to be tested for its detoxifying properties, like corn. Preparations for sobacha are sold in organic stores, although, once again, they can easily be made at home. Last but not least, oat tea is taken from the upper parts of the cereal, picked shortly before full bloom and quickly dried. It is ideal for calming hyperactive children or adults. It is a regenerative and remineralizing plant, essential after a period of intense stress, an operation, weaning, etc.