I hope to never buy tea again. Traditionally a coffee drinker, I am transitioning to tea. Mainly; due to the health benefits of many herbal teas.
While I still partake of coffee every once in a while, more and more, tea is on the docket; both with my breakfast and before I go to bed.
I have been reading up on the many health benefits of various herbal teas (and tinctures). They can be antiviral and antibiotic in nature depending on the type of herb / root tea. Apparently, the herbal antibiotics / antivirals provide a much gentler impact on our bodies than those of the pharmaceutical companies. They also are very complex in their make-up (vs monolithic) such that the bad viruses / bacteria can't adapt.
I've recently read two books by Stephen Harrod Buhner ("Herbal Antibiotics, Natural Alternatives for Treating Drug-Resistant Bacteria" and "Herbal Antivirals, Natural Remedies for Emerging & Resistant Viral Infections"). These really woke me up a bit and I've become even more interested in exploring homeopathic / herbal teas (and tinctures) as a result (even though I had already been moving down that path).
I'm also into foraging lately. I've just ordered "The Forager's Harvest: A Guide to Identifying, Harvesting, and Preparing Edible Wild Plants" by Samuel Thayer (a Wisconsin resident) to add to my collection of similar books.
What with not really knowing what's in any over the counter supplement or tea / tincture and the potential for unwanted additives, I'm moving toward foraging / growing and making my own.
I've been foraging all kinds of greens from our property to go along with my morning breakfast. I'm just starting to forage for things from which I can make teas (and tinctures). Hence, my recent cup of sumac and bergamot (bergamot is in the mint family) tea, both foraged off our property. I recently made elderberry tea (also from our property) as well as pineapple weed tea (a very close cousin of chamomile - both in taste and health benefits).
Because I've just learned the health benefits of Milk Thistle extract and seeds (particularly for the liver / pancreas), I gathered some flower heads that were going to seed in order to make some sort of supplement or tea or tincture (a little more reading is in order so that I know how to prepare my find).
Once I really get going on this, I hope to dry my finds for future use in the winter months. It's hard to contain my enthusiasm with all that I want to do and produce on our property; but, as always, I remind myself - one step at a time... enjoy the journey...
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