Too Busy To Brew?

After a long day at the office (or in my case chasing the kids around the house), there really is nothing better than sitting down to a perfectly brewed cup of tea. Mint, elderflower or lemon, herbals teas are so much better than your average Tetley.

However, if you haven’t got a willing slave to go make you one (i.e. your hubby), making a brew can often feel like a tall order, especially if you are craving the heavenly scent of apple and ginger.

I suppose this is why I love pre-made herbal teas so much…

They take away the hassle of having to blend the herbs by hand, yet still manage to offer you all the health benefits.

Herbal health perks

Now every herbal tea is different, so whilst elderflower is great for curing colds, you wouldn’t use it ease aches and pains.

Here is a brief guide to help you decide:

Elderberry – a traditional cure for the common cold, elderflower is a great decongestant as it helps to clear your nasal passages and keep you breathing easy.
Lemon Verbena – is normally used as a digestive aid as the citrus helps to break down fats in your digestive tract.
Ginger – this clever herb works best during the early signs of infection, as it promotes a fever and hastens healing. Ginger is also believed to help relieve rheumatic pain by widening your blood cells and encouraging circulation.
Nettle – feeling a little run down? Have some nettle tea. Nettle is an excellent source of iron, calcium and silica which are essential for producing red blood cells and building bones, hair and teeth.
Chamomile – if you are struggling to sleep chamomile tea can help to relieve insomnia as it acts as a relaxant (alternatively you can try a little St. John’s Wort to ensure a more restful night)
Green tea – this Japanese drink can help to strengthen tissues cells around your body as it is overflowing in antioxidants which prevent cell damage from free radicals.
Thyme – similar to elderberry, thyme is ideal if you’ve got a cold.
Fennel – this Mediterranean herb is particularly useful if you’re suffering from constipation, colic or flatulence (grim I know but it happens to us all). The Fennel acts to relax your intestinal muscles, ensuring you feel more comfortable.
Peppermint – did you know that peppermint is ideal if you are feeling sick or nauseous? It stimulates bile production in your gall bladder whilst breaking down fat in your digestive tract, thus stopping nausea.

As a bit of a health nut, I can honestly say I have got most of these in my cupboards. However, if you are fairly new to herbal teas, then here are some that I thoroughly recommend trying: Pukka Lemongrass & Ginger Tea, Dr Stuarts Elderflower and Lemon, Higher Living Organic Green Tea and Salus House Organic Nettle Leaf Tea.

I personally like to mix these up and have something different every day, but even a handful of these aromatic teas can offer you a surplus of health benefits, so give them a try and say ‘bye bye’ to aches, pains and those annoying colds.