Making tea is an ancient tradition. Herbal teas have a long history of use in areas of traditional medicine worldwide.
Herbal teas have their own individual and characteristic qualities. Some are slightly stimulating, others are soothing and induce a restful sleep. Many are tonics that can bring about an ‘out of balance’ system back into complete health. For a herbal preparation to be effective, the body must absorb and utilise it effectively.
A tea infusion allows the natural action between the various components in each herb to occur and water is an inexpensive and readily available extraction solvent. Most of the major components occurring in medicinal plants are either soluble in near boiling water or can release into the water over time due to the interactions occurring in the infusion. A herbal tea allows you to experience the ‘true taste of any herb’ and the taste is considered to be a vital aspect of herbal medicine. There is a list of a few herbs for medicinal use in the main article.