The Zimbabwean Gardener Issue 10 Spring 2014 | Page 26

Healing herbs
For a long time, traditional medicine
favoured the simple herbal infusion
or decoction. It’s only in the last 100
years through the adoption and
development of Western medicine that
the concentrated alcoholic extracts,
perceived as more sophisticated
and marketed as more potent, have
been the most popular form of herbal
consumption. These herbal products
have their place but do make us forget
and ignore the power of a simple
infusion which assists in the digestion,
assimilation, elimination, repair, toning
and overall health maintenance of the
human body.

Why drink herbal teas?
Life is a process of expansion and
contraction. In those moments
of contraction, it is beneficial and
comforting to know that nature’s
bounty provides an amazing array
of soothing, comforting, healing
plants, which help you to recoup
and recharge for the next expansive
process.

How to make
herbal teas
Herbal teas, tisanes or
infusions are very easy to
make.
Use either ¼ cup of fresh herbs
to a cup of boiling water or 1 - 2
teaspoons of dried herbs to a
cup of boiling water.
Let it brew for 5 - 10 minutes,
until cool enough to drink, add
lemon or sweeten with honey
and enjoy. Or make a pot and
drink cool throughout the day.

26

Rosemary

Healing
Herbal
teas
By Peta Searle

Herbal teas to grow,
drink and soothe...

Sage
A wonderful remedy for
treating mouth and throat
infections. Use for coughs,
anxiety, depression,
difficult menstruation and
menopausal problems. Not to
be used by pregnant women.
Growing tip
Make sure you plant sage in a
warm, sunny position but not
in an area that gets too hot.
It enjoys a well-drained soil
and doesn’t like to be over
watered. After flowering, a
gentle pruning prevents it from
getting too woody.

Use a one-thumb length
sprig in a cup of boiling water
to treat stomach cramps,
arthritis, circulatory disorders
and flatulence. It is useful
against headaches but
don’t overdose or it will give
you a headache. Improves
concentration and memory.
Growing tip
This easy growing water wise
shrub, doesn’t like to be over
watered. Give it a light pruning
if it starts to get too woody.

Creeping
Thyme
Use to relieve sore throats,
mouth sores, coughs, colds,
flu and hay fever. It has been
recommended for treating lice.
Growing tip
If you plant this up in a pot,
make sure it is placed in a
sunny spot and planted in a
well drained medium - add
a bit of sand to improve the
drainage.