Herbal Recipes

Violet-rose Vitality Herbal Tea

This is a superior, vitamin-rich booster for daily health enhancement, this blend is absolutely delightful.

Ingredients:
1 part oatstraw
1 part rose hips (organic)
1 part violet leaves and flowers
¼ part orange slices (organic)
⅛ part rose petals (organic)

Directions:
1. Combine all the herbs in a pot and pour boiling water over.
2. Stir well, cover, and steep 15 to 20 minutes.

Nervine Formula for Insomnia

This blend is extremely effective if taken in frequent doses before bedtime. It will be quite bitter due to the hops; you may wish to tincture it, in which case increase the amount of hops and valerian.

Ingredients:
3 parts chamomile
1 part oats (milky green tops)
1 part passionflower 1 part valerian part hops Combine the herbs.

Directions:
1. Combine all the herbs in a pot and pour boiling water over.
2. Stir well, cover, and steep 15 to 20 minutes.
3. Take small, frequent doses of the formula starting about 3 hours before bedtime.

No Depression Nervine Tea

Nerve formula for depression and grief. You can adjust the herbs in whatever proportions work best for you, and sweeten with honey to taste.

Ingredients:
1 part hawthorn (berries, flowers, and leaves)
1 part lemon balm
1 part oats (milky green tops)
1 part St. John’s wort Mix the herbs.

Directions:
1. Combine all the herbs in a pot and pour boiling water over.
2. Stir well, cover, and steep 15 to 20 minutes. Drink 3–4 cups daily, or as often as needed.

Soothing Nervine Herbal Tea

Drink this mineral-rich blend often to support the heart and blood, liver, and nerves.

Ingredients:
1 part dandelion root and leaves
1 part hawthorn leaves, flowers, and berries
1 part horsetail
1 part linden blossoms
1 part nettle leaves
1 part oatstraw
1 part red clover blossoms

Directions:
1. First decoct the dandelion root for 30 minutes, simmering over low heat.
2. Remove from the heat and add the other herbs.
3. Stir well, cover, and steep 10 to 15 minutes.

Hops Tincture for Reduce Stress and Anxiety

This tincture is an excellent remedy for nerve stress and debility.

Ingredients:
2 parts hops
1 part passionflower
1 part skullcap Brandy or vodka (80 proof)

Directions:
1. Place the herbs in a wide-mouth jar. Add enough brandy or vodka to completely cover the herbs by 2–3 inches. Cover the jar tightly and place in a warm (about 85°F), shaded area.
2. Let sit for 4–6 weeks, shaking occasionally to prevent the herbs from settling on the bottom. Strain and rebottle for use. Take 1⁄2–1 teaspoon 3 times a day.

Stress Free Happy Herbal Tea

This tea is delicious iced or hot and can be enjoyed daily. It’s wonderfully nourishing and supportive, toning and strengthening the whole nervous system.

Ingredients:
1 part lemon balm leaves
1 part lemongrass leaves
1 part lemon verbena leaves
1 part oatstraw
1 part rose hips (organic)
1 part skullcap leaves
⅛ part orange peel (organic)

Directions:
1. Combine all the herbs in a pot and cover with boiling water.
2. Stir well, cover, and steep 15 to 20 minutes. Steeping the rose hips preserves the vitamin C better than decocting does.

Relaxing Melissa Tea

Melissa, or lemon balm, is a wonderfully relaxing yet gently stimulating herb. It increases energy in the system by helping to release energy blocks and stress.

Ingredients:
3 parts lemon balm
1 part chamomile
1 part hawthorn (berries, blossoms, and leaves)
1 part lemon verbena
1 part St. John’s wort Combine the herbs.

Directions:
1. Combine all the herbs in a pot and cover with boiling water.
2. Stir well, cover, and steep 15 to 20 minutes. Drink at least 2–3 cups daily, or as needed.

Anti-Anxiety Chamomile Herbal Tea

A relaxing, tasty evening drink, chamomile tisane gently soothes irritated nerve endings and eases away the day’s tension. Chamomile is a good source of tryptophan and helps relieve anxiety and tension.

Ingredients:
4 parts chamomile
2 parts lemon balm
1 part hawthorn (berries, blossoms, and leaves)
1 part skullcap Combine the herbs.

Directions:
1. Combine all the herbs in a pot and cover with boiling water.
2. Stir well, cover, and steep 15 to 20 minutes. Drink as much and as often as needed.

