Sipping a hot cup of tea is one of the nicest ways to make the medicine go down. However, it's not always just about placing a teaspoon of herbs in a cup of boiling water and drinking it. You must brew tea precisely to extract its medicinal properties. Then, there's knowing how much to drink, how often, and for how long, according to your needs. 

I suggest using loose-leaf tea for medicinal preparations because teas typically found in grocery aisles (in tea bags) are often low-quality and may contain contaminants. The only exception would be to purchase quality loose-leaf tea in organic tea bags.

When brewing loose-leaf tea at home, the tea must be placed in an infuser (a tea ball or strainer) or a pot to allow enough space for the leaves to unfurl. Another idea is to purchase organic tea bags. You can also tie herbs in a small square of cheesecloth or muslin.

 

Tea FYI

 

A good general rule of thumb for making tea (also called a water infusion) is to add 1 teaspoon (or a heaping teaspoon) of dried herbs to 6-8 ounces of water. Some recipes call for up to 2 teaspoons for a more robust cup, but there are many different types of tea, each with its own requirements. Of course, when using fresh herbs, you'll need more because they aren't dehydrated. How much more depends on the herb you're using.

Different tea varieties also require a specific steeping time (how long it sits before it's ready to sip). Most teas steep between one and ten minutes. It's essential to steep tea for the right amount of time. Why? If you steep it too long, your tea will be bitter and acidic. If you don't steep it long enough, you'll end up with a flavorless, watered-down version that lacks its medicinal qualities.

If you're brewing caffeinated tea, the longer you steep your tea, the more caffeine will be leached from the leaves.

You'll need to boil some herbs and not others. For example, teas made from tougher parts of the plant, such as roots or seeds, need to be finely chopped, added to boiling water, turned down to simmer (covered) for 10 minutes, and strained, while flower petals, which break down more efficiently, can be steeped in simmering water for 2-5 minutes before straining.

Seeds, such as fennel, can often be added to leafy or floral teas. However, to access their inner parts, they should be ground in a mortar and pestle or mashed in a bag (Ziploc sandwich bag or small paper bag) with a rolling pin (or hammer or spoon). Larger seeds will need to be hulled and mashed. You can also use a small electric coffee grinder to grind roots and seeds into powder. However, you must strain your tea before drinking it to avoid swallowing any indigestible or harmful parts.

 

Catnip Tea for Calming Emotions

• Use 1-2 teaspoons in an 8-ounce cup of near-boiling water.

Steep for 5-10 minutes, and strain or remove the tea strainer (infuser). Catnip is perfect for clearing digestive gas and can be taken as a daily tea (2-3 cups per day). This tea is delicious, hot or cold, with or without ice. Add raw honey or all-natural Stevia for sweetness and additional health benefits. Discontinue using Stevia if diarrhea develops. 

 

Stress Headache Tea

• 1 tsp dried holy basil
• 1 tsp dried lemon balm
• A pinch of chamomile flowers or lavender buds

Place ingredients in the bottom of an 8-ounce cup (or in a tea strainer), pour near-boiling water over the herbs, and cover with a small plate to keep the oils in the cup. Steep for up to 15 minutes, and sip. Drink up to 4 cups in one day.

 

Ashwagandha for Stress

Ashwagandha helps reduce stress by balancing cortisol levels. Add one teaspoon of finely chopped ashwagandha Root to 8 ounces of boiling water in a pan on the stove. Turn the heat down and cover. Simmer for about 10 minutes, strain, and sip. Ashwagandha has a pleasant flavor, but you can add raw honey to sweeten it. 

 

Lavender & Fennel Seed for Gas (and associated pain), Bloating & Anxiety

1/2 teaspoon of a combination of ground lavender buds (for anxiety) and ground flaxseed (for gas) in 8 ounces of water. Steep for 15 minutes. You can use peppermint or fennel seeds (crushed) instead of lavender for stomach pain related to gas. Strain and sip up to 2 cups daily.

Or, mix equal parts of Lemon Balm (from the mint family), Fennel seed (ground or mashed), Parsley, Catnip (from the mint family), and any other Mint (optional), and 1-2 teaspoons of Honey.

Place a heaping teaspoon of mixed herbs in a tea ball, then place the ball in your cup. If you don't have a tea ball, place your herbs directly in the cup. Add 8 oz of boiling water. Steep 5-7 minutes. Take your tea ball out (or strain your tea with a napkin or a piece of clean cloth) into another cup, and let it cool slightly before adding honey to preserve its medicinal benefits. Sip and finish over the next 20 minutes. It works wonders. I keep this stocked in my kitchen cabinet for the whole family.

