The Green Witch: Your Complete Guide to the Natural Magic of Herbs, Flowers, Essential Oils, and More - Arin Murphy-Hiscock 2017
Brewing Healing Teas
Become a Natural Healer
Walking the Green Path
A tea is a potion that can be consumed. Usually made with water, the basic technique for preparing a tea is by infusion if you’re using leaves or flowers or decoction if you’re using denser herbal material, such as roots, stems, twigs, or bark.
There are many teas available on the market today designed for certain therapeutic benefits such as stress relief, better sleep, headache relief, and so forth. While you can certainly use these commercial teas, when you create your own you know exactly what is going into them. You can also avoid herbs to which you are sensitive and use herbs you prefer.
Remember that taking anything internally without researching it can be dangerous. These recipes are not intended to be used as authoritative medical advice; they are offered here as folk wisdom.
All the following recipes may be made with fresh or dry herbs. If using fresh herbs, increase the amount of plant matter to 1 tablespoon per cup of boiling water for a single serving and make only enough for as many servings as you intend to prepare right away. Fresh blends cannot be stored.
MARSHMALLOW TEA
This tea is for the treatment of a sore throat or digestive problems. Its magical associations are protection and healing.
Makes 1 cup
✵ 1 tablespoon (2/3 ounce) dried chopped marshmallow root
✵ 1 cup water
1. Place marshmallow root in water.
2. Bring to a simmer, and simmer for 10 minutes.
3. Remove from heat and allow to steep for another 10 minutes.
4. Strain and drink.
5. Take as necessary throughout the day.
SAGE GARGLE
This tea is good for the treatment of colds and sore throat. Its magical associations are wisdom, protection, and purification.
Makes 1/2 cup
✵ 1/2 cup water
✵ 1 tablespoon dry sage (or 5-6 fresh sage leaves)
1. Boil the water and pour over the sage leaves.
2. Steep for 7 minutes.
3. Strain into a sterilized bottle and store in the fridge. To use, take 1 tablespoon and gargle for 1 minute. Do not swallow.
TONIC TEA
This tea is used for cleansing the blood and toning the digestive system. Its magical associations are protection and healing.
Makes approximately 1/4 cup (2 ounces) of the tea blend; 1 tablespoon of the tea blend makes 1 1/2 cups of tea
✵ 1 tablespoon rosemary
✵ 1 tablespoon yarrow
✵ 1 tablespoon horehound
✵ 1 teaspoon sage
✵ 1 large catnip leaf
✵ 1 1/2 cups boiling water
✵ 1 tablespoon honey (optional)
1. Mix dry herbs in a small jar.
2. To brew, pour 1 1/2 cups of boiling water over 1 tablespoon of the herbal mixture and steep for 7-10 minutes.
3. Strain and drink. If you find this tea too bitter, you may want to add a full teaspoon of honey.
DIGESTIVE TEA
This tea is good for the treatment of heartburn, upset stomach, and gas. Its magical association is prosperity.
1 teaspoon of the tea blend makes 1 cup of tea
✵ 1 part peppermint
✵ 1 part basil
✵ 1 part dill seed
✵ 1 cup boiling water
1. Mix dry herbs in a small jar.
2. To brew, pour 1 cup of boiling water over 1 teaspoon of the herbal blend.
3. Steep 7-10 minutes. Strain and drink.
COLD TEA
This tea is for the treatment of colds. Its magical associations are energy and healing.
1 teaspoon of the tea blend makes 1 cup of tea
✵ 1 part ginger
✵ 1 part elderflowers
✵ 1 part yarrow
✵ 1 cup boiling water
1. Mix dry herbs in a small jar.
2. To brew, pour 1 cup of boiling water over 1 teaspoon of the herbal blend.
3. Steep 5-7 minutes. Strain and drink.
BEDTIME TEA
This tea is good for aiding sleep. Its magical associations are peace, harmony, healing, love, and happiness.
1 teaspoon of the tea blend makes 1 cup of tea
✵ 1 part lavender
✵ 1 part catnip
✵ 1 part verbena
✵ 1 part chamomile
✵ 1 cup boiling water
1. Mix dry herbs in a small jar.
2. To brew, pour 1 cup of boiling water over 1 teaspoon of the herbal blend.
3. Steep 5-7 minutes. Strain and drink.
LOVE TEA
This tea is for relaxation and celebrating love. Its magical associations are love, happiness, peace, and harmony.
1 teaspoon of the tea blend makes 1 cup of tea
✵ 1 part rose petals
✵ 1 part lavender
✵ 1 part jasmine
✵ Pinch of cinnamon (optional)
✵ 1 cup boiling water
1. Mix herbs in a small jar.
2. To brew, pour 1 cup boiling water over 1 teaspoon of the herbal blend.
3. Steep 5-7 minutes. Strain and drink.
MENTAL FOCUS TEA
This tea is meant for mental focus, concentration, sharpening memory, and studying. Its magical uses are health, protection, happiness, and peace.
1 teaspoon of the tea blend makes 1 cup of tea
✵ 1 part rosemary
✵ 1/2 part spearmint
✵ 1 cup boiling water
1. Mix herbs in a small jar.
2. To brew, pour 1 cup boiling water over 1 teaspoon of the herbal blend.
3. Steep 5-7 minutes. Strain and drink.