Bye-Bye Anxiety Herbal Tea

Try this tea for that type of depression in which anxiety and stress rear their ugly heads.

Ingredients:
1 part chamomile flowers
1 part lemon verbena leaves
1 part oatstraw
1 part passiflora leaves
1 part skullcap leaves
1–2 dropperfuls valerian/wild poppy tincture (available in most health food stores)

Directions:
1. Combine all the herbs in a pot and cover with boiling water.
2. Stir well, cover, and steep 15 to 20 minutes.
3. Add the tincture to the last few sips of your tea, up to four times per day.

Soothing Nervine Milky Oats Tea

This is a very soothing nervine tea, perfect for infants and children to help soothe the cares of the day.

Ingredients:
2 parts oats (milky green tops)
1 part California poppy flowers and/or seeds
1 part chamomile Combine the herbs.

Directions:
1. Combine all the herbs in a pot and cover with boiling water.
2. Stir well, cover, and steep 15 to 20 minutes. Drink as much and as often as needed.

Good Night Herbal Tea

This blend is both relaxing and nourishing to the nerves and heart. The Chinese believe that the heart is the home of the shen, or spirit, and that insomnia is caused by the “restless wanderings of the shen.” By nourishing the heart, the shen is more likely to find its desired place of rest.

Ingredients:
2 parts valerian root
2 parts kava-kava root
1 part hawthorn leaves, flowers, and berries
1 part lemon verbena leaves
1 part red clover blossoms
1 part violet leaves and flowers
½ part spearmint leaves

Directions:
1. Combine all the herbs in a pot and cover with boiling water.
2. Stir well, cover, and steep 15 to 20 minutes.

Antiviral Herbal Tea

A takeoff on an old traditional herbal recipe, this tea is for those times when you feel the cold or flu just getting ready to lay siege to your body. It’s warming, diaphoretic, and antiviral.

Ingredients:
1 part elder flowers
1 part ginger root, freshly grated
1 part peppermint tea
½ part yarrow flowers

Directions:
1. Combine all the herbs in a pot and cover with boiling water.
2. Stir well, cover, and steep 15 to 20 minutes.

Super Antiviral Herbal Tea

Take this unique and powerful antiviral, antibacterial tea three to five times per day for maximum benefit.

Ingredients:
½ part ginger root, freshly grated
1 part rose hips (organic)
1 part sage leaves
1 part thyme leaves
½ part peppermint leaves
1–2 dropperfuls of echinacea

Directions:
1. Add the ginger and rose hips to boiling water, reduce heat, and gently simmer for 5 to 10 minutes.
2. Turn off the heat, add the remaining herbs, and steep, covered, 15 to 20 minutes. Add the tinctures to the last few sips of the tea.

Nourishing Daily blood Herbal Vinegar

Use this great tonic for blood-building during pre- and postnatal times and also during PMS and menopause. Make it once or twice a year, then imbibe several times a week as a blood-enriching, iron and mineral boost. It will keep for several months if refrigerated.

Ingredients:
1 part nettle leaves
1 part oatstraw
1 part red raspberry leaves
1 part rose hips
1 part dried cherries
1 part dried apricots, raisins, or currants
½ part yellow dock root
molasses Brandy
Raspberry vinegar

Directions:
1. Add all the herbs and fruits to boiling water (1 quart per 1 ounce of herbs), reduce heat, and simmer for 2 hours, covered.
2. Remove from the heat and allow to steep 2 hours, covered, stirring occasionally.
3. Strain out all the solids, squeezing all liquid through cheesecloth.
4. Measure the volume of tea, then add half to three quarters as much molasses, ¼ part brandy (to preserve), and a couple of dashes of raspberry vinegar.
5. Keep refrigerated, taking 1 to 2 tablespoons (15–30 ml) as needed.

Note: If you can’t find raspberry vinegar in a store, you can make your own using 1 cup (237 ml) crushed, fresh or frozen raspberries infused overnight in 2 cups (474 ml) white wine vinegar.

Nourishing Endocrine Herbal Tea

Wonderful for balancing and strengthening the female being, this formula supports the hormonal and glandular systems. It’s yummy and nourishing and can be made as a tea or tinctured in brandy. As a tea, drink one to two cups daily. As an elixir, take 1 to 2 dropperfuls two to four times per day.

