Brew herbal tea

Of course, it cannot be said that herbal teas are new to us. Pharmaceutical herbs and phytocollections (from the Greek phyto – “plant”) have always been sold. But it was troublesome to brew and infuse them, they did not look very presentable and, in general, evoked a feeling of something medicinal and old-fashioned. Meanwhile, in Europe, similar tea bags (for example, French tisane) – made from linden, verbena, chamomile or mint – can be ordered in a cafe or restaurant, as well as bought in any supermarket. Today, herbal teas are experiencing a new heyday in Russia: in addition to the herbs themselves, they add flower petals, berries, fruits and spices. Yes, and the packaging has become much more convenient … So what prevents us from brewing them more often? We asked experts to dispel doubts.

“It tastes too much like medicine”

NO, assures Natalia Ganevskaya, cosmetologist of the brand Alina Zanskar: “Pharmacy fees can have a medicinal aftertaste, and herbal tea bags, sold along with black and green tea, have a specially designed, balanced composition. Such tea is rather a pleasant drink, another element of a healthy lifestyle.” Rose hips, peppermint, thyme, currant leaf, lime blossom, lemongrass, verbena, lemongrass, lemon balm give it softness and a pleasant aroma. Unnecessarily, it makes no sense to brew herbs that have a bitter taste (for example, immortelle or St. John’s wort). There is no need to add sugar to herbal teas. “If you wish, you can put half a spoonful of honey in a cup,” advises Natalia Ganevskaya. – It does not conflict with herbal preparations, but on the contrary, improves their absorption. Although if you want not to fall asleep, but to cheer up, remember: honey has a pronounced calming effect.

“Herbal teas can heal”

YES. With the help of herbal medicine, a variety of diseases are treated – from common colds to heart disease. Of course, herbal infusions are used as adjuvant therapy. “However, I warn against self-treatment,” says Karp Treskunov, a phytotherapeutist with 50 years of experience. – For example, even ordinary mint can lower blood pressure, so this tea is contraindicated for those who have hypotension. Phytotherapy is generally safe, but for it to be effective, drugs must be prescribed by a specialist. “If you are healthy, then herbal teas are safe,” agrees pharmacist Galina Mezhenina. “But if you have any chronic diseases, be sure to consult with a herbalist or with your doctor.”

“Tea in a bag is less useful”

YES AND NO. “The sachets are just a form of release,” explains Galina Mezhenina. – The herbs in them are the same ones that are sold in bulk in pharmacies. However, in bags, the herb is often heavily crushed so that it can be brewed faster. From the point of view of preserving active substances, this is not very beneficial: they oxidize, and essential oils evaporate faster.” In general, the benefits of tea do not depend on the form of release (bags or loose), but on the size of its particles. Even without opening the package, you can guess how big they are: by how long manufacturers recommend brewing a drink – two minutes or all five. The longer the better!

“To get the effect, you need to drink such tea in liters”

NO, say our experts. Everything depends on the goal. If you drink herbal tea for prevention, then a couple of cups a day will suffice. If as a medicine, a phytotherapist will prescribe a dose of infusion. Well, if our only goal is to enjoy the taste and aroma, then the main thing is not to forget that many herbs that make up teas are called medicinal for a reason. “Drinking tea with the same ingredient from morning to evening is not worth it,” warns Galina Mezhenina. – The fact is that the effect of herbs is cumulative. Along with beneficial effects, negative ones can also accumulate. So one plant should not be used for more than two weeks in a row. In the case of fees, the rules are not so strict: the same mixture of herbs can be drunk for a longer time. The exact period depends on what herbs and in what proportion it is included, and all the detailed information on how to take it is indicated on the package.

“Phytotea should be drunk only in the evening”

NO. A cup of chamomile tea or verbena infusion after dinner is nice and healthy! Of course, these plants have a sedative, relaxing and anti-spasmodic effect, promote digestion and improve sleep, so it is only natural to drink them at night. However, most herbal teas can be used throughout the day: red grapes for heavy legs, peppermint for stomach discomfort, elderberry for winter infections. Just in the evening, drinking a lot of herbal tea is not recommended: it has a diuretic effect and will make you wake up at night. In addition, some herbs contain caffeine. For example, an infusion of guarana leaves is an invigorating, aphrodisiac, accelerating the heart rate and increasing blood pressure. Other herbs (ginseng, ginger, angelica) and decaffeinated add energy, so it’s best to brew them in the morning.

“Teas are weaker than capsules or essential oils”

YES AND NO. Plants exhibit different properties depending on the dosage form. Peppermint tea helps soothe spasms in the digestive tract, and massage of the temples with the essential oil of the same plant relieves migraines. So you can not talk about the superiority of one over the other. Teas, however, have several benefits. Water is an excellent solvent, allowing you to almost completely extract the active components that act together. And when using nutritional supplements, the active substances can be destroyed in the digestive tract. In addition, teas provide an opportunity to replenish moisture and remove toxins from the body.

Infusion, tea or decoction?

“All these are water extracts, although they differ in the technology of preparation,” explains Galina Mezhenina. – The infusion is used for soft, thin raw materials – petals, flowers, herbs with essential oils: they are poured with boiling water and heated in a water bath for 10-15 minutes or brought to a boil, and then infused for 30-45 minutes. Tea is also an infusion, only in a simplified form. A decoction is more suitable for the bark and roots. To extract all the useful substances from them, they need to be simmered for 30 minutes in a water bath, and then insisted for another 10-15 minutes.