Discover the Facinating Herbs in Tea Herb Gardening Part 1 of 3
Posted: Sunday, January 17, 2010
by Sarah Phillips
HerbGardeningCentral.com
Chamomile
Many herbs are the harvested leaves of the plant. Chamomile flowers are harvested and dried to produce the herb that makes the tea. No known side effects have been observed so having two or three cups in the evening is completely safe. Chamomile is known primarily as a muscle relaxant and women enjoy relief from menstrual cramps when drinking Chamomile tea. These benefits are cumulative and increase with the length of time and frequency of drinking the tea. To brew the tea simply pour one cup of boiling water over a heaping tablespoon of the dried herb. Cover and steep for five to ten minutes then strain out the herb and enjoy.
Mint has a distinctive fragrance and is a popular culinary herb especially when paired with sweets. Medicinally it is known for calming the digestive system. Mint calms the stomach muscles while increasing the secretion of digestive juices through stimulation. Those who suffer from irritable bowel syndrome can have their inflammation reduced. Mint is an anti-microbial, killing bad bacteria in the digestive system. It also reduces anxiety and tension by calming the nervous system. If you can harvest fresh leaves, then make your tea from that. Use your desired amount, but start with ten to fifteen leaves to settle on what that is. Steep covered in one cup of hot water for several minutes, then strain.
Lemon Balm
The flower of the Lemon balm has a delightful Lemony scent which gives it the name. As a medicinal herb the entire plant, leaves, flower, and stem is used. It is effective in treating sleeping problems, including insomnia. The tea calms the nervous system and as a result reduces anxiety and tension. It has been shown to have a positive effect on memory and is used to improve short term retention in Alzheimer patients. Infuse two tablespoons of fresh herb, or one tablespoon of dried flowers, in one cup of boiling water. Cover and steep for several minutes. The sun tea method works as well.
Fennel
Fennel imparts its well known flavor to licorice and innovative chefs have, for years, loved its versatility. It is so gentle the tea can be given to babies to reduce colic. It has diuretic qualities and boosts metabolism making Fennel tea a favorite with dieters. One of Fennel tea's popular qualities, relaxation of smooth muscles, relieves digestive problems and menstrual cramps. Steep one or two tablespoons of crushed Fennel seed in one cup boiling water covered then strain and enjoy.
Sarah Phillips is an herb gardening enthusiast, and enjoys helping others get started in this wonderful hobby.
To discover the facinating herbs used in tea herb gardening click here.
This Article has been viewed 228 times. (Not updated in real-time.)
No comments yet.We want your comments! If you can read this, you don't have javascript enabled, so you can't use this comment system. Please enable javascript.