Licorice Tea and Heartburn

Licorice is a favorite for both children and adults. Who doesn't like to chew on a nice stick of licorice candy; but don't get the candy mixed up with the real thing. Most licorice candy is artificially flavored. Licorice is a fragrant herb that is readily available and easy to use.

Historically licorice has been used in Europe and Asia for thousands of years. Some of the conditions it was used for included digestive complaints, bronchitis, osteoarthritis, inflammation, sore throat, cough and skin conditions. It has been used  to get  rid of excess phlegm and has been used for peptic ulcers and canker sores. .

Licorice can be used in herbal form, as a supplement, a syrup, and as a tea. Usually the root is the part of the plant that is used. One very popular use for licorice is relieving heartburn. Heartburn happens when acid from the stomach comes back up in the esophagus causing a burning sensation. A nice cup of licorice tea after dinner can possibly help this condition.

Using licorice comes with some cautions. Be sure to use deglycyrrhizinated licorice. The glycyrrhizic acid may cause sodium retention, high blood pressure and potassium loss. Do not use  licorice for more than 4 weeks without taking a break. Using it longer can cause weakness, and decreased sexuality in men. It is considered unsafe for pregnant women because it can cause miscarriage. Do not take licorice if you are taking Coumadin.

Licorice tea is easy to make and can be combined with ginger, mint, vanilla, star anise, cinnamon, cloves and many other things. Get creative and try your own combinations. Licorice tea is available online in  tea bags  if you want convenience. Here is a recipe for ginger  licorice tea.tea

Ginger Licorice Tea

1 Cup of slivered licorice root
1 Finger length of Ginger
 3 Cups of water

Crush the ginger. You can use a cleaver for this.
Place everything in a saucepan. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer 20 minutes.
Drain and serve warm.

Sources:
http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-supplements/ingredientmono-881-licorice.aspx?activeingredientid=881
http://umm.edu/health/medical/altmed/herb/licorice
http://www.refluxmd.com/home-remedy-for-heartburn/
http://www.livestrong.com/article/110565-dgl-licorice-acid-reflux/

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Valerie Lull
Author
www.valerielull.com
valerielull923@gmail.com

Spearmint Tea and Digestion

Spearmint, Mentha Spicata, is a member of the mint family. It is a separate plant from peppermint, but for most of history these two mints are often lumped together. Spearmint was the original medicinal mint and Peppermint was a hybrid that developed later.(1) Both help digestive problems. Today, I will be discussing Spearmint.

Spearmint is well known in folklore as a remedy for colds and sore throats, inflammation, hormonal, circulation problems, nausea, headaches, acne, and perhaps most popularly for digestive problems. It is also the flavor of a popular chewing gum.  Digestion problems include flatulence, bloating, irritable bowel syndrome, diarrhea, increased bile production, and cramping .(2)

There doesn't seem to be a lot of research on Spearmint. Most web sites about spearmint cite peppermint studies. I did find a few studies on spearmint, but not about digestion. According to one study Spearmint essential oil is anti fungal.(3)  Another study investigated hirsutism  (excess hair growth) in women and found it helpful for the mild form of the disease.(4)

Peppermint tea is a delicious way to use this remedy. Some folks just chew the leaves. It is easy to grow and you can grow it indoors. You can buy spearmint tea online or at a tea specialty shop. You can grow your own if you want it fresh. Leaves fresh from the garden  have more flavor than the dried leaves. Below is a recipe.

Spearmint Tea

1 oz. dried herbs or 2oz. fresh
1 pint of boiling water

Pour the water into a saucepan. Do not use an aluminum pan. If you are using fresh leaves be sure to rinse them off well. Add the leaves to the sauce pan and simmer about 10 minutes. Strain out the leaves. Let it cool a few minutes then serve.

Spearmint tea can be bought in bags if you prefer them for convenience.

