Garden Therapy: Use Herbs for Healthy Teas
Brew a cup of herbal tea to enjoy—or make yourself feel better.
Calendula
Orange and yellow calendula blooms are pretty in the garden, but when dried, they can be added to boiling water and steeped for about 15 minutes to make tea. Strain the tea before using; it’s traditionally been used to relieve sore throats.
Editor's note: This article is not intended as medical advice. Always consult a professional healthcare provider before trying any form of therapy or if you have any questions or concerns about a medical condition. The use of natural products can be toxic if misused, and even when suitably used, certain individuals could have adverse reactions.
Orange Mint
Citrusy-smelling orange mint tea is best when served cold. Brighten its flavor by adding fresh orange and/or lemon juice and garnish with slices of fresh oranges and lemons. This is a refreshing beverage for warm summer days.
Bee Balm
Practitioners of folk medicine often turn the flowers of bee balm (Monada didyma) into a poultice for bee stings. The leaves and flowers can also be brewed into a tea that's thought to help sore throats and headaches. 'Pardon My Cerise', shown here, is an ornamental bee balm.
Thai Basil 'Siam Queen'
Thai basils are stronger than sweet basils, and this variety, 'Siam Queen', has a licorice flavor. Part of the mint family, basils are often made into teas and used to treat upset tummies. For extra flavor, steep a tablespoon of grated lemon peel and two teaspoons of black tea leaves in your basil tea.
Catnip 'Nepeta cataria'
Herb gardeners often suggest catnip tea for insomniacs and headache sufferers. This member of the mint family has a faint, minty fragrance and small, lavender blooms. Use three or four teaspoons of fresh leaves for tea, or one teaspoon of dried catnip leaves.
Eucalyptus 'Silverdrop'
Lemon Verbena
Thyme
Lavender
Coriander
Echinacea
You can buy commercially-prepared echinacea to make tea, but beware. WedMD warns that some echinacea teas may be mislabeled and may contain harmful or even toxic ingredients. Some gardeners make their own tea by brewing a teaspoon or two of dried echinacea in boiling water and adding honey for sweetening. These plants are often used to fight flu and other infections. Shown here: ornamental Big Sky 'Summer Sky' Coneflower Echinacea purpurea x paradoxa.
Agastache
With its chartreuse leaves and purplish bottle-brush flowers, Agastache foeniculum 'Golden Jubilee' is a pretty ornamental for a sunny garden. Dried, young Agastache leaves are aromantic and can be steeped to make a minty tea.
Yarrow
Bitter-tasting yarrow (Achillea millefolium) has been used as as folk remedy to treat colds and flu and to lower fevers by inducing sweating. Tea can be brewed from the leaves or flowers, but you'll probably want to add honey or another sweetener. Like many herbs, scientific studies have not proven yarrow's medicinal benefits, so always consult a physician before using it, and do not give it to children.
