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Herbal Teas
Actions and uses
All these products can be obtained from our store by mail-order. Ring STD free 1300 788 991 Australia wide

CODES:
A = herb and latin name
B = action and uses
C = cautions

1. Agrimony
A. Agrimonia eupatoria
B. Diarrhoea, bowel diseases, food allergy.
C. Long term use under medical supervision only.

2. Alfalfa
A. Medicago sativa
B. nutritive tonic, arthritis, debility.
C. Not in lupus disease.

3. Blessed thistle
A. Cnicus benedictus
B. Increases appetite and stomach secretions. Alleviates inflammation, improves circulation, good for female disorders. Increases milk supply in nursing mothers. Traditional “blood purifying” tonic.
C. Avoid handling raw herb may irritate skin.

4. Calendula
A. Calendula officinalis
B. A natural anti-inflammatory and skin soother. Helps regulate menstrual cycle and lessens fever. Useful in rashes, sunburn, neuritis, toothache. Nappy rash externally.
C. Not suitable orally for children. Externally it is not suitable for pustular wounds that contain foreign matter. Always remove foreign bodies before application, as repair process is accelerated and foreign matter can be sealed into the wound.

5.Chamomile
A. Matricaria recutita
B. Anti-inflammatory, appetite stimulant and digestive aid. Diuretic and nerve tonic. Sleep aid, for headaches, pain, fever, diverticulosis, and colitis. Traditional remedy for stress, anxiety, insomnia and indigestion.
C. Active ingredients (azurlene, and chamazulene) are very volatile, thus teabags of chamomile are useless. Not for long term use. May cause allergy in those sensitive to ragweed, a common allergen.

6. Dandelion
A. Taraxacum officinalis (root)
B. Traditional bitter. “Cleanses blood” and liver and increases bile flow. Diuretic, removes toxins (e.g. Cholesterol and uric acid). Improves kidney function, also helps pancreas, spleen and stomach. Useful for abscesses, boils, breast lumps, cirrhosis of liver, fluid retention, hepatitis, jaundice and rheumatism. May aid in prevention of age spots and breast cancer. (James Balch MD).
C. Slow acting, thus gout treatment and cholesterol lowering may take 1 to 2 years.
Bitters are unsuitable long term for frail and debilitated (thin skinned) body types, according to traditional prescribing principles. Dandelion leaves are weaker in action than dandelion root.

7. Echinacea
A. Echinacea purpurea
B. Immune stimulant, viruses, skin infections.
C. Not with immunosuppressant drugs.

8. Elecampane
A. Inula helenium
B. Traditional lung tonic for Kapha dosha (broad shouldered people), anthelmintic (removes worms).
C. Sedative, hypoglycaemic and hypotensive in mice. Also has anti-tumour and anti myocardial infarct properties in rats. Would merit closer study, but patients with severe medical conditions should avoid the herb till then (about 40 years hence on current herb research funding).

Fennel
A. Foeniculum vulgare
B. Appetite suppressant and tonic for kidneys, liver spleen and lungs. Relievesabdominal pain, colon disorders, gas, gastric spasm, acid stomach. Useful after radiation treatments and chemotherapy (James Balch MD.)
C. Soak well for best effect (10-15 minutes), Contains coumarols (these are unstable in some conditions) thus fermented products must not be used under any circumstances. Herb must be obtained from reputable herbalists, do not obtain back yard supplies.

Gotu kola
A. Centella asiatica
B. Possibly the Australian aboriginal equivalent of Chinese green tea. It is said to contain every one of the six tastes in traditional medicine. Thus called in Sanskrit “Brahmi” which loosely translates “God’s food”. Aids in elimination of fluids, decreases fatigue and depression. Stimulates the nervous system. Lowers body temperature, Useful in circulatory disorders. Traditional treatment for leprosy, and wide range of skin disorders, fatigue, connective tissue disorders, kidney stones, poor appetite, sleep disorders. Plant nurseries currently promote this product (often incorrectly identifying it) as the “miracle rheumatism plant”, and radio and TV programs have widely popularised it from anecdotes of spectacular relief when some rheumatic patients take one leaf daily!
C. Caution to avoid touching raw leaves as irritation can occur when applied externally.