 

Sage, Bay & Astragalus Tea for Immune Support & Sore Throat

• One teaspoon of sage (dried)
• 2-3 crumbled, dried bay leaves
• One teaspoon of astragalus root (dried)

Simmer in 12 ounces of water for 30-40 minutes. Steep for 30 minutes, strain, and drink twice daily for seven days. Sage and bay leaf work as well as Chlorhexidine or Lidocaine spray for sore throats. You can add raw honey for additional medicinal benefits and sweetening.

 

Marshmallow Root Tea for Sore Throat (Serve Hot or Cold)

Bring one and a half cups of water and two to five teaspoons of dried (cut and sifted) marshmallow root to a boil, cover, and simmer for 20 minutes. Then, strain. Add raw honey for sweetness and additional medicinal benefits. Sip up to 3 cups per day. Some say marshmallow root loses its medicinal properties in water that is too hot. To create a cold infusion, place the herb (finely chopped or ground) and water in a capped jar and let steep for 3-4 hours (or overnight), then strain before drinking. 

 

Marshmallow & Peppermint Tea for Queasiness or Nausea

• 1 teaspoon of marshmallow root (dried)
• 1/2 teaspoon of peppermint (dried)

Bring 1.5 cups of water and 1 teaspoon of dried (cut and sifted) marshmallow to a boil, cover, and simmer for 20 minutes. Then, strain and drink. Add raw honey for sweetness and additional medicinal benefits. Sip up to 3-4 cups per day. If you already have marshmallow root tea in the fridge, make a cup of peppermint tea using it instead of water.

 

Sage PMS & Menopause Tea

Use one teaspoon of dried sage in a tea strainer, then place the strainer in a 6-8-ounce cup. Add simmering water. Steep for 4-7 minutes. Strain. Add a touch of raw honey for a bit of sweetness and drink. Sage tea works on symptoms immediately, so you may use it as needed. This tea also calms menopausal hot flashes and night sweats. 

 

Rosemary & Saint John's Wort Tea to Lift Mild Depression

• 1 teaspoon of rosemary (freshly chopped)
• 1 teaspoon of Saint John's wort (dried)

Place herbs in the bottom of a cup, steep for 5-10 minutes, strain, and drink up to 3 cups daily for 3-4 weeks.

 

Rosehip Tea for Immune Support

Rosehip tea (or herbal capsules) is rich in bioflavonoids and vitamin C, which boost and strengthen the immune system. To make tea, use 1 heaping tablespoon of dried, crushed rose hips per 1 cup of water. Cover and steep for 15 minutes, then strain to remove all fine hairs from the hips before sipping. Rosehips are an excellent way to meet your vitamin C requirements and are preferable to ascorbic acid. Optimal vitamin C levels can help prevent contracting colds and flu. 

 

Holy Basil (Tulsi) Tea for Immune Support

Holy basil is immune-boosting and antiviral. It also helps curb excess cortisol by calming your stress response. Add one teaspoon of dried herb to 8 ounces of boiling water. Steep for 5-10 minutes and sip up to 12 ounces daily. You can drink more when you're ill. Although it's difficult to take too much of this tea, it may not be suitable for everyone or when taken with certain medications.

 

White Willow Bark Tea for Pain or Fever

• 4 tablespoons plus 2 teaspoons of dried, flaked White Willow bark

Place dried, flaked Willow bark in a pot containing 16 ounces of water. Bring it to a boil and reduce the heat. Cover and simmer for 6 minutes. Strain and add raw honey to taste. Drink one cup up to three times each day. Willow bark contains salicin, the ingredient in Aspirin. While it is more easily tolerated than Aspirin, you may want to avoid it if there's a reason you can't take Aspirin.

 

Lemon Balm Tea for Calming the Nerves & Speeding the Healing of Herpes Lesions

Lemon balm (Melissa officinalis) has sedative properties and antiviral activity against herpes viruses. In a study conducted in Germany, lemon balm halved the healing time of cold sores. Lemon essential oil may be substituted for lemon balm essential oil and applied directly to HSV-1 and HSV-2 sores and blisters after dilution.

Since lemon balm can help you sleep more soundly, I suggest drinking tea before bed for a few nights to see how your body reacts. Some people say lemon balm tea makes them very sleepy, while others say it gives them a sense of peace. I often refer to it as my "happy tea”. ​Add 1 teaspoon or 2-3 mature lemon balm leaves to one cup of rolling (near-boiling) water. Fresh leaves should be crumpled or torn to release essential oils.

