Herbal tea: what is useful and how to cook it?

Herbal tea is a healthy drink that has a beneficial effect on a person’s psycho-emotional and physical health.The use of this infusion will allow you to get rid of spring or autumn avitaminosis, improve tone, carry out prevention of many diseases, improve concentration, relax and sleep well.

Herbal teas were known in ancient Russia. Until the beginning of the XIX century (before exploring Chinese baikhov tea), people independently made preparations of medicinal plants, which were later used as medicinal and anesthetics, as well as as a daily sweet elixir. Each house had its own secrets of making herbal teas.

All broths can be classified into two large groups:

• healing (complex fees of several herbs for the treatment of a particular disease);
• for daily drinking (suitable oregano, clover, melissa, mint).

The healing effect with the use of each new mug only increases. Treatment should consist of several courses and breaks in between. With minor deviations in the health status of herbal tea can solve the problem without the use of additional funds. If the ailment is quite serious, herbal decoction can be used as an addition to the main therapy.

The most famous herbal tea in Russia is Ivan-tea, its second name is Kiprey. The first place of gathering of this grass was not far from the place Kaporye in the Pskov region. Tea has a tonic effect, excellent aroma and immunostimulating properties. For a long time, willow-tea was exported to England. Modern tea tradition provides for the collection of this plant according to the rules for harvesting, drying and subsequent storage of the product.

Of the variety of herbs available for the preparation of herbal infusions, the following are considered the most useful.

For brewing a drink, you can take flowers, leaves, fruits and rhizomes of the plant. Although more often for the basis of fragrant tea using fruit. Rosehip is one of the most valuable plants on the content of valuable substances. The composition of dry fruit contains twice as much vitamin C as in black currants. This fact confirms the therapeutic properties of wild rose, which will help to raise the immune system during inflammatory processes, disorders of the stomach, ailments associated with the heart and blood vessels, diseases of the liver, urinary tract and gall bladder, high blood pressure.

For cooking broth need 1 tbsp. l crushed dry berries. The mixture is put in a thermos and add 0.5 liters of boiling water. The decoction should be infused overnight, and after straining it, they drink at 0.5 cups half an hour before eating food.

Normalization of sleep, elimination of migraines, respiratory diseases, abdominal pain, nervousness - these are problems that can be solved if you use a decoction of chamomile every day. Such herbal tea is recommended to drink to diabetics, ulcers, people with chronic gastritis and liver diseases. Useful drink and those who decided to lose weight.

Chamomile tea well removes excess fluid from the body, has a soothing effect, helps to cleanse the body of toxins and toxins, helps to improve the work of the digestive tract, restrain hunger. The drink will benefit pregnant women and babies.

The main thing during pregnancy is to comply with the dosage, and make baby broths very weak. Chamomile tea with the addition of lime to quickly cope with colds in children, colic and teething symptoms. Women who are not in position, chamomile decoction is advised to drink as an accompanying therapy in the treatment of gynecological ailments and disruptions in the functioning of the endocrine system.

For the broth you need 0.5 tbsp. l dry flowers and 1 cup of hot water. The tea should be dipped in water and left under the lid for 10 minutes.Drink a strain and drink freshly, as it quickly loses its healing properties.

Mint tea is permissible to use when you want. In the morning, this plant will raise the tone, give strength and refresh. At noon, a decoction will contribute to the smooth operation of the digestive tract. Drinking mint tea in the evening will relieve tension, stress, relax. It is impossible to say that the use of mint will harm men's health, but it is not worth taking care of the stronger sex too much. The plant is considered "feminine", as the leaves contain components that are close to female estrogen.

Mint decoction improves digestion, allows you to cope with abdominal distension and increased gas formation, kills harmful bacteria in the intestines, facilitates the course of colds, reduces the risk of allergic reactions and the development of tumors.

Peppermint is a reliable helper in resolving problems related to cardiac activity, with disorders of the nervous and genitourinary system. Mint decoction also helps to eliminate migraine, insomnia, high blood pressure, anxiety. To enhance the sedative effect of the grass, it is often insisted along with melissa.

For the preparation of mint decoction will require 1 tsp. a spoonful of leaf powder and 1.5 cups of hot water. They insist on tea for 20 minutes and immediately consume it, until it contains vitamin compounds and beneficial essential oils.

