Wicca Spirit Newsletter Column: Everything Herbal

Wicca Spirit Newsletter

Vol. I Issue 5

In This Issue:

Samhain

Meet Our Columnists!
“Evn”

“Lady Wystira”
“Aura Elise”

Pagan Saints

Everything Herbal:
“Herbal Teas”

Animal Medicine & Totems:

“Native American Zodiac”

“Ask Aura Elise - Q&A”

Element Correspondences

Magickal Glossary

Working With Chakras:

“The Root Chakra”

Witch-Crafts

“Corn Dollies”
Featured Article:

"Recalling the Song:

   How Communicating
   with Animals will Change
   Our World”

Text Box: Herbal Teas © Wystira Moonsinger, September, 2007 Herbal teas have been in use for thousands of years. Our ancient ancestors made tea from many different plants not only for beverages, but also for healing various ailments of their groups or clans. The ancient Romans, Greeks, Chinese, and many other civilizations used teas also for drinking and healing. Teas have been made from Sage, Thyme, Rosemary, Southernwood, Chives, Onions, Borage, Parsley, Rue, Fennel and many other types of plants. The ancient Chinese grew tea plants and that is how the western civilizations began their love of tea drinking, thanks to Marco Polo and his expeditions to China. Most people are reluctant to try tea for healing. They know of the benefits of tea drinking for relaxation, but not the benefit of drinking tea as a healing substance. Today we are just beginning to realize the actual benefit of using tea for healing purposes. Professional herbalists suggest tea for minor ailments, but some people today are reluctant to try them for healing purposes. It is my hope that by reading this article more people will realize the healing benefits of tea. Herbal teas have their own virtues and some of them have stimulating effects, others are just refreshing. Some teas can help ‘lift’ your mood, while others can help induce a quiet sleep or even act as a mild tranquillizer. The American Indians shared their knowledge of herbal teas with the white settlers in the early eras of our country. We owe them a lot for sharing their knowledge with our ancestors. Without such knowledge, we’d be in very different circumstances now. If you’re going to make your own tea, it is best to collect your plant material yourself. But, if this is not feasible, make sure that you purchase your plant material from a reliable source. When you try making your own teas at home, begin with making small quantities. And if you purchase teas already packaged, make sure you read the directions carefully before preparing the tea. The usual dosage for healing teas is anywhere from a teaspoon several times a day to a wineglassful or even by the half-pint. There are two different types of drinks that we call tea. One is an actual tea; the other is a tisane. A tea is made by pouring boiling water over tealeaves and letting it steep for several minutes. A tisane is made by pouring boiling water over one teaspoon of the herb and letting sit for only a minute or two and then straining out the plant material. A true tea is made from herbs that have been harvested, dried and also smoked sometimes, before being blended with other flavors such as orange peel, lemon peel, etc. Using a single herb makes a tisane, or several herbs but no other flavors will be added. Usually a fresh green herb or herbs are used and then simply dried by hanging them up in a warm, dry place to “cure.” Basic Tea Recipe: 1 oz. plant material 1 cup boiling water Pour the boiling water over the tea and let steep for several minutes. Strain out the plant material, then drink. (This recipe can be used for all teas) Herbal Teas For Pure Drinking Pleasure: People have varying tastes, so what some like, others don’t. The following is a list of teas that are used just for the pure drinking pleasure of drinking it. Jasmine, Rose Geranium, Rose-hip, Lime Flower, Orange Flower, Aniseed, Caraway, Dill, Coriander, Senna, Gillyflower (Clove Pink), and Lavender. Each of these herbs has their own distinct flavor and I’d suggest experimenting with them to find a flavor to your liking. Alterative Teas: An alterative tea is for improving the complete system of the body. Many of the herbs used for this purpose are from common yard weeds. By drinking these teas, you’ll be helping your body with blood-purifiers, appetite-restorers, convalescences-accelerators, and for helping the process of nutrition throughout the body. The prolonged use of these teas can do nothing but good for your body. Below is a list of herbs for alterative teas. Birch leaf, Burdock, Fennel, Agrimony, Centaury, Cleavers, Elder, Blackberry leaf, Cornsilk, Blue Flag, and Mate’. Carminative Teas: Carminative teas are for comforting the stomach. So if you have a slight stomachache or indigestion, this type of tea is good for you. They also are fantastic for nausea and even stopping hiccups. Below is a list of carminative herbs that make good healing teas. Heather, Ling, Caraway, Dill, Fennel, Anise, Ginger, most Mints, Pennyroyal, Chamomile, Lemon Balm, Angelica, Sweet Cicely, and Elder. Cordial Teas: Cordial teas are great for improving your mood and act as a mild heart tonic. Be careful using these teas in larger quantities without knowing exactly the effects that will be received from them. Below is a list of herbs used in cordial teas. Maize (Indian Corn), Cornsilk, Clove Pinks (Gillyflowers), Red Rose petal, Violets, Lily of the Valley, Thyme, Lemon Balm, and Borage. Cosmetic Teas: Cosmetic teas are those that have a clearing or healing effect on the skin or complexion and the body as a whole. Our ancestors for their ‘beautifying’ properties used some of these herbs in ancient times. Below is a list of herbs used for cosmetic teas. Chicory, Birch leaves, Chickweed, Cleavers, Scurvy-grass, Hyssop, Silverweed, Parsley, Elder, Fumitory, Darnel, Wild Strawberries, Tansy, Blue Flag, Groundsel, Eyebright, Mint, Nettle, Chamomile, Rosemary, Mullein, Red Sage, and Camellia. Next time, we’ll discuss other types of teas including pain-killing, antiseptic, diaphoretic, diuretic, teas for coughs and colds, febrifuge, teas for foments and compresses, teas for reducing biliousness, sleep inducing teas, teas as tonics, and teas for dressings. —Editor’s Note: watch for upcoming column with herbal tea recipes!

Wicca Spirit
Discussion Group

Everything Herbal!

by Lady Wystira Moonsinger

“I've been on this herbal/green path for most of my 57 years. My granny, who was a "witchy woman" in the hills of Tennessee was the driving force behind my learning and taught me most of what I know. I've taught beginner's herbalism on several online schools, written articles that have been published for several online e-zines and love to share my knowledge.”
Visit Lady Moonsinger’s discussion group.