Sierra Nevada Medicinal Teas
COLD & FLU SUPPORT
A diverse variety of medicinal plants grow wild and cultivate easily here in the beautiful Central California Sierra Nevada mountains. Many herbs, used both fresh and dried, offer an unique spectrum of nutrition that includes vitamins, minerals, and many active constituents that can help prevent and treat symptoms of various health conditions. Many of the herbs listed below can be interchangeable and custom-blended to fit individual needs. Herbal energetics and the consideration of our own constitution (do you run hot or cold, damp or dry? just right?), which can fluctuate at any time, is important to consider when choosing herbal teas. Know your local herbalist. Using single herbs or a combination of two or three can also help relieve many symptoms like congestion, fever, chills, and nausea. Notice what feels right for you. Notice what is local and seasonal.
Check out this Immune-support powerhouse list of herbs in season now. Ginger is a great addition to many herbal blends due to it’s accessibility, and amazing medicinal benefits.
Elderberry~ Energetics: cooling, drying Actions: anti-inflammatory, anti-viral, diuretic, immune stimulant, nutritive Tastes: sour, slightly sweet
Mullein Leaf~ Energetics: cooling, moistening Actions: lung restorative, soothes dry coughs, anti-inflammatory, expectorant (expel mucus), bronchodilator (lung expanding), lymphatic Tastes: mildly sweet
Yerba Santa~ Energetics: warming, drying Actions: detoxifying lung strengthener, expectorant, bronchodilator, carminative, diuretic (increases urine flow & helps detoxify body of allergens), immune support, antioxidant & anti-microbial (inhibits bacteria, viruses, fungi, parasites). Tastes: sweet, bitter, pungent
White Horehound~ Energetics: cooling, drying Actions: expectorant, antispasmodic, anti-parasitic, vulnerary, detoxifier, stimulates digestion Tastes: bitter
Ginger ~ Energetics: warming, drying Actions: anti-emetic (helps with nausea), carminative, blood pressure normalizer, febrifuge, antidepressant, emmenagogue, nervine (stimulating), immune stimulant, digestive stimulant Tastes: pungent
Bay Leaf ~ Energetics: warming, drying. Actions: analgesic, antibacterial, antidiarrheal, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic (relieves muscle pain, cramps), antiviral, antioxidant, carminative (digestive aid), diaphoretic (sweating & detoxification), immuno-stimulant, tonic, vulnerary (tissue restoring), sedative Tastes: pungent, bitter
Flu Relief: helps break fever, alleviate nausea, boost immunity, & shorten length of illness. Usage: Sip 1-2 cups every 2 hours up to 6x a day, if sick. Drink 1-2 cups per day as nutritive preventative. Recipe: 1-2 tablespoons of dried herbs crushed before steeping. Use 1 part mullein leaf, 1 part elderberry, 1/2 part yerba santa, half part white horehound, 1-2 cut pieces of ginger root per cup of water for moderate strength infusion.
Cold Relief: warming & stimulating. Helps expel mucus, soothe sore throat cough, and congestion, and relieve aches and pains. Usage: Sip 1-2 cups every 2 hours up to 6x a day, if sick. Drink 1-2 cups per day as nutritive preventative. Recipe: 2 parts yerba santa, 1 part mullein, 1 part horehound, 1 part elderberry, 1 part ginger, 2 bay leaves
Steep in a covered cup for 30 minutes to 1 hour.