Sources:
(1) Castleman, Michael, The New Healing Herbs, 2009, Rodale, p. 368-371
(2) https://www.organicfacts.net/health-benefits/herbs-and-spices/spearmint.html
(3) http://www.ipcbee.com/vol15/10-U00041.pdf
(4) http://www.ncbi.nlm..nih.gov/pubmed/1731049

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Valerie Lull
Author, Master  Herbalist
www.valerielull.com
valerielull923@gmail.com

Lavender Tea and Anxiety

Lavender is a fragrant plant that is referred to in the Bible as nard or spikenard. It was used for centuries for all kinds of things from recovery after childbirth, to problems with digestion. It is still a popular herb in today's world. There are different kinds of lavender. Some kinds are considered weeds.

The most commonly used kind of lavender for healing purposes is Lavandula augustifolia. There seems to be very little research on lavender in tea form. According to folklore, a tea can be brewed from lavender that can be used for anxiety and stress. Lavender tea can also help with bloating and digestive issues. Lavender tea can be applied topically  for skin issues.

The area where the most research has been done with lavender is essential oil. Several studies have shown that lavender essential oil may be beneficial for anxiety and stress. It is used by aromatherapists to bring calm from anxiety and stress. Lavender oil can be used as a massage oil which is very soothing. Lavender can be added to the bath to bring restful peace.

Lavender tea is popular and can be found in most places that sell herbal teas. It can be found online. Lavender can be mixed with other herbs and teas to make a pleasant and calming beverage. Some popular combinations are lavender and green tea, lavender and chamomile, lavender and mint and lavender and white tea.

There is an almost endless list of herbs and spices that can be added to lavender tea. Put on your creative cap and experiment. See what you can come up with. Below is a recipe.

Lavender Tea

3 T fresh lavender flowers or 1 1/2 T dried lavender flowers
2 C boiling water
Honey or sweetener of choice
Lemon if desired

Put the flowers in an infuser or a tea pot. Add the boiling water and let the flowers steep 4-5 minutes. Strain and pour into cups. Serve with sweetener and/or lemon.

Sources:
Castleman, Michael, The New Healing Herbs, Rodale, 2009, p. 202
https://www.organicfacts.net/health-benefits/herbs-and-spices/lavender.html
http://medlicker.com/882-lavender-tea-benefits-side-effects
http://umm.edu/health/medical/altmed/herb/lavender

Check out my web site at www.valerielull.com  My book called Ten Spices for health and Longevity is now out in paperback.

Valerie Lull
Author
Ten Healthy Teas
Ten Spices for Health and Longevity
valerielull923@gmail.com

Cinnamon Tea and Blood Sugar Control

Cinnamon is a  popular spice that is used in teas, candies, chewing gum, cooking and baking. Cinnamon has been used as a traditional medicine in China for hundreds of years. In recent times cinnamon has been the subject of numerous research studies. Scientists have come up with some interesting results. The one that interested me was that cinnamon may be useful for the control of blood sugar.

In 2012 a study was done in China to see if cinnamon extract would improve fasting blood glucose in the treatment of type 2 diabetes patients. Sixty-six patients were recruited and divided into three groups. One group received high-dose cinnamon, the second group received low-dose cinnamon and the third group received a placebo. The researchers saw hemoglobin A(1c)levels and fasting blood glucose levels in both the high-dose group and the low-dose significantly reduced. The placebo group was unchanged. The researchers concluded that cinnamon supplements could significantly improve blood glucose control in Chinese type 2 diabetes patients. (1)

There are a number of studies that seem to indicate cinnamon lowers glucose levels, but there are also studies that show the opposite. A meta-analysis was done in 2011 that compared 8 clinical studies. They concluded that cinnamon intake results in a significant lowering of fasting blood glucose. (2) The general consensus is that more studies need to be done on cinnamon and glucose levels.

My take on all this is that cinnamon is a healthful spice; even if it is controversial about lowering blood glucose, it has other potential health benefits that make it worth taking. However, don't use it for self-treatment without first discussing it with your healthcare practitioner.

Cinnamon tea is delicious and  easy to make. Simply immerse a cinnamon stick in a cup of boiling water. Cinnamon tea in teabag form is available and cinnamon is often mixed with other things like cloves and ginger. It is often included in chai teas which make a delicious drink. Some folks like to add cinnamon to their cocoa.


(1) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22749176
(2) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21480806

Check out my website at www.valerielull.com  

Valerie Lull
Author
Ten Spices for Health and Longevity
valerielull923@gmail.com