It wasn’t until my first son was born that I began using tea for its medicinal properties. He had a sensitive tummy and our Yugoslavian caregiver recommended using chamomile tea to soothe the discomfort. He loved it and it worked wonders.

Herbal Teas and Tisanes

I was born into a family of mainly English origin and therefore exposed to tea from a young age. It was a staple in my daily diet like coffee is for many others. However we only consumed black tea with milk. Though it is still part of my diet, today my cupboard is filled with so many more wonderful medicinal teas or tisanes.  Also known as herbal teas, tisanes (pronounced ti-zahn) are not actually teas at all. Instead they are infusions made from leaves, bark, roots, berries, seeds, and spices. Common tisanes include mint, chamomile, tulsi, and rooibos. I regularly consume ginger/turmeric, nettle, dandelion, pau d”arco, holy basil and mint tisane’s today. They are soothing and I experience results for what each one provides for my body. Most are good hot or cold as well.

Over the years hosting Women’s Wellness Circles, I have had a couple of amazing presenters who really know about our local vegetation and how to use some of nature’s gifts to make healing tisanes. They are; Karen Stephenson of Edible Wild Food and Sarah Feiner who is currently studying Herbalism and deepening her knowledge of this fascinating field. Let me share with you some of my favourites and why I love them.

Ginger/Turmeric Blend

This is my all-time favourite especially through the winter months.

Ingredients:

• Slice approx. 1 inch or 2.5cm of fresh ginger root
• Slice approx. 3 medium size pieces of fresh turmeric root

Instructions:

1. Put in a non-aluminum pot with 8 cups or 2 litres of fresh water.
2. Bring to a boil and then turn down to simmer for 20 minutes. Feel free to add fresh squeezed lemon juice and/or honey to taste. Also adding ¼ tsp of black pepper will increase the absorption rate of turmeric.

Healing properties:

Anti-inflammatory, pain reduction, boosts brain power, helps digestion, improves blood circulation and stimulates your immune system to name a few.

Here are links to some excellent medicinal teas:

• Mullein Tea
• Burdock Tonic Tea
• Nettle Tea – I buy the Traditional Medicinals Brand or Wild Harvest Native.
• Dandelion Tea
• Mint Tea – Recipe: Mint Tea – Benefits:
• I have also ordered some incredible teas from Wild Harvest Native Teas on Vancouver Island.
• And here is a great list of Nourishing Tea Infusions from Caroline Dupont

Whether you are looking for the medicinal properties of teas or just looking for a healthy alternative to black tea or plain water, exploring the world of herbals teas is lots of fun. Let me know what your favourites are. As we move into harvest time may we be thankful for the abundance that grows in our area.

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To our health & wellbeing,

Karen