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Soothing tea - types and recipes
contents
- Various medicinal plants
- teas
- Summary
Various medicinal plants
Various medicinal plants have a calming effect. In the following lines some examples will be presented. They can be used individually, but can also be found in different tea recipes.
For each single medicinal plant mentioned: a teaspoon is poured over with about 250 milliliters of boiling water and then pulled for about seven to eight minutes. If you prefer a very light tea, take the amount per cup, which can be taken with three fingers (so-called three-finger gift). The effect is not diminished.
A calming tea can be relaxing and helpful in many situations. The healing powers of nature hold a wealth of potential effects. (Image: leszekglasner / fotolia.com) 1. Real valerian (Valeriana officinalis)
Valerian can be found everywhere in Germany. On wet meadows, in forests and on river banks. The value of valerian was already quite high in ancient times, and the plant has since become known as a universal remedy. It has been and will be used for pain relief, coughing, eye discomfort and as a diuretic.
Today, it is above all because of its calming effect on everyone's lips. Nervous states of excitement, nervous sleep disturbances and nervous heart complaints respond quite well to the treatment with valerian. Thus, a soothing tea often includes this plant. To intensify its effect, valerian is often used with other medicinal plants, such as melissa and hops,
mixed.
2. hops (Humulus lupulus)
Hop is not only in beer, but can also be effective as soothing tea. Hops belong to the hemp plants. Originally he comes from Eastern Europe. It grows wild in moist shrubbery and along river banks and is cultivated in many countries in the temperate zone. Already in the Middle Ages this plant was known and is still today.
Records of Hieronymus Bock (1498-1554, German botanist, physician and preacher) show that the hops were used at that time to purify the blood, to help with spleen and liver swelling and the hop flowers, put into wine, pass away fever and act against poisoning , Today, hops are mainly used for insomnia, over-excitability, nervous restlessness and anxiety disorders. It is often included in tea blends for reassurance.
3. Lavender (Lavandula)
Lavender has been used for years mainly in connection with mothballs and perfume of older ladies. But the lavender has long celebrated its comeback and is now being used again as a remedy. It is one of the mint family and can be found mainly on the western Mediterranean.
Hildegard von Bingen reported for the first time on his medical effect. After that, you found lavender in almost every herbal herbal book. At the time, he was told that he was diuretic, calming the heart, relieving toothache and helping with dizziness and body aches. Today lavender is used for nervous fatigue, sleep disorders, nervous stomach and intestinal disorders and to calm down. He does not tire, so he is also recommended before exams or before a doctor visit. The tea tastes particularly good, it is sweetened with a little honey.
Lavender teas calms and helps especially with sleep problems, but it is also recommended, for example, for gastrointestinal problems or migraine. (Image: Heike Rau / fotolia.com) 4. Melissa (Melissa officinalis)
Like lavender, lemon balm, also called lemon balm, is a member of the mint family. The plant, which is also loved by the bees, was already known in antiquity as a remedy. The Benedictine monks later brought the melissa from the Mediterranean countries across the Alps and cultivated them in the monastery gardens.
This wonderfully fragrant plant is mainly used for nervous stomach problems. But she also gives her best when she falls asleep and as an addition in a calming tea. It is also known as part of the melissa spirit, which used to be used for strengthening after colds.
5. Passionflower (Passiflora incarnata)
This beautiful flower is originally from the tropical rainforests. The Mayas and the Aztecs already appreciated their relaxing and soothing effect.
This plant got its name from the church. In 1605, the Spanish missionary and Father Simone Parlasca sent a copy to Rome. The church princes there saw the flowering of the passion flower as an illustration of the martyrdom of Christ. The Passiflora acts in nervous restlessness and anxiety. So a soothing tea benefits from this plant. In natural medicine, it is often used in capsule form or as a tincture.
6. Pomeranze (Citrus aurantium)
The bitter orange is mainly known in the Mediterranean countries and belongs to the Rautengewächsen. It is believed that in the 10th century it was brought by the Persians and Arabs from India to North Africa and Spain. Arab doctors reported on her and attributed her a poisonous effect.