Lime decoction allows you to quickly deal with the symptoms of administration, improve the condition of the circulatory system, normalize the digestive tract, sleep, speed up the metabolic processes, prevent colds and viral diseases, reduce the temperature, eliminate nasal congestion and migraine, improve immunity. To improve the therapeutic properties during diseases of acute respiratory infections or acute respiratory viral infections, it is recommended to combine lime decoction with licorice, plantain and sage. We must not forget that the lime infusion is not just a tasty and healthy herbal drink, but also a fairly strong therapeutic agent, therefore, it is necessary to pause when using tea.

Linden tea is recommended for people with problem vessels. Infusion well removes swelling, local foci of inflammation, carries out prevention of atherosclerosis. Linden flowers can be brewed with other herbs. Lipa will give the broths a beautiful shade and honey-spicy taste. For linden tea will require 5 tsp. dry flowers and 1.5 cups of boiling water. The tea leaves are covered with a saucer and carefully covered with a towel or blanket.

This herb has many alternative names: honey, lemon mint, meat shaker. Melissa is known for its sedative effect. It is used in violation of sleep, neurotic, melancholic and anxiety states, depression, during the breakdown, disturbance of the digestive processes, poor appetite. Tea from lemon balm eliminates muscle spasms, normalizes blood pressure, increases tone, eliminates chills, helps to cope with colds.

Broth from lemon balm can be used by women in the position, as it relieves the symptoms of toxicosis well. The grass will be useful for women at any age. One she will allow you to forget about the painful menstruation and inflammation of the appendages, and the other about the climacteric neuroses. To get a decoction of lemon balm, you must take 1 tsp. herbs and a cup of boiling water. The broth is kept in a thermos for half an hour. It is recommended to use it immediately after brewing. Reheat tea can not be.

As an alternative to the previous herbal collections, other useful herbal combinations can be made. Fans of green tea can be recommended to brew it with the addition of lemon balm, lime and chamomile.To prevent ARD and ARVI, inflammation and raising immunity, it is useful to add echinacea berries, rowan berries, cranberries, sea buckthorn, cowberries, currants, strawberries, raspberries, cherries and blackberries to the decoction. During increased mental stress, it is recommended to use stevia drink with lemon balm. The decoction will help to improve concentration and attention.

Herbal tea made from leaves and flowers of strawberry, lemongrass, and clover has tonic properties. The decoctions of sage, acacia, raspberry, oregano, rose, citrus have a calming effect. All described herbs can be purchased in the form of crushed plant parts and filter bags.

There are herbs that have high medicinal properties, so before using them it is better to consult with a doctor, and then strictly follow the instructions for use, taking into account all the contraindications described and possible side effects.

The basis of herbal preparations can be used not only the stems and flowers of plants, but also the rhizomes, the bark of shrubs and trees, as well as fruits (berries, fruits), which contain many useful elements for the body. The composition of tea brewing may include:

• dog rose;
• plum;
• currant;
• zhuravina;
• apples;
• Rowan;
• rhizomes tarukhshakuna and burdock;
• cranberries;
• bark of oak, rowan, bird cherry;
• blueberries

For the preparation of the drink using dried parts of berries, bark and rhizomes, pre-grind them. Then, the resulting powder is placed in the teapot and boiling water is added. Herbal teas can be consumed daily, they are a source of antioxidants, vitamins and other biological additives. Similar broths can be given also to children instead of traditional compote. The brewing formulation is determined by the nature of the plant elements.

If there are particles of bark or roots in tea, it is prepared in a water bath. To do this, the tea should be dipped in cold water, brought to a boil and left to simmer for half an hour. Then the broth is filtered, diluted according to the instructions and consumed inside.

In the cortex and roots are plant phenolic compounds, binders, glycosides and phytoncids. One of the most famous decoctions in which the bark is used is oak broth. It has healing, disinfecting and antiphlogistic characteristics. Using it helps to cope with the problems of the gastrointestinal tract, respiratory diseases. Used as an external agent and as a solution for gargling.

