I have always been a lover of herbal teas and remedies and have been steeped (gosh aren’t I the clever writer lol) in this approach since childhood. For me its a generational thing, with a Grandma (Gigis as I call her) being ahead of her time and a total health and natural wellness guru. Here I will share some of my faves she schooled me to, as well as my grown up gotos I discovered while studying holistic nutrition.
I use a lot of these as part personal wellness codes that I write up for my one on one cliients and hopefully you will spot a few that could be of use to you 😉 XO
Holy Basil – Tulsi
Tulsi, also known as Holy basil is part of the mint family and actually the inspiration behind this blog post. After learning about its adrenal supporting properties and its incredible calming effect on anxiety (which I personally struggle with), it has been a constant companion in my cup. It is known as an adaptogen, meaning it helps the body cope with stress (who couldn’t use that). Its name Tulsi is Sanskrit and this plant has deep roots (pun intended) in Ayurveda medicine. It has high antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties and has also shown to relieve some asthmatic symptoms. This comes in many delicious flavours…my fave being blended with a chai, but make sure its decaf so you don’t get the opposite effect of calm on your nervous system.
Lemon Balm
Another part of the mint family, lemon balm is a well-rounded herbal remedy with a delightfully lemon/mint flavour. This is an ancient healer was used as far back as the middle ages. It has historically been known to fight of viruses such as cold sores, mumps and shingles. I love this tea for its stress reducing ability and I often recommend it to clients to aid in restful sleep, as a great headache remedy or for reducing heartburn. You can also keep a cold pitcher in the fridge to take the irritation out of bug bites.
Peppermint
I’m sure there are more than a few of you out there that are familiar with the awesomness of this particular tea. It’s light and refreshing on a hot day when enjoyed as an iced tea, but is comforting and clearing in the winter when you are bogged down with a chest/head cold. My grandma (my original herbal healing teacher) would always have peppermint tea on hand for an after dinner drink to help reduce bloating and aid in digestion and readily administered it as my “medicine” when I was ill with a cold or flu. This plant can also reduce headaches, relieves nausea, as well as gas. Don’t believe me…think about why all those gas or upset stomach otc “cures” are flavoured with mint 😉
Chai (cinnamon)
Chai is one of my most enjoyed teas. It’s a black tea base (naturally caffeinated. Look for decaf if you don’t want the buzz). One of the main ingredients in this traditional Indian elixir is cinnamon. I love cinnamon …big fan! The smell and taste say autumn to me, inducing warmth, coziness and make me want to wear big sweaters and bake apple pies (all that from one little spice. Impressive eh). Cinnamon has been known to help with sugar cravings while increasing blood flow and circulation. This is obviously an excellent choice for all women who want to stay off the sugary snacks and warm up those chronically cold toes!
Matcha Green Tea
I could have just listed green tea here, but not all green tea is created equal. I actually wasn’t even aware of the vast difference in potency and quality of this tea until I started studying nutrition. Though green tea has detoxifying and energy boosting capabilities, you are only getting a fraction of the goodness that is steeped from the leaves. Match on the other hand, is the entire leaf dried and ground into a powder which is then whisked into hot water for full potency. It is higher in caffeine as well as much higher in the cancer fighting and brain boosting antioxidants and EGCG. It is rich in chlorophyll and is a regulator of blood sugar as well as cholesterol and mood. This is a must have in my books and even my Mom’s naturopathic oncologist (cancer doc) insists on her drinking a mug of it a day.
We choose DoMatcha brand because of its purity and its adherence to the traditional way of harvesting for an optimal product.
DoMatcha comes in a regular or organic version (I use the organic), and there is a price difference. If you are not that keen on shelling out the bucks yet, the non-organic one is still a far better choice than most others, as well most health stores carry their individual packets for under 3$ to try it out first. Here is a link to what those look like (I have even seen them at Thrifty’s by the till) http://www.amazon.com/DoMatcha-Green-Tea-Packets-Count/dp/B00BU4770Q
Chamomile
This is a classic. Most people have heard of chamomile for relaxation and aiding in a peaceful sleep…that’s because it works! This is one I am never without for those nights when my bran just won’t stop taking an inventory of all I have going on. Thinking, thinking,. ..Zzzzzz.
Also a helper of those of us with floating anxiety (comes on for no obvious reason) as well as a relief of mild throat irritation and cough.
Passionflower
Passionflower tea is a double whammy in the digestive and mood balancing arenas. Recently there have been a few studies showing potential benefits in protecting against stomach ulcers caused by alcohol or taking aspirin (which some do for blood thinning). It has shown great antioxidant properties and is generating a lot of buzz. On top of those benefits, it is proving to be a pretty powerful anti-anxiety “medicin
e”. It boosts your brain’s levels of GABA, a natural chemical that lowers brain activity and can help with sleep too. GABA is also released when you have that glass of wine after work, and that is why you associate it with unwinding. Try this for less sugar and no harm to the liver.
Ginger
This tea is a winter staple for me. Its smell and taste is warming and so is its effect on the body. Perfect for someone with the chills and can help induce sweating to break a fever. I keep this on hand for any nausea, especially when I have the flu, a far healthier alternative to teaching your kids to reach for ginger ale. Clearly that old home remedy stemmed from the ancient knowledge of ginger for an upset tummy, however, ginger ale is full of artificial flavours and a ton of sugar…get your kids familiar with the real deal, after all, pop is pop!
Lemongrass
I love the smell of lemongrass! So fresh and relaxing. A cup of this daily can calm your nervous system and actually aid in reducing high blood pressure. I also like to reach for this tea when I am experiencing the joys of PMS (I do enjoy a bit of sarcasm), as it is a gentle diuretic and can help rid you of fluid retention that contributes to all that belly bloat.
Rosehip
Another one from my Grandma’s natural aid arsenal. We prefer this one cold, but that may be a product of raising. This is also a fabulous immune booster full of Vitamin C. Also it improves adrenal function as well as increasing energy and the body’s ability to heal its tissues and cells.
These suggestions are based on the learning I have done in school for Holistic Nutrition as well as personal experience. I am not a doctor and I suggest consulting with yours before adding any new remedies to your health routine to avoid negative interactions or side effects.
Be safe and healthy <3 Daly