The Healing Power of Tea

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Dec 3, 2001

I've long been a fan of tea. From the early age of 5, when I'd sneak sips of Orange Pekoe from my grandfather's mug, to present day when I'll literally spend an hour blending herbs for that one perfect cuppa.

I love lemon tea when I'm sick, feeling down, feeling over-excited, feeling stressed - to me, lemon tea is a cure-all. Not that it cures anything, but even the scent can bring a sense of calm and relaxation, something that helps the mind clear…More often than not, I prefer the store bought blends, particularly Lipton's Lemon Soother, a wonderful blend of lemon, rose hips and chamomile. There have been times I've felt more like having a blend of my own…so off I go to the herb shelf and start blending. Believe me, I've spent more time nursing a nasty taste out of my mouth than most people, but the result has been some delicious, healing teas.

For anyone with anxiety or stress, my first advice is this - avoid caffeinated teas at all costs. If this is something indicated for you, and you don't wish to blend your own teas - there are at least two major name brands that you can turn to: Celestial Seasonings and Lipton Teas. At least in Canada * grin * they have many different blends for many different needs. Also, several of the chain supermarkets carry generic brands with similar names, so for the cost-conscious, take a look around.

Recommendations are rampant on the web, but I'll do mine and hopefully some of you will find them useful!

For colds & flu - any citrus blend, including those with rose hips. These would be: Sunshiny Morning (orange spice; not sure of the brand), Lemon Soother (lemon, rose hips; Lipton Teas), Lemon Luxury (lemon, chamomile and mint; not sure of the brand name).

For sleep difficulty or relaxation - also Lemon Soother, Dream-Time, Sleepy-Time. These are produced by Lipton and Celestial Seasonings.

For an energy boost - find a tea with the light, sugary taste of berries, or the blends containing gingko biloba or ginseng.

A few of you may be adventurous souls - try blending your own, with herbs to suit your tastes. A few of my favorites follow…

Glas Celli Meditation Blend

1 tsp cut Mugwort
¼ tsp Rose Hips
¼ tsp Spearmint

Blend together with mortar and pestle, or the back of a teaspoon against the inside of the tea cup. Pour hot water over all, and steep for 10 minutes. Strain and enjoy.

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