Cold Season Tea

Valerian is a hardy perennial flowering plant, with heads of sweetly scented pink or white flowers, the fragrant flowers of which were used as a perfume in the sixteenth century. Today, valerian root is a herb that promotes relaxation and is widely used in Europe because of its calming effect. Valerian works best when taken right at bedtime to calm the mind to promote sleep.

Peppermint is a perennial plant that produces light purple flowers and green leaves with serrated edges. Commonly used as a flavoring in products such as candy, chewing gum, toothpaste, and ice cream, peppermint also has been used traditionally to cool the body by promoting sweating, which can help support the respiratory system. Peppermint has also been widely used to support digestion and to soothe an occasional minor upset stomach.

Oregano Leaf is a close botanical and chemical cousin to thyme and savory, which are all in the mint family. Traditionally, oregano was used to help soothe indigestion and to support lung and sinus function.

Clove Buds are the aromatic dried flower buds of a tree in the Myrtle family. The English name clove derives from Latin clavus (nail), as the shape of the buds resembles small nails. Clove bud is widely used as a spice in ancient Asian herbal traditions. With a warming quality, clove supports circulation and digestion.

Parsley Leaf is a bright green biennial herb with a long history of culinary use in the Middle East, Europe and North America. It also has a long history of use in herbal medicine to support the urinary system. Parsley is diuretic, and so has been traditionally used to support the bladder and can help generally with proper water balance in the body.

A perennial herb native to Europe and Asia and naturalized in North America and throughout the world, yarrow flower is a very popular herb in Western herbalism. It has a been traditionally used to support  perspiration and urination. Yarrow is a cold, bitter herb that also is used to support respiratory function.

Not only is Black Pepper one of the most widely used culinary spices in the world, it also has a long history of use in traditional herbal medicine. A spicy herb that can help support digestion, it also supplies antioxidants, which can help to reduce free radicals. As a diuretic, black pepper can support water balance in the body.

Cinnamon Bark comes from a small evergreen tree that is native to Sri Lanka. Cinnamon is a pungent, sweet and hot spice that can warm and invigorates the body and support function of the respiratory and digestive systems. It can also help to promote circulation to the joints and support immune function.