When it comes to choosing a herbal tea, it’s important to look for a well-sourced product made from high-quality ingredients. If you’re drinking tea for the medicinal benefits, then definitely steer clear of products that add things like essential oils or flavours. And to really get the full benefits from drinking herbal tea,
make sure you steep your loose tea or tea bags long enough—in some cases, as long as 10 to 15 minutes—to really bring out all the healthful properties.
Anytime you’re ingesting something, you’re giving your body the building blocks it needs to manufacture tissues and hormones. If you drink tea every day, you can make all sorts of significant changes to your mood, your skin, your sense of well-being and energy.
There are so many wonderful herbal teas to choose from. Here are a few of the most common. Don’t be afraid to try something new!
Peppermint tea
Drinking peppermint tea helps relieve the symptoms of abdominal gas and bloating, and to relieve muscle spasms. It’s also good for nausea (without vomiting) and for heating up the body and making it sweat. If indigestion or heartburn are problems, however, then Dixon recommends avoiding peppermint altogether. Peppermint tea can also be made using fresh herbs from the garden—and it's one of the easiest herbs to grow.
Ginger tea
Another great digestive aid, ginger can be used to curb nausea, vomiting or upset stomach due to motion sickness. Make fresh ginger tea by simmering a piece of ginger root on the stove for 10 to 15 minutes—add fresh lemon juice and honey when you have a cold for a powerful germ-fighting combination. Another suggestion is making tea from
powdered ginger to ward off a chill.
Chamomile tea
A gentle calming and sedative tea made from flowers, chamomile tea can be helpful for insomnia. It can also be helpful with digestion after a meal as well as coughs and bronchitis, when you have a cold or fever, or as a gargle for inflammation of the mouth.
Rooibos tea
High in vitamin C as well as other minerals, rooibos has all sorts of health benefits. An easy drinking tea, it’s largely grown in South Africa and has been touted for its antioxidant properties—which may in turn help ward off disease and the signs of aging. It has also been shown to help with common skin concerns, such as
eczema.
Lemon balm tea
An easy-to-grow plant, lemon balm is helpful for lifting the spirits. It’s good for the winter and it can help improve concentration. Lemon balm is safe for children and may help prevent nightmares when consumed before bed. This herb also makes a refreshing iced tea, and can be flavoured with lemon or maple
syrup.
Milk thistle and dandelion tea
When consumed as a tea, milk thistle or dandelion are gentle liver cleansers. They help the liver to regenerate and function at a higher capacity. They can also assist in the production
of bile, which can help with our digestive process.
Rosehip tea
Rosehips are the fruit of the rose plant and are one of the best plant sources of vitamin C, which is important for the immune system, skin and tissue health and adrenal function. Consider reaching for rosehip tea next time you need a health boost.