Tea to Help you De-stress - Tea Blend of the Month

This blend of herbs is designed to help you handle stress and the reactions your body takes to it. it contains three herbs which work together on stress issues in a variety of ways.

Holy Basil, also known as Tulsi - helps to maintain the normal levels of the stress hormone, cortisol in the body. The leaf also has powerful adaptogen properties (also known as anti-stress agents). It helps sooth the nerves, regulates blood circulation and beats free radicals that are produced during an episode of stress

Chamomile flowers - always popular for its ability to reduce anxiety and depression symptoms, it also adds an apple flavor to tea.

Oatstraw (Avena sativa) - a native of temperate northern Europe and southwest Asia, the plant will nourish the central nervous system and help one to fend off seasonal depression.

Seasonal Stress Reducing Tea

25 tsp holy basil, dried

10 tsp chamomile flowers, dried

5 tsp oatstraw, dried

Method 1. Measure out your dried herbs into a bowl.

2. Mix herbs together, then transfer to jar with a tight-fitting lid for storage.

TO USE: For a single cup or mug, 1 Tablespoon to 8 to 10 ounces of water. Place the herbs in a cloth bag, coffee filter tied closed, or a tea infuser. Pour boiled water over the herbs, set aside and let steep for 5-10 mins, Sit back and enjoy.

If you want to make the blend by the cup combine 2 tsp holy basil, 1 tsp chamomile, 1/2 tsp oatstraw, add the measured out ingredients to an infuser, place in cup and pour over, allowing to steep for 5 to 10 minutes before drinking.

Aromatherapy -- answer to a Question

I was recently asked if aromatherapy actually works.  Although I do not believe it will cure all that ails you, I do recognize that the scent of herbs in my home gives me more energy and does help my husband and I fight illnesses.  

What is aromatherapy?

Imagine if a whiff of a particular scent—from lemon to lavender—could shift your mood, reduce stress levels, or provide you a dose of much-needed zen. This is the fundamental belief behind aromatherapy, an ever-growing wellness trend. While this practice has become more mainstream in recent years, there are a few items to keep in mind if you want to partake.

In most cases, people diffuse essential oils, made by distilling the oil from botanicals, to create various scent profiles in their home. In their best form, essential oils are 100% plant oils, pure and not mixed with other oils.  So stay away from extracts which are alcohol extractions or perfume oils which are usually an essential oil mixed with a base oil.

Avid aromatherapy fans use their oils for a variety of purposes, but some popular wellness goals for the practice include:

• Improving mood

• Providing calmness 

• Clearing sinuses

• Reducing stress

• Setting a tone of a room (think: relaxing or energetic) 

• Scent diffusion alternative to candle-burning 

Plus, it's worth noting that The Food and Drug Administration does not regulate essential oils, so paying attention to ingredients is very necessary. Organic essential oils are distilled directly into an oil, but contamination from chemicals is widespread in non-organic products.

Why to use the scents

As The Mayo Clinic points out, some studies have suggested that aromatherapy can benefit our sleep patterns, help us cope with anxiety and depression, and improve the quality of life for those with chronic health conditions and pain. That said, if you have any worrisome symptoms, you should always discuss your concerns with a trained medical professional.

One big drawback of aromatherapy is the idea that it's a cure-all. Some ardent DIY-ers may be inclined to reach for oils when they should be reaching out to health professionals. So while aromatherapy shouldn't be considered your only resource when dealing with specific issues, proper use of aromatherapy does provide many meaningful benefits.

It can help you relax.

For nights when your mind is racing, consider diffusing or applying lavender essential oil. This can help calm your senses and cut down on distractions, Fowler explains. In fact, she calls lavender's ability to soothe legendary, and believe it or not, accidental.

It can help you sleep more soundly.

If you're having trouble catching Zzzs at night, you're not alone. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one in three adults do not regularly get enough sleep. Choose a soothing, comforting aroma like lavender oil, which has been proven to decrease blood pressure and heart rate when inhaled. Add a few drops to your aroma diffuser about an hour before you're ready to go to sleep. Choose chamomile or peppermint oil

The soothing effects of chamomile oil and its benefits in bringing about sleep are more general than specific. When diffused in the air, the subtle floral aroma has a calming and relaxing effect on the mind. Roman chamomile in particular--with its fresh, apple-tinged fragrance--is ideal for staving off anxiety. Peppermint oil is great for promoting restfulness by clearing your head, both figuratively and literally. The pleasant aroma of peppermint oil can be relaxing, but more to the point, if you suffer from any seasonal allergies or dust sensitivity, nothing will ease your symptoms better or more quickly than diffusing some peppermint oil in the air of your bedroom. Once you finally find relief for those sore nasal passages, the move to relaxation and then sleep is sudden and satisfying.

