10 Healthy Tea Elixirs You Can Make Yourself
by Aylin Erman
Who needs a small bag when you’ve got a pantry?
The most potent and effective remedies are often the natural ones already hanging out in the pantry. Aside from the remedy-specific nature of the following 10 homemade teas, one of the most exciting thing about them is that they don’t require a tea bag! Your spice cabinet, fresh ginger root, some green herbs, a few fruits and vegetables, and honey are all that stand between you and an elixir to treating a pesky ailment – 10 of them, to be more exact.
To put together the following recipes, make sure to mix them until evenly combined and let the teas involving herbs or fruit to steep for several minutes before drinking. Sweeten as you see fit and enjoy!
Morning Liver Tonic
When you wake up in the morning, you’re body is in a very special place. The reason we are usually instructed to take supplements in the morning is because our stomachs are empty and there is little to interfere with said supplements’ potency. This morning tea pulls you out on the right side of the bed, giving a morning cleansing body flush. The lemon juice is highly alkaline and turmeric is known for its detoxifying properties.
Turmeric dates back 2,500 years in India, where it is commonly used in Ayurvedic and Unani medicine. Turmeric packs a lot of health benefits, but for our purposes it should be regarded as a liver cleanser, antiseptic and antibacterial agent. But it doesn’t hurt that the spice lowers the risk of cancer, is anti-inflammatory and helps to lose weight. Turmeric additionally treats Alzheimer’s, depression and arthritis.
You can sweeten with honey to balance the earthiness of the tea.
The Formula:
- 8 ounces hot water
- 1/8 teaspoon turmeric
- Juice of 1/2 lemon
Deep Sleep Tea
Wind down at the end of the day with a tea that promotes a deep, comfortable sleep. Chamomile is a great stress reliever and has a calming effect on the body. It has been used for thousands of years to help people around the world get some shut eye, and a Japanese study put some legitimacy behind this widespread observation when it noticed that rats fed chamomile fell asleep just as quickly as those given a tranquilizer. Ginger is anti-inflammatory and helps to clear mucous from your passageways, allowing for more effective breathing and hence a more pleasant sleep.
The Formula:
- 8 ounces hot water
- Dried chamomile flowers to fill one sachet
- 1/2-inch nob of fresh ginger, crushed
Detox Elixir
Holding a bit more weight than you’d like? Cayenne pepper, cinnamon, and lemon join forces to rev up your metabolism and get your body back in shape. Cayenne pepper warms the body, speeding metabolism and burning more calories. Cinnamon reduces blood sugar and LDL (bad) cholesterol as well as boosts metabolism and increases insulin levels. Lemon packs some flavor and added cleansing power.
The Formula:
- 8 ounces hot water
- 2 dashes cayenne pepper
- 1 cinnamon stick (or 2 dashes cinnamon powder)
- Juice of 1/2 lemon
Immune Booster Tea
Oranges are packed with vitamin C, a known antioxidant that may help protect your body from cell damage and boost resilience from disease and illness. Cinnamon and honey both have antiseptic, antiviral, antibacterial, and antifungal properties, which means they are effective in warding off infections. Mint not only brings a fresh aroma, but it’s a leafy green that carries with it antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals that keep you healthy.
The Formula:
- 8 ounces hot water
- Juice of 1/2 orange
- 1 cinnamon stick (or 2 dashes cinnamon powder)
- 1 teaspoon high-quality (raw) honey
- 4-5 mint leaves, muddled
Beautiful Skin Tea
This may seem like an unlikely concoction, but it’s actually quite delightful! Carrot juice is packed with beta-carotene, which the body converts to vitamin A, an essential part of skin health. Sage inhibits the growth of bacteria and has anti-inflammatory properties. Cayenne contains vitamins A and C, which help to absorb free radicals that break down your skin’s collagen.
Warm this recipe, without bringing it to a simmer. You want to retain the carrot juice’s potency. Let the leaves sit in the juice for a bit before drinking so that their flavors become infused into the tea.
The Formula:
- 8 ounces warmed carrot juice
- 2 sage leaves
- Dash of cayenne
Brain Power Formula
Blueberries contain anthocyanins and flavanols, which are able to cross the blood-brain barrier. These antioxidants rid the brain of free radicals, which can otherwise lead to oxidation, memory loss and Alzheimer’s disease. Ginger is commonly used to stave off migraines and basil naturally reduces tension and fatigue in the brain and mind.
The Formula:
- 8 ounces hot water
- 1/2-inch nob fresh ginger, crushed
- 1 tablespoon fresh blueberries, muddled
- 3-4 leaves fresh basil, muddled
Regularity Tonic
This tonic is geared towards those of you with difficulty digesting. The taste of this tea is very comforting and earthy. The pear and apple slices bring pectin to the mix, and pectin acts as soluble dietary fiber in humans. It helps promote healthy digestion, prevents diarrhea and constipation, and reduces the risk of colon and gastrointestinal tract cancers. Purple grapes contain quercetin, a plant pigment that contributes to healthy digestion, while cinnamon warms and stimulates metabolism.
The Formula:
- 8 ounces hot water
- 2 small slices of pear
- 2 small slices of apple
- 4-5 purple grapes, muddled
- Dash of cinnamon
Lady’s Tonic
For that time of month, this raspberry ginger tonic is just what the doctor ordered. Raspberries are a uterine tonic, relaxing and toning the uterine muscles as needed. The fruit is also beneficial during pregnancy, easing morning sickness, stabilizing digestion, and soothing the pelvic area. According to a 2009 study, women who take a dosage of ginger for three days from day one of their period witnesses the same pain relief as those who treated their menstrual cramps with ibuprofen.
The Formula:
- 8 ounces hot water
- 6-8 raspberries, muddled
- 1/4-inch fresh ginger
Aches and Pains Relieving Tea
Feeling sore as the Winter nears? Be ready to combat the worsening of your symptoms with a tea that cleanses your joints and puts them at ease. Cayenne pepper contains capsaicin, a compound that makes cayenne spicy. It lowers the levels of a chemical that relays pain signals to your brain. Fresh ginger and cardamom have both long been used in Ayurvedic medicine to reduce joint pain and inflammation.
The Formula:
- 8 ounces hot water
- Dash of cayenne
- 4-5 cardamom pods, crushed
- 1/2-inch fresh ginger, muddled
Nausea-Be-Gone Tonic
This recipe uses the soothing and potent effects of basil and honey to rid you of stomach pains, nausea, and vomiting symptoms. It is refreshing just as much as it is energizing, which will help to reverse your symptoms and keep you alert and feeling good.
The Formula:
- 8 ounces hot water
- 3-4 basil leaves, muddled
- 1 teaspoon of high-quality (raw) honey
Aylin Erman currently resides in Istanbul and is creator of plant-based recipe website GlowKitchen.
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