Warm Up this Winter—Wellness in a Cup—
Discover the Benefits of Tea for Your Body and Mind!
5 Tea Home Cures from
Your Kitchen
One
autumn day I found myself getting up at 2:30 A.M. to catch a 6:00 A.M. plane to
Salt Lake City, then to Atlanta Georgia, to Montreal, Quebec. Waking up without
adequate sleep felt odd and it was the wrong hour to brew coffee. So, I made a
cup of my own blend: black and green tea. It gave me enough energy to get on
the shuttle bus without acting like a zombie from a sci-fi film.
But
while tea offers home cures, including beating sleepiness, it can also keep you
calmer than java. At the first airport counter café, I ordered a cup of hot
water and used my own chamomile tea bag to keep me calm enough for the next
fear factor: flying out of the Sierra and into Salt Lake City—two airports
known for turbulent flights.
There is a growing trend
of at-home tea cures (like I used to achieve my final destination), that’ll wow
you with their potential healing powers. I sprinkled in tea wisdom from
tried-and-true folk remedies, scientific studies, medical experts, and my own
home tea and tisane cures. It’s tea time! Read on--here's five home cures from more than 50 in The Healing Powers of Tea (Available December 26, 2017).
1. COLDS (Warm Up Baby.) During the fall and winter
months, cold season hits more frequently. Also, though, if you are under stress
a cold can pay you a visit year-round, especially if traveling or contracting a
virus from someone else. If your immune system is under attack—a cold can be
prevented or the severity lessened with tea.
What Tea Rx to Use: Drink one 8-ounce cup of black tea
(hot or iced) with or without 1 teaspoon honey two to three times per day.
Why You’ll Feel Tea-rrific: Tea researchers believe
it’s the compound antigen in black tea that bolsters the body’s immune system
and may help guard against colds. Also, the tannins may help to stave off
viruses like a cold. I recall one doctor’s story about how he turned to tea for
comfort. He was traveling in the Alaskan wilderness. While in a van traveling
with a lot of people, one had a cold as he did. The doctor had tea and drank
the liquid. And it helped the good doctor heal.
2. COUGHS
(Cease the tickle.) Coping with a cold can be annoying, but coughing which can
be caused by seasonal allergies, or linger after a cold, a bout of bronchitis,
or other things, can be pesky and make your throat and even chest ache.
What Tea Rx to Use: Opt to brew 1 12-ounce cup of
black or white tea. For an extra throat soother, add 1 teaspoon of honey. Repeat
as necessary.
Why You’ll Feel Tea-rrific: Tacking a cough takes a bit of sleuth work to
discover why you are coughing—and then it’s time to be proactive and deal with
the problem. If allergens are the issue, for instance, it’s time to get an air
purifier, vacuum and dust more, and add tea with honey to your diet
repertoire—soon you’ll be doing the happy dance without stopping to cough.
3. FLU (Say good-bye to germs.) Catching the flu,
which can come on suddenly, drags you down and into bed. Viruses come in all
forms and can give you anything from a 24-hour flu bug to a super bug that’ll
spook you to the point where images from sci-fi films like Outbreak and Contagion will
haunt you as you try and shake it.
What Tea Rx to Use: Take 2 cups of tea and you won’t
be calling the doctor in the morning. Mix it up and sip 1 cup of tea (black,
green, or white) and 1 cup of your favorite vitamin C-enhanced herbal tea such
as hibiscus.
Why You’ll Feel Tea-rrific: It’s no surprise that the
functional food tea is chock-full of antioxidants—the good guys that can keep
your immune system healthy and stave off germs you could encounter from your
local grocery store to a vacation stop. By drinking tea and a vitamin-rich
tisane teamed with a nutrient-dense diet, you’ll be keeping your immune system
strong.
4. SEASONAL AFFECTIVE DISORDER (Blast the blues.) Feeling down and sluggish with SAD, coined by
Dr. Norman Rosenthal, is another monster to face. I have tackled the symptoms
with an arsenal of remedies—and tea is on the list come late fall through early
spring.
What Tea Rx to Use: Brew 1 cup of hot water and use 1
teaspoon green tea leaves or tea bag. Steep for 3 minutes. Repeat 2 times per
day.
Why You’ll Feel Tea-rrific: Green tea has 45
milligrams of caffeine (which can give you a physical and mental burst of
energy). But also, green tea contains L-theanine—a compound that enhances brain
chemicals including serotonin and that can give you a calming sense of
well-being.
5. SORE THROAT (Treat the pain.) Before a cold you can
get a telltale sore throat. Not to forget allergies and even talking too much.
Rather than run to the doctor for an allergy medication, why not take an
alternative route and turn to tea?
What Tea Rx to Use:
Dried oolong leaves combined with rose hips or hibiscus can be a perfect
pairing. Put 1 teaspoon of tea leaves and 1 teaspoon of the herbal tea of your
choice in 1 cup of hot water. Steep for a few minutes, then strain. Add honey
to taste.
Why You’ll Feel Tea—rrific: Oolong tea my reduce
swelling and inflammation, due to flavonoids. Also, honey boasts
anti-inflammatory benefits, too.
Ginger
Lemon Honey Tea
Ginger and lemon go
together like salt and pepper—two of nature’s finest superfoods with an
immunity booster that can keep you healthy this winter and all year-long.
2
cups water
10
thin slices gingerroot, fresh
1
lemon sliced
3
tablespoons honey
1/3
cup lemon juice
Bring water, gingerroot,
and lemon slices to a boil for 1 or 2 minutes. Remove from heat, steep 10
minutes, strain. Stir in honey and lemon juice. You can also add apple peel, a
piece of onion, and one or two tablespoons of chamomile.
(Courtesy: Gemma Sanita Sciabica)
Excerpt from The
Healing Powers of Tea 2018. All right reserved. Reprinted with permission from Kensington www.kensingtonbooks.com
.
— Cal Orey, M.A. is an author and journalist.
Her books include the Healing Powers Series (Vinegar, Olive Oil, Chocolate,
Honey, Coffee, and Tea) published by Kensington. (The collection has been
featured by the Good Cook Book Club.) Her website is www.calorey.com .
