the health benefits of herbal tea blends

LUNCH
SPECIAL
THE HEALTH
BENEFITS OF
HERBAL TEA
BLENDS
By Mim Beim
There are thousands of herbs used by a
myriad of herbalists worldwide including
those in the Indian (Ayurvedic), Native
American, European or Arabic traditions
and in traditional Chinese medicine.
All are wonderful, all are therapeutic.
Here are some of my favourite blends.
I
have been a naturopath and herbalist for
over 20 years. I absolutely love the way
herbs both enhance our well-being and
treat illness. In this regard they are unique.
For thousands of years people have munched
on therapeutic plants to ease their aches
and pains. Even animals have an instinct
for herbs. The elephants in Sri Lanka seek
out gotu kola leaves, which also happen to
be recommended in Ayurvedic medicine
for longevity and memory. All ancient
civilisations have used herbs for medicine,
from the Babylonians to the Greeks,
Egyptians and Chinese.
Although the tradition of herbal medicine
may have been intertwined with myth and
old wives’ tales, modern herbalism has
kept up with the times. As more herbs are
put under the microscope, we are finding
that they stand up to rigorous scientific
investigation, confirming their centuries
of use. For instance, St. John’s wort, long
used for those of a melancholy or nervous
disposition, has been reported in medical
journals to be as effective as antidepressants
but without the side effects. In fact, doctors
in Germany write out several million
prescriptions for St. John’s wort each
year. As a rule, herbs are less toxic than
pharmacological drugs, but they also may
take longer to work.
Good health is more than merely the
absence of disease. A patient may come in
with a clean bill of health from their doctor,
nothing amiss on their blood tests, but
nevertheless do not feel one hundred per
cent. Herbs increase our inherent ‘vital force’,
the spark within, helping us feel bright-eyed
and bushy-tailed. Herbs work to improve and
assist the body’s innate functions, rather than
override them. For instance, I use echinacea
to improve the functioning of the immune
system, helping my patient to resist infection.
Other herbs, including the ‘tonic’ herbs, such
48 NOVEMBER 2014
as Siberian ginseng, licorice and withania,
have the ability to help the body return to its
inherent homoeostatis, or equilibrium. They
can be as helpful in an overactive (hyper)
state as in underactive (hypo) states. For
example, the Ayurvedic herb withania is an
excellent remedy for improving energy, as
well as helping you to sleep.
In the 21st century, when people are
yearning to connect with the earth, what
better way than to use plant medicine?
Herbs are the way forward for our health
and our planet. They have few side effects,
improve the body’s ability to heal itself, are
biodegradable, sustainable and delicious too!
A couple of cups of herbal tisane each day
is a simple way to improve your health and
well-being.
BLENDING
As a herbalist, I usually create a blend of
three or more herbs. We call this ‘synergy’,
where the sum of the parts is greater that
the whole.
Combining several herbs that have a
similar activity or work on a certain organ
or system in the body will bolster the other
herbs, better than using one herb on its
own.
For example, if I were to treat a
patient with a sore throat, I might use a
combination of licorice, echinacea and
thyme; licorice because it is soothing
to mucus membranes lining the throat,
echinacea because it is anti-inflammatory
and helps the immune system, and thyme
because it is antiseptic.
BEST HERBAL TEA BLENDS
The following blends are based on tisanes I
find very useful in my herbal practice. They
taste good and do a good job. Please feel
free to add your own signature to these
blends. If you have difficulty finding one of
the herbs in these recipes, it is fine to do
without or substitute it with another herb.
CALM
Best-ever stress blend.
This blend
is wonderful when you have a lot on at
work or school. It’s also good for times of
emotional stress, such as when dealing with
relationship difficulties or looking after sick
or frail relatives.
Withania, rooibos, zizyphus, Siberian
ginseng, licorice, ground cardamom
NIGHTY-NIGHT
Best-ever sleep blend. Although
the hops and valerian make this a lessthan-sublime tasting brew, hopefully you
will sleep the night through. If you have
problems getting to sleep, drink a couple
of small cups after dinner. If you have
problems with waking through the night,
drink it closer to bedtime.
Hops, valerian, lavender, withania, zizyphus,
cracked rooibos, licorice, hibiscus, crushed
ginger
FORGET-ME-NOT
Best-ever memory and
concentration blend. Perfect for
students and those who need to keep their
wits about them at work.
Gotu kola, licorice, ginkgo, bacopa, Siberian
ginseng, rosemary, ginger, red rose petals
If you are new to herbal tisanes, why not
buy small packets of each herb you like the
sound of and create your own blends. Some
of the more ‘therapeutic’ herbs don’t taste so
great.
So it’s a good idea to include one or two
of the more pleasant herbs such as licorice,
peppermint or ginger, or add honey which
covers a multitude of sins. Always be
governed by your own tastes. It’s really not
worth making or drinking a herbal tisane
you dislike.
Fresh herbs contain more of the essential
and volatile oils of the herbs, and for this
reason generally smell more pungent.
However, fresh herbs by their nature are
seasonal and are not always available.
Herbal tisane blends traditionally use
dried herbs, and are often prepared in
a combination that tastes good and is
therapeutic. A good compromise is to have
the base made from dried herbs and add
fresh herbs you have handy such as fresh
root ginger, peppermint leaves, lemongrass
or sprigs of thyme.
Avoid self-diagnosis. If you suspect you
are ill, it’s always wise to check with your
health care practitioner rather than selfdiagnosing and prescribing. n
Mim Beim is a renowned
naturopath and has released a
range of delicious Beaming With
Health Herbal Teas to assist a
variety of health conditions.
DIGESTIVO
Best-ever digestion blend. Although
not often a topic of conversation, as a
herbalist I know that a lot of people have
digestive problems, including bloating,
reflux, constipation and flatulence. These
herbs help a host of tummy problems.
Ginger, chamomile, peppermint, licorice
HAIR OF THE DOG
Best-ever hangover blend. Just the
thing for the morning after the night before.
It also makes a pretty good detox brew.
St. Mary’s thistle, dandelion root, ginger
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