Preparing teas as medicine

Ziytouna

3 days ago

3 min read

Herbs are wonderful, they are Shifaa.

Drinking tea correctly, can eliviate pain and balance out so many issues.

For example, in many cultures rose tea is traditionally used to make a woman more feminine, so basically to regulate her hormones. I drink mine together with hibiscus and lemon peel or with nettle, dandelion and rasberry leaf. In Morocco rose tea is also traditionally drank as a laxative though, so if you want to balance this property out, you just have to add rasbeerry leaf tea, bcs in Central Europe rasberry leaves are used against diarrhea. So together they balance these properties from each other out.

I know the general rule is, one rosebud per cup, so for one kettle I use a max of 5 small rose buds that I crush into flakes.

If steeped correctly, such teas are full of minerals and help to replenish the body. The most important thing is that you allow the tea leaves to flow freely and let it steep for at least 15 min, ideally 45min.

The amazing thing about drinking teas is that overtime, your skin will develop a slight scent of the herbs you drink, and your mood and menstrual cycle slowly improve. Apart from being a natural "parfume", teas also act as an amzing mineral supplement, bcs they contain various minerals that support your body in its natural function.

Natural mineral suppport tea:

- rasberry leaves

- nettle leaves

- rose flakes or rose buds

- hibiscus flower

- dandelion leaves

You basically aim for about 2 tbsp per kettle in total. Pour boiling water on top and close the lid. Let it steep for at least 20min or longer if you can.

Cater to your needs:

- rasberry leaf tea if you want more firm poop. Reduces heavy periods and cramps, Aids in digestion and helps to combat fatigue.

- rose tea if you aim for softer/thinner poop. Balances the hormones, enhances skin health and helps with digestion and period cramps.

- nettle if you are mineral depleted and need sth astringend (like your body is swollen with lymph) and you need kidney support.

- hibiscus if you pee alot during the night and need anti-inflammatory support that stabalises your bloodsugar levels and thus appetite.

- dandelion leaves if you need anti-oxidative support for your liver and want to increase bowl movement to flush out your kidneys. Reduces bloating and excess water retention.

- in the picture is also Chanca piedra aka the stonebreaker. It helps to flush out kidney and gallbladder stones, but also helps with bladder and digestive issues.

For such teas with thicker stems or seeds, you bring the kettle to a short boil and then let it steep. I personally put 1tbsp Chanca piedra with cold water in a kettle and put it on the stove. As soon as it starts to boil, I remove the kettle and add a handful of fresh mint leaves.

As a rule of thumb, you should not boil fine leafy teas but only seeds or plants with thicker stems. For such teas with thicker stems, you bring the kettle to a short boil and then let it steep. Bcs the more you boil a tea, the higher becomes the concentration of tannins and those can give you heart burn or gastrinal issues if you have a sensitive stomach. That's why I prepare my Atay (moroccan mint tea) in a unconventional way. Furthermore, tannins can bind with the iron of your food and thus stunt your iron absorbtion. So, if you have a tendency towards anema, then I would not drink any tannin/polyphenol rich teas specifically after your meals.

TCM tea for blood support:

Boil a teapot with:

- 3 Jujube dates cut open (fruit of the Sidr tree)

- 1 tsp Goji berries

- half a Ceylon stick

- 2-3 cloves

- 3 pepper corns

- 2-3 organic lemon slices

- a thumb of fresh ginger and turmeric ( 🫚 not in the evening)

- you can also add apple or pear slices, or you can add star anise, I only take one tiny star edge and not more.