Fresh or dried lemon balm leaves can be used topically as a poultice.

 

Licorice Root Tea for Immune Support

• Two tablespoons echinacea (fresh) or one tablespoon echinacea (dried)
• One tablespoon of licorice root (dried, not packed) 

Place herbs in 3 cups of water in a pan. Bring to a boil. Then, simmer for 15 minutes. Strain and drink 1-2 cups daily as a preventative or up to 3 cups during illness. 

Or slice pieces of licorice root into small pieces. Place 2 tablespoons of root in 8 ounces of water. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat, and simmer for one hour. Strain and drink. You can make extra and refrigerate it. Limit to 1-2 cups daily (up to 3 cups during illness) for seven days. 

Or, if you're making tea from licorice root powder, use only ¼ teaspoon of powder to 8 ounces of boiled water. Steep for 5-10 minutes, strain, and sip up to 1-2 cups daily for no longer than seven days. Do not give to children.

Some say you shouldn't take licorice root containing glycyrrhizin for longer than 7-10 days. Alternate days with another herbal tea or herbal medicine, or use deglycyrrhizinated licorice root, which may not be as medicinal.

 

Sencha or Green Tea for Detoxification

Sencha or decaf green tea is excellent for helping to eliminate toxins from the body. Sencha has very little caffeine, about as much as decaffeinated coffee (3%). Use just 1-2 teaspoons in a cup with 6-8 ounces of near-boiling water. Boiling water will make green tea too acidic (and turn it yellowish-brown). Steep for approximately three minutes, and strain or remove the tea strainer (infuser). This tea is delicious, hot or cold, with or without ice. Add raw honey or all-natural green Stevia for sweetness and additional health benefits. Some people are sensitive to Stevia. Discontinue use if loose stool develops.

Note: Green tea may irritate your bladder if you live with Interstitial Cystitis (bladder pain). I know several reports are saying otherwise. However, there are also reports saying green tea can make bladder symptoms worse due to its caffeine content (about 3%). Try removing it from your diet to see if your symptoms improve, or try another brand. Also, if you use honey in your tea, always use raw honey or Manuka honey. Cheaper, mass-marketed honey may contain corn syrup or other toxins that can irritate the bladder.

 

Specific Herbal Actions at a Glance

 

• Chamomile (anxiety, insomnia, muscle relaxer)
• Elder flowers or berries (antiviral)
• Garlic (antiviral, immune boosting), but not if you suffer from IBS
• Feverfew (migraine headache)
• Ginger (antiviral)
• Holy basil (Tulsi, immune boosting)
• Lavender (calms IBS and Crohn's) 
• Lemon (antiviral, pH balancing)
• Dandelion, nutmeg (fever)
• Peppermint (for colds, flu, headache, and pain)
• Rosemary (for colds, flu, headache, and pain)
• Rose petals (calming, immune boosting)
• Rose h(immune boosting)
• Sage (sore throat, oral health, menopause)
• St. John's Wort (nerve damage, anxiety, depression, Shingles, HSV)
• Turmeric (inflammation)
• Willow bark (fever and pain)
• Valerian or Hawthorn (irregular heartbeat)
• Also, bee balm, also called horsemint (congestion, upper respiratory viruses, herpes), boneset (fever, pain, congestion), yarrow (fever, colds, stomach discomfort), and onions (fight inflammation) can help to relieve viral symptoms.

Note: Don’t use onions if you suffer from IBS or Willow bark if you are sensitive to Aspirin or taking blood-thinning medication. 

 

Making Tea from Decoctions & Electuaries

 

An herbal decoction is prepared by extracting constituents from a plant's hard parts, such as bark, berries, roots, or seeds. Components are added to water, then the mixture is simmered and reduced. While I've provided some examples of infusing roots in water in the recipes above, decoctions are cooked longer (until most of the water has evaporated). What's left can have the consistency of anything from clear soup to sludge. Mushrooms are also used to make decoctions. Once the decoction is made, it can be added to beverages and syrups or taken orally (1-2 tablespoons daily).

Electuaries are herbal pastes or homemade pills that can be added to teas or taken by mouth.

 

Sip Away Stress

 

Add any of the following to eight ounces of near-boiling water. Steep for 3-5 minutes, sweeten with raw honey, and sip.

