If you love gardening, you know how rewarding it can be to watch your plants grow and thrive. You may not be aware of the powerful health benefits that an herb garden can provide, however.

An herb garden can support our health in many ways, but this article addresses a few natural tea remedies that you can recreate right at home – straight from the garden.

These natural tea remedies were listed in a 2010 article in the Spencer New Leader, titled “Garden helps and healers.” Take a sip of the following herbal tea recipes for better health and more joyful days.

Garden helps and healers

1. Fever Treatment Tea: Some Native American tribes treated a low-grade fever with sage, as in this old time recipe. As a bonus, the dried peppermint supplies the tea with a soothing, cooling effect. To do: Pour one cup boiling water over two teaspoons dried, edible sage and one teaspoon dried peppermint. Steep. Strain, and sweeten with honey if desired. Slowly sip up to three cups a day.
2. Cold Sore Cure: Drinking sage tea can prevent and treat fever blisters and cold sores. To do: Pour one cup boiling water over edible sage leaves and a small piece of ginger root (or substitute ginger powder). Steep, cook and drink two to three cups of hot sage tea every day to get rid of fever blisters.
3. Shoo Flu: One of peppermint’s claims to fame is that it can alleviate the chills and aid with symptoms of fever and the flue. Try drinking a cup or two of strong peppermint tea made from fresh leaves to relieve cold and flu complaints. To do: Pour one cup boiling water over four to six peppermint leaves. Allow to steep for 15 minutes, strain and serve.
4. Sweet Slumber: Lemon Balm promotes sleep as it acts as a very mild sedative. It is also helpful in treating stress and nervous headaches. To make a fresh Lemon Balm tea: Steep one teaspoon of fresh leaves in a one cup of boiling water. Steep covered for 10 minutes. Strain and enjoy. To combat cold sores, make tea with up to 4 tablespoons of the herb per cup of boiling water. Allow to cool, and then apply with a cotton ball to cold sore several times a day.

If you’re interested in making your own natural tea remedies, but don’t have the herb garden you’ve always dreamed of, check out Mountain Rose Herbs for bulk organic herbs, spices and essential oils. They are fantastic!

Our good friend Laryssa Robideau, creator of Shen Essentials, is an extremely knowledgeable professional in the field of herbs and aromatherapy. She also offers healing treatments and unique blends that are made just for you. She can suggest the perfect natural tea remedies and recipes that will keep your body feeling strong and healthy!