I’m going to preface this post with full transparency. I am not an herbalist. However; I have been enjoying the benefits of herbal tea for years!! We use teas for just about everything. I have chosen some simple recipes with very common ingredients that most people have at home. If not, they are at all local grocery stores.
Chronic Pain Tea
Most of your regular garden herbs are highly medicinal so it makes sense to have them close at hand. Basil, thyme & oregano all have pain & inflammation-reducing properties and they make a wonderful, highly drinkable tea!!
2 cups water
1/2 cup roughly chopped fresh Basil, Thyme & Oregano
- Add chopped herbs to a 473 ml jar
- Bring water to a boil
- Pour boiled water over herbs
- Steep for 10 – 15 minutes
- Strain out the herbs
- Add honey if you wish
Drink daily, as often as needed, to help relieve chronic pain & inflammation. It may take several weeks of daily use for pain to subside.
Non-habit-forming pain reliever!!!
**Pregnant women should avoid using large amounts of basil.
All three of these herbs are also great for the immune system, so drink this when you feel a sickness coming on to help you get better quickly.
Thyme, Peppermint, Honey Tea for Coughs
“Tis the season to be snotty…”
Thyme & Peppermint are especially good for treating persistent coughs, with Thyme being a potent natural expectorant & Peppermint acting as a decongestant. A few spoonfuls of honey to help sooth the throat, and lemon juice is an antibacterial and adds a boost of flavor & Vitamin C.
2 cups water
1 tbsp fresh Thyme
1 tbsp fresh or dried Peppermint
2-4 tbsp Raw Honey
1 lemon wedge
- Bring the water to a boil & pour over herbs.
- Let steep for 10 – 15 minutes
- strain out herbs, and stir in honey.
- Drink 1 – 2 cups, as needed to relieve a persistent cough.
** Nursing Moms should avoid Peppermint as it can reduce the supply. Spearmint is a good alternative with similar benefits.
*** While Thyme & Peppermint are highly effective for treating coughs, sage, oregano, and rosemary are also beneficial and can be substituted if that’s what is growing in your herb garden.
Children’s Calming Herbal Tea
It is common knowledge that children can easily become overstimulated and, for lack of a better word, rambunctious. When it comes time to bring your child back to center, this calming tea can really help. Catnip, in particular is an amazing herbal ally for children, as it has a gentle calming effect that promotes relaxation and sleep. Lemon balm and chamomile are flavourful herbs that are safe for children and also have a calming effect. all three of these herbs have the added benefit of being good for children’s digestion. In the summer time, pour this tea into popsicle molds for a fun, healthy, relaxing treat. Small amounts of this tea can be given to babies over the age of 6 months.
- 2 cups water
- 2 tbsp dried chamomile flowers
- 1 tbsp dried lemon balm
- 1 tbsp dried catnip
- 1-2 tbsp raw honey (optional) (NOT to be given to children under 1 year)
Instructions:
Bring water to a boil and pour over herbs. Steep for 10 – 15 minutes, then strain out the herbs. Add honey, if using.
Serve hot or iced.
Dosage
- 6 months – 1 year: 1 – 2 teaspoons daily
- 1 – 2 year: 2 – 4 teaspoons daily
- 3 – 7 years: 2 – 4 tbsp daily
- 8 – 12 years: 1/4 – 1/2 cup daily
- 13+: 1 – 2 cups daily
Have you tried these Herbal Tea recipes? Tell us what you think in the comments below, or share any other tried & true home remedies you use!
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