• One teaspoon of dried lavender buds and a slice of fresh orange
• Juice from half a lemon and one thin slice of fresh ginger
• One teaspoon of jasmine tea with a slice of orange
• A half teaspoon each of chamomile and lemon balm, and a small slice of ginger root
• A half teaspoon each of lemon balm and jasmine with a drop or two of real vanilla extract (or a vanilla bean)
• Mock Chai: In a pan, mix a large cup (8-10 ounces) of water with two teaspoons of black, chamomile, or green tea, half a teaspoon each of real vanilla extract and cinnamon, and one or two cloves. Simmer for 5-8 minutes, strain, and drink. 

 

Types of Tea & Steeping Times

 

Before drinking a full cup of tea, always check for allergies, especially if you've never tried an herb before.

• Black tea: Steep for 3 to 5 minutes in full-boiling water. Steeping too long may make it bitter and increase caffeine content.

• Green tea: Steep for 1 to 2 minutes in near-boiling water. It can become bitter if steeped too long. However, some green tea must be brewed in cooler water and steeped longer.

• Herbal tea: Steep for 5-10 minutes or more in fully boiling water. Herbal teas don't typically become bitter at high temperatures. You can steep it longer for a more potent cup.

• Oolong tea (between black and green tea): Steep for 2 to 3 minutes in near-boiling water. It can be infused multiple times.

• Pu-erh tea: Made from fermented tea leaves. Steep for 5 minutes in full-boiling water.

• Purple tea: A black tea grown in India and Africa. Steep for 3 minutes in briskly steaming water. It can be infused multiple times without becoming bitter. 

• Rooibos tea: Caffeine-free. Steep for 5-10 minutes in full boiling water. It can be infused multiple times.
• White tea: Steep for 2 to 3 minutes in briskly steaming water. 

See Herbal Adaptogens & Antivirals for basic precautions regarding specific herbs and spices.

 

Brewing Cold Tea

 

Brew the tea the traditional way, as if you were going to drink it hot. Chill it in the fridge (with the lid tightly sealed) or add ice to the cooled tea.

Compresses & Poultices

Compresses and poultices have been used for centuries to reduce inflammation and draw out poisons from insect bites and more.

 A compress is made by boiling down plant materials, such as flowers, leaves, bark, and roots, and using the resulting liquid to dampen a cloth, which is then applied topically to injured, infected, or inflamed areas of the body. The liquid can be used as a wash, but typically a soft cloth is dipped in it, slightly wrung out, and then applied to the body as a covering for a set period. 

On the other hand, a poultice or paste is made by boiling flowers, leaves, bark, and roots for 2-5 minutes, then spreading the mixture between two layers of moist cloth. You can apply it to the body the same way you would a compress. Some poultice ingredients can be applied directly to the skin and covered (bandaged). It depends on the plant being used. You want to ensure you have enough paste to cover the area that needs healing. 

Compresses and poultices can also be made from other ingredients, such as aloe vera, activated charcoal, Epsom salt, clay, mud (great for non-life-threatening bee stings), coconut oil, and baking soda, to help treat the following ailments. 

• Abscesses (Epsom salt)
• Herpes lesions (including Shingles)
• Diabetic ulcers
• Calluses (linseed to soften)
• Itchy rashes (baking soda or aloe vera)
• Cysts (antimicrobial herbs, and the poultice should be warm)
• Arthritis (warm ginger)
• Minor to moderate cuts, scrapes, and bruises
• Muscle aches and sprains (calendula, arnica)
• Pain (marijuana, hemp)
• Coughs and congestion (eucalyptus)
• Headache (a few drops of peppermint essential oil mixed with water on a soft, damp cloth applied to the forehead, but not in the very young or those with heart conditions)

Note: DO NOT apply a compress or poultice to a serious infection. While this was done in the Middle Ages (with varying degrees of success), it's important to be seen by a doctor for antibiotics, which weren't available then (and many died as a result). If you're in a survival situation (e.g., an environmental disaster), you can try antimicrobial herbs until you can see a doctor or obtain antibiotics.

 

How to Make a Baking Soda Poultice

Mix 2 or 3 tablespoons of baking soda with enough cool water to make a paste. Apply the paste to minor skin irritations to ease itch, burn, and pain.

 

How Long Do You Leave It On?

Some compresses and poultices are left on for 15-20 minutes at a time and applied 3-4 times daily, while others are left on for 1-2 hours or overnight. The duration depends on the condition and the ingredients used.

 

When to See a Doctor

If you have a serious infection, or if the condition does not improve within 5-7 days or worsens (increased swelling or severe pain, developing redness or warmth, redness expanding, fever or chills, red streaks, blistering, or pus), please see a doctor immediately.