A Tea for Every Occasion

My earliest and fondest memories of Chinese Medicine are of tea - the thick brown to black stuff my mom used to cook weekly and drink daily to treat her debilitating joint pain and weakness.  It made her functional, I honestly believe it saved her life and I couldn’t be more thankful.

As a child I delighted in watching her Acupuncturist create this tea to treat illness just for her.  I’d watch as leaves, twigs and bug carcasses (mom hated that part, so naturally I loved it…) were carefully weighed, measured and packaged into doses, and our whole house always smelled of that unusual bitter herbal tang.

Chinese herbs are like a language all their own and can be used to treat many illnesses - from something simple like a cold to something complex like diabetes, thyroid issues or inflammatory bowel disease.  The Chinese pharmacopeia includes ingredients from Magnolia and Mint to Earthworm, Leech and Myrrh.

A surprising number of simple herbs found at the grocery store are part of the Chinese Materia Medica, however, and in my humble opinion, the best teas for health are simple remedies that go a long way towards treating common ailments.

Here are my 4 favorite herbal home remedies, therefore, to treat Allergies, Common Cold, Digestive Complaints and to enhance overall health.

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Rebecca's Top Healthy Teas

loose leaf oolong tea

My favorite teas are healthy, easy and delicious.  You can find all of them at the grocery store or, in some cases, online through my Amazon store if needed.

• Chrysanthemum, Green and Peppermint Tea - great for Allergies, Headache and Mild Congestion.  Chrysanthemum is especially good for itchy, red, irritated eyes and for mild headache.  When you combine it with the aromatic power of Peppermint which clears the sinuses, and the invigorating headache-relieving power of Green tea you have a simple and powerful combination.  Its safe for children and, when I’ve prescribed it to other patients, some report that it has helped with mild fever as well!  The Tao of Tea makes a great Moroccan Mint    that already combines green and mint tea, so a little Chrysanthemum is all you need to make this magical trifecta.  

• Ginger, Green Onion & Ban Lan Gen - for early stages of the Common Cold.  Combining the white part of a green onion plus a few slices of fresh ginger is a classic Chinese remedy for staving off the common cold.  Boiled for 15-20 minutes, it makes a savory broth like tea that is warm and soothing.  Ban Lan Gen or Isatis root is a strong anti-viral that is also used as a cancer preventative in Chinese Medicine.  It comes in an infusion called Ban Lan Gen Chong Ji and when added to the Ginger and Green Onion broth, boosts this simple remedy to something extraordinary and effective.  

• Ginger, Hawthorne and Cardamom - for Digestion - Ginger is considered a harmonizer to assist in absorption because of its powerful ability to improve digestion.  Hawthorne is used for “food stagnation” which can be related to overeating (perfect post-Thanksgiving drink!) or to a feeling of fullness after eating because food isn’t digesting properly.  Cardamom is used to “dry dampness” which helps the Spleen energetically process food.  In combination this tea is sweet, spicy and delicious.  Hawthorne is also a heart tonic - a great added benefit!  Ginger and Cardamom are easily found at the grocery store - a tablespoon of Cardamom and a couple slices of ginger are sufficient for a sm-med size saucepan of water.  Hawthorne berry can be ordered through my Amazon store here. One Tbsp of Hawthorne added to the mix and you’ll have a wonderful digestive tonic!
  

• Green Tea - the best for overall health.  If I was only ever going to recommend one tea to be the best herbal tea for health, this would be it - straight classic loose leaf green tea.  There are so many varieties, you could spend an eternity tasting tea and learning to develop a tea palate just like wine.  Green tea is full of antioxidants to improve overall health and reduce free radical exposure, it can clear the sinuses, reduce headache, improve circulation and reduce depression (research proven!).  Oolong teas are most favorite - they can be fruity, floral and even sweet.  The key to avoiding bitter green tea is not to oversteep.  Use hot water to infuse the tea for just 45 seconds or so and then pour it off into you cup and another empty pot if needed.  You can re-steep the tea 3-5 more times, each time for a slightly longer steep, and still get great flavor.
  

If you’re interested in creating an effective medicinal-tea cabinet, start with these and you can’t go wrong.  If you have questions post them in the comments below and I’ll do my best to help you!

Until next time,

~Rebecca

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