 It can help you manage stress.

For those days when the meetings pile on and your to-do list never gets shorter, fighting stress is vital to make it to the end of the day. Certain oils are ideal to try, depending on what's causing your stress. If your personal stress has an element of anxiety, then you might be best suited toward citrus oils, which have been shown to help relieve anxiety. If your stress leaves you feeling off-centered or disconnected, oils from wood like frankincense and sandalwood may be best. If stress has an element of depression with it, you might want to choose something more uplifting in the mint family.

It can boost energy and focus.

Scent is such a powerful sense, it can stimulate surprisingly strong reactions in your body.  Just as lavender promotes calmness and relaxation, bright or spicy scents like citrus, peppermint, and ginger are energizing.  Diffusing these scents can help promote focus, alertness, and productivity, making them great for the morning or as a midday pick-me-up.

Making aromatherapy part of your daily routine by diffusing energizing oils like citrus, peppermint, ginger, eucalyptus, or lemongrass immediately after you wake up.

Ways to use the Scents

• So add your essential oils to reeds and place in a small vase to diffuse into the air.

• Add a few drops to a piece of terra cotta in a dish or a decorative piece of clay.

• Inhale them, either directly out of the bottle or by using a diffuser or humidifier. 

• Dilute essential oils with a carrier oil and apply it directly to your skin. 

• Get creative and add the mixture to a body wash, shampoo, or bath.

• Search essential oil in the blog search box for numerous recipes using essential oils for these things and more.

Holiday De-stress treatment

Okay it is two days before Christmas.  Time to stop for a moment, give thanks for your blessings and take a few minutes to rejuvinate yourself.

This aromatic bath is good for relaxing muscles and relieving stress.  It is also valuable to those with arthritis.  Juniper berries essential (volatile) oil breaks down the surface tension of the skin helping it to absorb the beneficial aspects of the remaining herbs.

Muscle-Saver Relaxation Bath Bag

1 tsp. juniper berries

2 Tbls. dried peppermint

2 Tbls. dried spearmint

2 Tbls lavender flowers and leaves

Place all the ingredients in a square of muslin or a handkerchief, tie up with string.  Or place in an unbleached muslin bag.  Place the bag in the tub while it fills with water.  The bag acts like a giant tea bag, turning your bath into a therapeutic herbal tea.  Use the soaked bag to scrub your skin.  If you prefer a shower, soak the bag of herbs with the shower head, then use it like a washcloth.

Hurricane Recovery Tea

We were only mildly effected in Chicagoland by Hurricane Sandy.  We had a few days of fierce winds with biting cold that made frost in air that was not actually cold enough for it.  But I know on the east coast things were rougher.

So take a moment thank the heavens you are still here and enjoy this tea which is formulated to relieve stress and relax tension.

Mellow Mood Tea

This tea is made with the most palatable of the calming herbs. Blended together, they'll defuse stress and anxiety and promote sound sleep.

1 tsp. chamomile flowers

1 tsp. lavender spikes

1 tsp. kava leaves

1 tsp. lemon balm leaves

1 tsp. marjoram

1 spray valerian flowers

1 quart water

Directions:

In a large saucepan, steep the chamomile, lavender, kava, lemon balm, marjoram, and valerian to taste in the freshly boiled water.  Strain out the plant material. Drink the tea hot or cool.  Drink  as often as needed, refrigerating any left over for later use.

Update: My freind Tina from the Essential Herbal Blog has posted some places where you can help if you are interested.  Here is the link to her posting: http://theessentialherbal.blogspot.com/2012/11/just-waiting-for-sun.html

Holiday Shopping Stress Reducer

If the stress of holiday shopping gets to be too much, try a scent bag to help your brain and emotions get back into focus.

Just place the following blend of dried herbs into a muslin bag and slip into your purse or shopping bag.  When holiday shopping begins to take its toll, inhale the pouch’s scent to put aside your holiday headaches.  It also works well at family events, which can also be a bit stressing.

Purse Stress Reducer

        2 Tbls. Marjoram

        2 Tbls. Peppermint

        2 Tbls. Lavender

        2 Tbls. Orange Peel

        A few whole cloves

Stir together by hand and fill muslin bags.  This recipe makes enough for two bags.

If your stress is so high you don’t even have time to make these, check out our Purse Stress Reducer bags available in a heat sealed tea bag, packaged in an envelope:  http://www.backyardpatch.etsy.com/.

Remember First Class shipping can still get your packages there by Christmas available until 12/20 and Priority Mail until 12/23 for your last minute shopping needs.  You can always shop our herb store at http://www.backyardpatch.com/