Tisanes for what Ails You~

A good cup of tea can make almost any moment better, and the fact that it is so good for you is a bonus! Green tea, along with black, is full of flavonoids. Flavonoids are plant-based compounds with powerful properties, which means they reduce inflammation, promote healthy arteries, and help fight aging by preventing -- and repairing -- cellular damage. Flavonoids may also protect against dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, and some cancers.


Speaking of things that are good for you, an herbal tisane might just be what  need if you get a cold or have insomnia. Here are some suggestions for herbal 'teas' (remember, it is not actually tea if it is not from a camellia sinensis plant)~

• SORE THROAT~ ginger, licorice, marshmallow,slippery elm
• INDIGESTION~ chamomile, fennel, licorice, peppermint, cardamom 
• STRESS~ chamomile, lavender, lemon balm, passionflower, catnip
• INSOMNIA~ chamomile, hops, lavender, lemon balm, passionflower
• COLDS and FLU~ echinacea, ginger, rose hips

 To get the most from prepackaged tea bags, use 2 bags and cover the steeping cup with a saucer to trap essential oils. With loose herbs, measure out two tablespoons into an eight ounce cup, add hot water and cover. Steep up to 15 minutes, then strain and drink.

CHAMOMILE

National Hot Tea Month~

There is a great deal of poetry and fine   sentiment in a chest of tea. Ralph W.Emerson

My introduction to tea was not by a grandmother or aunt, but rather a school friend who gave me a pretty beaker with an infuser and matching lid.  Something like this~

I would spend time with her on weekend slumber parties, and she and her mom were the first tea drinkers I knew. I immediately liked that tea is a relaxing ritual...waiting for the water to boil...waiting for the tea to steep. On the other hand, coffee tends to be a grab, gulp and go beverage.

Strange how a teapot can represent at the same time the comforts of solitude and the pleasures of company.  ~Author Unknown

There is a wealth of online information about tea and it's benefits. Studies have shown that drinking cups of black or green tea daily can boost one's immune system...a perk during flu season! It is also good for dental hygiene and has cancer fighting properties.

Drinking a daily cup of tea will surely starve the apothecary.  ~Chinese Proverb

ALL tea comes from ONE plant: Camellia Sinensis~
Tea becomes 'black', 'green' 'oolong' or 'white' by how it is processed, or not processed.

There are few hours in life more agreeable than the hour dedicated to the ceremony known as afternoon tea.  ~Henry James, The Portrait of a Lady

If you enjoy hot drinks made from herbs, such as chamomile (below) or mint, they are properly known as 'tisanes', not tea, although the majority of the populace does not know this fact and calls them herbal 'teas'.

I will be sharing more tea facts all month in honor of National Tea Month. Have a tea-ish question?

Look what I made today~ First up is a card I made using my new Cuttlebug and Ten Second Studio metal. I sanded the metal after it came out of the Cuttlebug.

Next, my friend Patty sent me a blog post she saw that showed a textured bag...and she was right, I did say, "I can do that too!" I ran downstairs, grabbed a lunchbag, and went straight back to my Cuttlebug~

 Unembellished, for now. Here is a close-up!