For herbal tea it is important that it is not only tasty, but also preserves all the beneficial substances. Brew particles of herbs in a preheated container (enough to pour it with steam). As a container, a teapot made of glass or porcelain, enameled saucepan. Whole berries must be crushed (for example, tolkushkoy), the fruits and rhizomes are finely chopped. Insist the broth should be in a thermos, preferably in the evening, throughout the night.

Among the most popular herbal tea recipes for every day, it is worth noting the rosehip infusion. It is based on dried berries. Brew infusion can be in a mug of hot water, it will be enough 1 tsp. berries After 20 minutes, the tea will be ready to drink. Tea can be prepared in a thermos. Boiled water is added to the whole berries and well sealed. After 4 hours you can drink the broth.

Useful tea can be made from raspberry and currant leaves. Broth should stand for half an hour.

For tea every day suitable birch and blackberry leaves, certified by 1 to 8 parts. You can add raspberries and blackberries to them. An interesting taste has an infusion of dried blueberries and mint. To obtain an aromatic drink of amber color, rose petals are used. Fresh or dry buds will do. It is necessary to fill the petals with cold water, leave for 2 hours, boil and simmer under the lid for 3 minutes.

If tea is consumed cold, a fruit note should dominate in taste. For broths in hot form, freshly grassy flavor is preferable. A therapeutic infusion may have a relaxing, anti-inflammatory, vitamin, digestive, diuretic, cardiovascular action.

Prepare broths that have a sedative effect, you can according to the following recipes:

• 2.5 tsp. Leonotis, cat grass and mint pour boiling water. Let stand for 20 minutes. Eat broth twice a day on a full stomach.
• 2, 5 tsp. lemon balm, 2.5 tbsp. l strawberries, 3 tbsp. l wild rose dipped in boiling water at the rate of 250 ml per 1 tbsp. l Let stand a quarter of an hour. Use the infusion twice a day on a full stomach.
• Mix lime blossom, chamomile petals and mint, put in boiling water. Leave on for a quarter of an hour for brewing. Drink this drink is recommended shortly before bedtime.

For those who want to lose weight, to normalize the processes of digestion, herbal infusion, brewed according to the following scheme, is suitable. 2 tbsp. l bark bark, 2 tbsp. l nettle, 1 tbsp. l mint and the same amount of calamus root dipped in hot water. After the decoction is insisted, it is used at the rate of 2 cups per day. To improve metabolism in the body, you can add a pinch of crushed ginger root.

Per day you need to drink 125 ml of broth on an empty stomach. The amount of each ingredient is taken on the basis of personal preference, however, we must not forget that the parsley seeds have an unpleasant taste, so their amount in tea should be minimized.

For women in the position, it is recommended to use special herbal preparations:

• Boil 0.4 liters of boiled liquid 10 grams of dried rosehips and the same currant leaves. You can use the decoction up to 4 times a day for 0.5 cups.
• In half a liter of boiling water brew 1 tsp. wild rose berries and the same number of rowan berries. Let the broth stand for half an hour. The resulting tea should be divided into equal portions and drink them throughout the day.

All parts of the plant for the future drink are collected on a sunny day before noon. The maximum benefit is concentrated in plants when they begin to bloom. For most crops, this is the middle of spring, so healthy herbs are recommended to be picked in May. The leaves of the berry crops (black currants, strawberries, raspberries) are torn off when they finally unfold. Picking berries is possible only if they are fully ripe, collecting flowers (chamomile, linden, wild rose) - at the time of their full disclosure.

For this fit dark, well-ventilated room, for example, an attic. Drying grass should be stirred regularly so that it dries evenly and does not rot further. After 4 days, the raw materials can be collected in fabric or paper bags, sealed cans of glass or ceramics. The shelf life varies from 1 to 4 years (depending on the type of plant). Keep grass at room temperature, away from products with a strong odor. The container must be signed: the name of the collected plants and the time of collection.

If you strictly follow all the rules and advice on the breaking, processing and storage of herbs, they will not absorb alien flavors and will not lose their natural aroma, retain all the healing properties and will have the expected effect on them. Herbal tea will become not only an effective prevention of many diseases, but also help to quickly recover and feel a surge of strength in chronic fatigue.

For information on how to properly collect and harvest herbs, see the video below.