Herbal tea blend!

Ingredients: 

European elder Sambucus nigra - 1 1/2 TBSP

Chamomile German Matricaria recutita - 1 TBSP

Water - 3 cups, boiled

Raw honey - 3 TBSP or to taste

Directions - Combine herbs in a tea bag (the ball infuser mesh was not fine enough to contain the herb) and allow it to steep for 10 minutes. I used a pint jar to make the tea. Add honey and mix well.  

Sambucus nigra is traditionally used for flu, colds, and stuffy noses. It is purgative, expectorant, and diuretic. It can help rid the body of illness.

Matricaria recutita is traditionally used for restlessness and anxiety. It is sedative, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant. It can help soothe nervousness and is also used topically for minor wounds.

Though these herbs may both be used alone, they blend well together and have a slightly bitter but sweet taste. Adding honey smooths out the bitterness and gives this tea blend a lovely flavor. I have been dealing with a stuffy nose due to seasonal allergies and have not been falling asleep as well as normal, so I chose this blend to help with both issues. Because this was meant to be a soothing blend, I used the tea at night. I noticed within a few minutes my body became warm, almost like a hot flash but I didn't perspire. I also got to sleep faster than I have been.

Contraindications - European Elder and Chamomile Roman have a large therapeutic margin; however, women who are pregnant should not use this blend. Anyone with allergies to herbs or plants in the Asteraceae/Compositae families should use caution. European elder may lower blood sugar, so levels should be monitored in diabetics. It may also act as a diuretic or laxative, so it should not be used at the same time as similar-acting medications.

Stay Magic

References:

Petersen, D. (2020). HERB 101 Basics of Herbalism (22nd ed., pp. 181-185). American College of Healthcare Sciences.

Petersen, D. (2022). HERB 304 Herbal Materia Medica III (19th ed., pp. 275-281). American College of Healthcare Sciences