A Steaming Mug of Soothing Teas

Tea Up

Before we discuss today's topic, I want to take a minute to clarify a few points from earlier this week. In Monday's e-Tip, we ran an article on the benefits of hops for relieving menopausal symptoms. First, we want to correct the classification of hops as a grain. It is not a grain, but is the flower portion of the plant. Second, we want to make it clear that drinking beer should not substitute for using hops extract as a treatment for menopausal symptoms. Doing so can actually increase the frequency of hot flashes. As always, you should consult with a doctor skilled in natural or alternative medicine to find the treatment option that works best for you.

And speaking of natural treatment options, that brings me to today's subject...

What would you rather do when you aren't feeling well? Sit in your doctor's waiting room, reading last year's magazines, or sit back and relax in your favorite chair at home, with your feet up, (fuzzy slippers optional) and drink a cup of hot tea? Next time you find yourself wincing when you swallow, don't call for an appointment. Instead, try a steaming mug of any of these soothing teas.

Slippery elm bark can ease throat pain by coating it with mucilage, a gel-like substance that swells when mixed with water. To make the tea, add 1 tablespoon of dried bark to 1 cup of boiling water. Allow the brew to steep, covered for 10 minutes, and then strain. You can drink up to three cups of the tea a day. Need something more portable? You can also try slippery elm lozenges, which are available at health food stores.

Another sore throat remedy, honeysuckle flower, has been a staple of Chinese medicine for years. To brew this tea, add 1 cup of honeysuckle flowers (no leaves) to 1 quart of boiling water. Allow it to steep, covered, for at least 10 minutes, and then strain. You can safely consume up to 4 cups of this sweet-tasting tea a day.

Ginger tea can also provide comfort for your sore, irritated throat. To make the tea, thinly slice a 2-inch piece of fresh ginger root and add it to 4 cups of boiling water. Cover and simmer for 15 to 20 minutes before straining.
 
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What is...slippery elm bark?

Slippery elm bark can be a soothing emollient that eases irritation along the entire digestive tract. It is rich in nutrients and is easy to digest. The plant contains mucilage, a long chain of polysaccharides that makes a slippery substance when it's combined with water. The dried bark can be used as an anti-diarrheal and anti-inflammatory. It can also soothe an upset stomach as well as a sore throat, or it can be made into a poultice to heal wounds or burns.

Yours in good health,
Amanda Ross
Editorial Director
Nutrition & Healing