Respiratory Tea
Welcome to part one of my Winter Herbal Series covering recipes! Today we will be walking through one of the first recipes I formulated for Herbal Wellness and why I chose these specific herbs.
Ok, Respiratory Tea…what is it? It’s really an herbal tisane since there is no actual tea in this blend. But I made the recipe a few years ago when one of my clients was in need during the Canadian wildfires. I formulated it to help aid in opening up your respiratory system and push any mucus out while also giving you a boost of vitamin C and antioxidants.
This blend is really simple blend of only 3 herbs but it is very beneficial in times where we need help getting strong deep breaths and when we want a good herbal expectorant to help push all that phlegm and mucus out of our airways.
Ingredients
Mullein
First we have the bulk of the blend, Mullein. The botanical name of Mullein is Verbascum thapsus. It is an easy to grow herb found all across North America and has a wide range of medicinal properties and applications. Traditional parts of the Mullein plant used are the Roots, Leaves, and Flowers. I chose Mullein for its respiratory support. It is a relaxing expectorant and bronchiodiolator while also drying up mucus secretions. Id like to also give you the flavor profile. All parts used of the Mullein plant have a different profile, we are using the leaves which have a hint of earthiness along with a milder bitterness. Very light and refreshing honestly.
Peppermint
The second herb I chose for our Respiratory Tea is Peppermint! Its botanical name is Mentha x piperita. There are twenty species of true mints, and peppermint is considered to be a hybrid mint. Peppermint leaves are a very well known herbal medicinal product, widely used traditionally, being a popular remedy inside and outside.While we love using mints of all kinds as an essential oil to breathe and to flavor our food I’ve picked the use of these leaves to help open up our respiratory system and one other reason. To settle our stomachs from any post nasal drips we may have experienced while not feeling the best. You will really enjoy the mildly sweet minty flavor this plant brings to your tisane.
Rose Hips
The last herb you will be using in this tea is probably the most potent addition to this blend. Rose hips! Their botanical name is Rosa canina. While some copy cats of mine have stated that this herb is for taste...they’re actually wrong. Let the Herbalist explain…I specifically chose Rose hips because they’re very rich in disease-fighting antioxidants, such as catechins, quercetin, and ellagic acid. A diet rich in these compounds can help lower inflammation and oxidative stress in your body over time. Furthermore they are a great source of vitamin C! Which plays a significant role in your immune health. They also contain anti-inflammatory properties which can aid your struggling respiratory system when it is irritated. While these fruits do taste great, sweet but also tart, they are not in such a quantity in this tisane to make much of a flavor distinction. I chose them specifically for their medicinal qualities.
Assembling the Tea
Now let’s put everything together! You will be measuring your herbs in a 3:2:1 ratio in descending order of discussion before. 3 parts Mullein, 2 parts Peppermint, and 1 part Rose Hips. For the sake of this video being you making this blend at home I have reduced my measurements significantly. Lets make as follows
Measurements
3/4ths cup Mullein
½ cup Peppermint
¼ cup Rose Hips, crushed! You want the fluff from whole rose hips
Measure all herbs and combine in one large bowl and mix really well. Since this is an at home remedy we are using our CLEAN dry hands to mix, no need to dirty any utensils if you dont have to. By mixing with your hands you’ll really get a good feel of each herb and you can infuse this blend with some awesome healing energies. Just take a moment with your eyes closed and hands immersed in the bowl envision strong breaths and open airways coming from the center of your chest going down your arms and infusing this delightful herbal remedy to help you on your tough days.
To drink just fill a small tea bag or tea infuser with a few teaspoons of this blend and make a decoction. You will pour boiling hot water over this delicate blend in a mug and immediately cover with a saucer for 10-15 minutes before enjoying. By covering your tea and long infusing it with boiling water you are keeping the beneficial volatile oils in your drink and further breaking down cell walls to release even more of the herbal benefits so you can get to feeling better faster…
Though it isn’t necessary you may sweeten your decoction with a little raw honey or sugar. If you must use sweetener I suggest only half the normal serving as it is a very mild tea to begin with. But my favorite way to enjoy this tea is by using just a light dollop of my coffee creamer to give it a nice sweet creamy feel as well as helping me feel better in the long run.
Thank you for joining me today and I hope to see you for our next installment of my Winter Herbal Series! Coming soon!
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