*Editor’s Note: This website is not designed to, and should not be construed to, provide medical advice, professional diagnosis, opinion or treatment to you or any other individual, and is not intended as a substitute for medical or professional care and treatment.

It seems like everyone is going mad for green juices and super foods, for mega-dosing natures goodness and fasting.

It’s just the right thing for the run, run, run of hardworking triathletes and yoga junkies.

Health is about balance, about our bodies finding balance with our surroundings and the balance between our faith and our fears.

Herbal teas have a different vibe. They’re warm and quietly full of power. They’re about ancient knowledge with no new developments. They’re low tech and need minimum equipment. No supersonic mixers.

They do require us to slow down a bit to take them in. To wait for the water to boil and herbs to steep. And they do deliver: energy, vitamins, minerals, adaptogens, maybe even happiness and for sure warm. They work their magic slowly. They’re truly heart warming.

Try some happy grass:

Dandelion

Taraxacum

I realized how much energy Dandelion tea gave me when I began to notice it made me forget to drink coffee. I’m not the kind of girl who forgets her coffee, I usually needed to feel fully awake. But after just a few days of drinking Dandelion tea I didn’t feel the urge, I do indulge still but is more an optional thing than a daily ritual.

Dandelion has a reputation as a weed but for a much longer time it has been appreciated for it’s medicinal properties. It’s tea tasted very much like regular black tea, and has been used for liver purification. It kicks up digestion and keeps everything flowing.

That morning dose of energy probably comes from its high iron content. One cup has 10 percent of the daily requirement. That makes it a great allay for females and athletes who tend to be deficient. And my guess is that is the reason I feel such a strong energy boost.

Rasberry Leaf tea

Himbeerblätter

This tea has been traditionally used for women’s reproductive health. Seems to promote hormonal balance. According to Chinese Medicine it works on the liver and kidneys. You can feel it in your mouth as you drink it, it’s an astringent. It’s also high in magnesium, I had been taking magnesium supplements for some time and now that I’m drinking it daily I stopped and don’t feel a difference.

St. Johns Wort

Hypericum perforatum

There’s a lot of literature about St. Johns Wort’s effect on depression. In Germany, physicians prescribe St. John’s wort more often than Prozac. It’s also a powerful detoxifier. So much so that it may negate the effects of other drugs you may be taking, including birth control pills, so watch out.

Lady’s Mantel

Alchemilla vulgaris

Has been used traditionally in Europe for women’s health. It’s an anti-hemorrhagic tonic that also helps regulates your hormones, therefore is a great help with heavy, painful, irregular menstruations. Like Raspberry Tea, it’s also an astringent. This two go well together. I prefer to add dried berries to make it more drinkable and deliciously pink.

Ginger Lemon Honey

Crush the Ginger: therapeutically hit it with the bottom of the glass. Squeeze out the juice of half a lemon, you can trow the lemon into the cup. Add boiling water. Wait five to 10 minutes. It’s a powerful detox and it will help you fight colds. Drink it slowly.

Chai

There are many more herbs and variations and mixes. Ginger, clove, cinnamon, whatever you find, it’s all goodness. Let it simmer a long time, drink it with milk or without. Use honey if you like bee sweetness. Go Choco-Chai or Chili-Chai the sky is the limit.

Some plants you can pick up on your walks and leave to dry outside your balcony. They may change your life, but will do so quietly and slowly. This is a mix of my experience and that of others, but hopefully you will go on your own discovery.

Some days I have leave a pot simmering all day with spices, adding more water as soon I get a cup out. A never ending source of bliss.

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Author: Ana Guardia

Editor: Catherine Monkman

Photo: Author’s Own