Ingredients:
1 part dandelion root
1 part dong quai root
1 part cooked rehmannia root
1 part sarsaparilla root
1 part Siberian ginseng root Blackstrap molasses (if making the elixir) Brandy (if making the elixir)

Directions:
To make a tea:
1. Add all the herbs to boiling water, reduce heat, and simmer for 15 to 20 minutes in a covered pot.
2. Turn off the heat and steep, covered, 15 to 20 minutes.

To make an elixir:
1. Add all herbs to boiling water, reduce heat, and simmer for 40 minutes in a covered pot. Then turn off the heat and steep 20 minutes.
2. Strain, squeezing all the excess liquid from the herbs.
3. Measure the volume of the infused liquid, then add half to three quarters as much molasses and ¼ part brandy.

Boost Energy Ginseng Herbal Tea

Here’s a great tonic for overall energy, stamina, and mental clarity. The hawthorn nourishes the heart, the dandelion tones the liver and digestive system, and the ginseng, sarsaparilla, and licorice nourish the adrenals and male glandular system. Drink half a cup twice per day.

Ingredients:
2 parts Siberian ginseng root
1 part dandelion root
1 part hawthorn berries
1 part sarsaparilla root
⅛ part cinnamon chips
part licorice root

Directions:
1. Add all the herbs to boiling water, reduce heat, and simmer in a covered pot for 20 minutes.
2. Remove from the heat and steep, covered, 30 minutes.

Healthy Heart Herbal Tea

This heart-nourishing formula has the classic tonic actions of hawthorn, combined with the strengthening properties of rose hips and ginkgo. Siberian ginseng safely helps the body adapt to stress and strengthens adrenal and glandular body functions. Nettle is one of the best blood and adrenal nourishers, rich in chlorophyll, beta-carotene, vitamin C, and iron.

This gentle, yet effective, strengthening tea for overall heart health can also be used by anyone who is recovering from a heart attack.

Ingredients:
2 parts hawthorn berries
2 parts Siberian ginseng root
3 parts hawthorn leaves and flowers
2 parts ginkgo leaves
1 part linden blossoms
1 part nettle leaves
1 part rose hips (organic)

Directions:
1. Add the hawthorn berries and ginseng root to boiling water, reduce heat, and simmer for 20 minutes in a covered pot.
2. Remove from the heat and add the remaining herbs.
3. Steep, covered, 15 to 20 minutes.

Super Healthy Heart Tea

An excellent tea for relaxing and nourishing the heart and cardiovascular system, this formula is particularly valuable in easing angina. Hawthorn and ginkgo provide cardio-tonic, and motherwort brings cardio-active glycosides to the blend. In addition, motherwort, linden, oatstraw, and cramp bark have relaxing and antispasmodic properties that work wonderfully with hawthorn and ginkgo to aid a “stressed-out” heart. Violet is added for its nourishing vitamin and mineral content and for its beautiful heart-shaped leaves.

Ingredients:
3 parts hawthorn leaves and flowers
2 parts hawthorn berries
2 parts ginkgo leaves
2 parts motherwort leaves
2 parts oatstraw
2 parts violet leaves and flowers
1 part cramp bark
1 part linden blossoms

Directions:
1. Combine all the herbs in a pot and cover with boiling water.
2. Stir well, cover, and steep 15 to 20 minutes. Drink two to three cups per day.

Detox Herbal Tea

Traditionally, these roots were brewed into old-fashioned root beer and imbibed as a healthful liver- and blood-cleansing beverage. Drink one to two cups per day for mild to moderate skin problems.

Ingredients:
1 part burdock root
1 part dandelion root
1 part sarsaparilla root
1 part yellow dock root
¼ part sassafras root bark

Directions:

1. Combine the herbs in boiling water, reduce heat, and simmer for 15 to 20 minutes in a covered pot.
2. Remove from the heat and steep, covered, for 30 minutes.

Strong Bones Herbal Tea

Here’s a blend that gently provides minerals for the entire body. All these herbs are nutritious and tend to be good sources of absorbable calcium, magnesium, iron, and other important trace minerals. Drink two to four cups per day as a gentle bone-building tonic.

Ingredients:
2 parts oatstraw
1 part alfalfa leaves
1 part horsetail
1 part red clover blossoms
1 part rose hips (organic)
1 part violet leaves and flowers
2 parts nettle

Directions:
1. Combine the herbs in a pot and cover with boiling water.
2. Stir well, cover, and steep 15 to 20 minutes.