Green tea
A. Camelia sinensis (=chinese camellia)
B. A general tonic tea popularised by the extensive Japanese university studies in the 1980s. It is said to contain the six tastes of traditional medicine (sweet, sour, bitter, salty, pungent, and astringent) all in the one plant! Green tea has been shown in extensive studies to offer strong cancer protection, tooth decay protection, lowers Blood pressure, lowerscholesterol, relieves constipation, relieves diarrhoea, improves liver disease, relieves constipation, improves liver disease, improves digestion and inhibits bacterial infections of the gut.
C. Diuretic effect is rapid in onset. Contains caffeine which may cause palpitations but rare, unlike Tea and coffee the other xanthine alkaloids (theophylline and theobromine etc.) are also present creating an overall much slower rise is blood caffeine levels. English people regard the taste as very inferior to their own “English tea”.

Horsetail
A. Equisetum arvense
B. Kidney infections, anti-ageing. Source minerals. Arthritis.
C. None known.

Licorice
A. Glycerrhizza glaubra
B. General tonic for colon, muscular spasm, mucous of lungs. Has combination of tastes (astringent, sweet, bitter, salty) and thus regarded by primitive people as a powerful medicine. Useful for gastric ulcers, allergic disorders, hypoglycaemia, chronic fatigue, infections. Studies show it increases interferon production and adrenal gland function.
C. Caution, must not be used long term, or in patients with diabetes, glaucoma, high blood pressure. Talk to our pharmacists, your doctor or a herbalist before taking licorice. Not with spirolactone, digitalis.

Lemon grass
A. Cymphytum,
B.Astringent and tonic. Good for nails and skin.
C. None

Meadowsweet
A. Filipendula ulmaria
B. gastric ulcer, arthritis.
C. asthma due to salicylate allergy.

Melissa/lemon balm
A. Melissa officinalis
B. Nerve tonic, night sedative, dyspepsia, especially kids.
C. None

Mullein
A. Verbascum thapsus
B. Lung tonic. Irritable painful cough.
C. None known

Nettle
A. Urtica urens
B. Diuretic, astringent tonic. Mineral rich tonic for allergies, hayfever, arthritis, inflammatory disorders, & kidney problems.
C. Caution; only use dried plant. Do not handle green nettles.

Oats
A. Avena sativa
B. Nerve tonic. Traditional antidepressant. Promotes sweating.
C. Coeliac sufferers should use the traditional fluid extract which is gluten free.

Passionflower
A. Passiflora incarna
B. Gentle sedative, for anxiety, insomnia, stress related disorders.
C. Should not be used in high doses in pregnancy.

Peppermint
A. Mentha piperita
B. Indigestion particularly due to Helicobacter pylori. Soothes gastric mucous membranes. Diarrhoea, headache and poor or weak appetite.
C. Caution. May interfere with iron absorption.

Plaintain
A. Plantago major
B. Laxative, mucilage for coughing, sore kidneys and stomach.
C. None

Raspberry leaves
A. Rubus idaeus
B. Traditional pregnancy tonic, Lancet 1941: 2,1 Withel,Burn, diarrheoa, tonsilitis, as mouth wash. Astringent.
C. Fermented products must be avoided. Buy only from good sources.

Red clover
D.Trifolium pratense
E. Traditional skin tonic, good for female disorders.
F. Fermented products must be avoided. Buy only from good sources.

Rosemary
A. Rosmarinis officinalis
B. Migraines, memory loss, menstrual cramps.
C.Food preservative.

Sage
A.Salvia officinalis
B.For hot sweats in menopause and others. Drys up milk in nursing mothers, improves hair growth. Memory tonic (hence old name).
C. Must not be used in epilepsy. Interferes with iron and mineral absorption. Decreases milk supply in nursing mothers.

Wood betony
A.Stachys officinalis /betonica
B.For giddiness, nausea and fainting. Meniere’s Disease.
C.Tastes horrible, in high doses may irritate stomach. Start with low dose.

Yarrow
A.Achillia millefolia
B.Tonic for colds and flu, mucous membranes. Diaphoretic. Alleviates bleeding disorders.

Y.E.P
A. Yarrow, elderflower and peppermint
B. Traditional herb tea for colds and flu. Suggest combine with Echinacea for best effect. Increases sweating
C. Not in pregnancy or chemotherapy.

How to prepare and use herbal teas

You need a teapot, coffee plunger or infuser. We sell infusers and brewing mugs.
Use one teaspoonful of herb per cup. Pour near boiling water over & soak for 3-5 minutes. Add honey for cold body types, lemon for broad-shouldered body types. Hot people use both honey and lemon, according to traditional prescribing principles.