Making A Simple Herbal Tea

Posted by MoonGoddessEmporium     Category: Herbs and Plants, Prosperity in All Its Forms

“Simplicity is the final flower; behind it are cataclysms of the soul and accumulations of wisdom, just as behold the simplicity of a leaf are cosmic and geological changes without number.” -Claude Bragdon, The New Image, 1928

Herbal medicine is arguably the world’s oldest science. Every culture in the world steeps herbs in water for  refreshing and medicinal drinks.

Herbal medicine isn’t as complex as it seems at first. In fact, it can be quite simple. Let’s start with making a simple cup of tea. The purpose in making an herbal tea is to extract the medicinal values from the herb into a cup of water. Pick one or two plants that you are familiar with to start. My favorite and one that is in my yard so easily accessible to me is gardenia.

Gardenia is a women’s herb with factors that help migraines and menstrual pains when used in tea. The lightly scented delicate flowers are best used fresh, not dried. They have a light sweet flavor that goes well by itself or sweetened with honey.

When making a simple tea with delicate flower or herb use one ounce of dried herb of two ounces of fresh herb. Bring one quart of water to just under boiling temperature and pour over the herb. Let it sit for twenty minutes or until the water has absorbed the color and fragrance of the herb. This recipe makes 3 cups, which is one day’s dose. For medicinal purposes, drink one half cup at a time throughout the day.

Remember that the best medicine is always the medicine you grew or hunted for yourself. The act of growing or searching for the herbs you need starts the healing process before you even take the medicine.*

How Rose Got Her Thorns

When the world was young, Rose had no thorns. Her stems were as smooth as a beetle’s shell. All the animals loved Rose.

Rabbit loved Rose. He loved to nibble on her leaves. He could hardly wait until the new spring shoots burst forth. Rose’s leaves were best when young and tender.

Deer loved Rose. When the snows were deep, deer browsed Rose’s twigs. And as the snow melted in the maple syrup moon, Deer browsed Rose to the ground. But Rose was hardy. She grew back from her roots.

Mouse loved Rose. He loved to make nests in her tangled shelter. He loved her bark. It kept his family fed through the winter. But the shoots the mouse gnawed on died. Rose grew new shoots, but it took a lot of energy.

Birds loved Rose. They loved to eat the seeds hidden in her fruity hips. They ate a lot to keep strong through the winter.Everyone loved Rose so much that soon there was hardly anything left of her. Her branches were broken, her roots chewed, her flowers fallen, and her seeds gone. She knew she was doomed.

And when Nanaboozhoo (who is the son of the west wind and a mortal woman) came to visit Rose, he was surprised to see there were no flowers left. Rose cried out, “Won’t you help me? They won’t let me grow. They are going to kill me!”

Nanaboozhoo went to the animals and begged them to leave Rose be, but the animals hesitated. How could they promise not to eat what was right in front of them or hide where there was shelter? Nanaboozhoo knew the animals were right, but it was clear that Rose’s delightful flowers would disappear forever unless he intervened. So he told Rose, “I can’t make the animals stop, but I can help you protect yourself.”  He covered Rose with sharp thorns everywhere but on her beautiful flowers. This is why Rose has thorns. She reminds us not to love her too well.

A passed down story common among many tribes of people to remind us not to take to much from the world without giving back so that we both may live on.

*We are not providing medical advice, promising or attempting to cure or treat any aliments.  For that, one should consult with a medical professional.  It is always best to consult with a medical professional prior to starting any new health regime, even those that are natural.

Tags: , , , , , , , , ,

4 Responses to “Making A Simple Herbal Tea”

  1. lmshewalt Says:

    I could hear the kettle whistle, see the steam rise, and taste the tea as I read this! And I love the story of how the rose got her thorns…
    (don’t we all need thorns sometimes?)

  2. Morika Says:

    As fall descends, herbal tea awaits and the steaming kettle is a whistle away! What inspiration and a great article love! Good job! Love it!
    Morika

  3. fallawake Says:

    This is wonderful Roxy! A very enjoyable read and so informative too. Thanks for sharing your wisdom with us! 🙂 Kate

  4. WhiteMoonWitchcraft Says:

    Home made herbal teas are one of my favourite things in this world, I think 🙂 Awesome read.

Leave a Reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.