Today, the bitter orange blossoms are used for calming and for slackening.
7. St. John's wort (Hypericum perforatum)
St. John's wort is a beautiful, yellow flowering plant and grows on roadsides and dams, in sparse forests and shrubs. Their leaves look like they are perforated. The reason is the oil contained in it. The yellow flowers turn blood red, they are rubbed in the hands. Known is the "red oil", obtained from the flowers, which is very helpful in nerve pain.
Pedanios Dioskurides, a Greek physician who lived in the first century, used Hypericum for burns and sciatica.
Today, St. John's wort is prescribed in high doses in capsule form for mild depression by doctors. The tea variant is a very gentle form to bring some peace to life and mitigate fears. So a calming tea can contain only St. John's wort, but can also be mixed with other plants (see recipe number 2).
Which ingredients of St. John's wort are responsible for their effect, has not yet been sufficiently documented. Furthermore, it should be noted at this point that St. John's wort interact with other drugs or may weaken their effect. Pregnant women should discuss their use of the herb or oil with their doctor.
It should also be mentioned that the products that are freely available for sale in supermarkets and drugstores (due to legal regulations) often contain a significantly lower dosage than products from the pharmacy.
St. John's wort - in the English St. John's Wort - helps, for example, in mild depression. The red oil extracted from the plant has anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties. (Image: Heike Rau / fotolia.com) 8. Lemongrass / Lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus)
The home for lemongrass is the East Indies and Indonesia. It is not only used as a spice for Asian dishes, but is also used in soothing teas. Especially the lemony taste makes this tea so popular. The lemongrass has an antispasmodic, soothing and slightly mood-enhancing effect. Even with slight indigestion is used.
9. Basil (Ocimum basilicum)
Basil is mainly known as a spice. Who does not know the summer dish "tomato mozzarella with basil" or the green pesto that tastes so delicious.
But even as a tea, basil is worth a try. After meals drunk basil is digestive. Also intestinal cramps or menstrual pain are alleviated. But basil also has a slightly calming effect.
teas
The medicinal herbs mentioned can be used individually, but also in the most diverse tea recipes. Here are some examples:
Recipe 1
In nervous states of excitement, the following, soothing tea helps.
You will need 20 grams of valerian root, 20 grams of lemon balm leaves, 20 grams of lavender flowers, 10 grams of bitter orange blossom and 10 grams of hop cones.
One teaspoon of the mixture is brewed with about one quarter of a liter of boiling water and after at least five minutes (like seven to eight minutes) strained and swallowed. This is best done at bedtime or on demand.
Recipe 2
An alternative to the above tea is as follows: 20 grams of St. John's Wort, 20 grams of lemon balm leaves and 10 grams of valerian root are in the mix. A teaspoon of it is, as with the other recipes, also poured with a quarter liter of boiling water and then should draw about seven to ten minutes.
Recipe 3
This is a pure soothing and sleeping tea. For this you need valerian root and hop cones in equal parts. You are welcome to add hawthorn leaves (these especially soothe the heart). One teaspoon of the mixture is brewed with 250 milliliters of boiling water and must be drawn for at least ten minutes. Tea is best when it is drunk half an hour before bedtime.
Recipe 4
This is a nerve-calming tea, which also likes to be drunk occasionally or when needed. Melissa leaves, lavender flowers, and bitter orange blossoms are mixed in equal parts. Again, a teaspoon full with a quarter liter of boiling water is brewed and then, depending on your taste, takes seven to ten minutes.
Summary
A soothing tea is especially intended for the evening, after work, after a busy day. Or if the head cinema makes overtime and so no falling asleep is possible. But also during the day, when the nerves are blank again and the nervousness is really spreading.
The various single herbs or even tea blends should never be drunk more than four to five weeks in a row. Also, two to three cups a day are enough. If the tea is too bitter, you can sweeten it with honey. It is important to drink the tea deliberately in small sips. This alone concentrates on the essentials and contributes a little to calm and relax. As a rule, no side effects are to be expected. But if this is the case, the herb should be avoided. (Sw)