NathanPaulPrince.com
July 2009
These are just some examples of brews you can make for some of the ailments or problems you may have with your body. Some can be drank just for the pure pleasure of taste, but most any plant has a medicinal property of its own. These are some I've found over the Net the past few years. I take them sometimes, but I enjoy Black Chai or good ole plain green tea.
Use the following with moderation. Don't go overboard.
Allergies:
Thyme tea can help soothe and heal allergy-addled sinuses. A natural antihistamine, thyme also has antiseptic properties to help purge infections. Brew a cup and breathe over it (you'll get a cleansing facial, too) - or simmer yourself in a thyme-infused bath.
Flu symptoms:
People don't know you have to cycle off echinacea or you'll build up a resistance to it. Goldenseal is too potent for long-term use. Pau d'arco, aka "the divine bark," an herb with immunity-building properties, can be purchased at most health food stores and ingested daily. It is antibiotic, antibacterial, antiviral and antimicrobial, and is packed with iron, calcium, selenium, zinc, and C and B-complex vitamins.
Stomach:
Instead of popping Tums, brew some spicy tea to soothe digestive ailments. Ginger, known as "the hot root," warms you from head to toe and stimulates digestion-aiding enzymes. It also cures both morning and motion sicknesses.
For relief from menstrual cramps, gas and heartburn: Fennel, anise, coriander and cardamom all have antispasmodic properties and help create movement in the intestines to relieve pain and pressure.
Skin:
Tea made from rose hips is the ultimate age-defying and skin-hydrating brew, thanks to nutrients such as longevity-promoting vitamin K and free-radical-damage-fixing bioflavonoids and citrics. Shiny horsetail grass is one of the richest sources of silica, an essential element in tissue repair. Revive lackluster hair, skin and nails by drinking tea prepared from this prehistoric plant. Placing the warm tea bags on your eyes reduces puffiness. If your hair is dull from product buildup, try a rosemary tea rinse. Rosemary cleans hair follicles and promotes hair growth. Use once a week for thick, super-clean hair and scalp.
Disease:
In recent years, scientists have been lauding the cancer-fighting abilities of the powerful antioxidant polyphenols found in black and green teas. "These teas contain properties that not only protect the cells from carcinogens, they also shrink tumors," explains Paul Lechance, Ph.D., executive director of the Neutraceutical Institute at Rutgers University. "While we can't say you'll never get cancer if you drink tea, you are certainly doing yourself some good by drinking it." What's more: A study from the University of North Carolina concluded that people who drink three cups of tea a day reduce their risk of heart attack by 11%.
Hunger:
If you're looking for an afternoon energy boost without all the fat of chocolate shakes and the calories in sodas, try oatstraw tea. In addition to its high-fiber content that leaves you feeling full, this potion provides high nutritional value (vitamins A, D, B1 and B2, calcium, iron and selenium) and can boost immunity and energy. Bitter herb teas such as chicory and dandelion as natural appetite suppressants are recommendations as well.
medicinal tea
