Herb Blends for You and Your Valentine

Here are a couple blends of herbs to use to enliven your Valentine celebrations.

Love me Herbal Bath

I adapted this recipe from Philly Shaudy’s Book the Pleasure of Herbs.  I have been making this blend at the Backyard patch for years.  We market it as Bath Tub Tea.

4 part lavender

4 pare dried rosemary

4 part rose petals

2 parts dried lovage

2 parts lemon verbena

1 part thyme

1 part mint

1 part sage

Mix all the dried herbs together and store in a covered container.  When you want to take a bath place ¼ cup if herbal mix in the center of an 8-inch square of muslin and tie lightly with string or ribbon.  If you use ¼ cup as the part, it will create 16 bath balls.

To brew: Boil the ball in 1 quart of water for 10 minutes.  Draw a warm bath and pour in the herbal water.  Add you and your sweetheart and use the ball to scrub one another’s bodies.  

Aphrodite Blend Tea

A friend gave me this recipe for a sensuous, aromatic blend with just the right tint of zest for your palate, which is sure to kindle flames! A delicate, but dashing combination makes this a most enjoyable cup of tea.  It has some unusual herbs not every one grows, but if you can get them try this.

1 part Damiana leaves*

1 part rose petals

1 part peppermint leaves

1 part muira puama+

1 part gingko leaves

1 part orange peel

1 part cinnamon bark chips

pinch of stevia

Place all herbs in a tea ball or bag, put in your nicest or most favorite cup or mug, and cover with boiling water. Steep for 10 minutes.

Remove tea ball or bag, and add sugar, honey, sweetener, milk,

cream or whatever, to taste.

* Turnera diffusa, known as damiana, is a shrub native to southwestern Texas

+ Muira Puama is one of the most active botanicals with a long history of traditional use as an energy tonic, general health improver and remedy for impotence & sexual insufficiency.  It is the root one uses of this plant native to the Amazon.