Happy Tea recipe

sounds good - since I've survived 57 years without ever taking prescribed medicine, you know I love natural...only thing is - it's rare to fiind a regular medical doctor who knows anything about herbs or nutrition. Thanks for sharing, Astro Gril!

Mariana, all that healthy living must be treating you well. In your picture you look much younger.

Thanks for this. I look forward to trying it (after I manage to find the herbs, if possible). We can all use a little lift in mood.

No, Hannah, but I think the tea will be happy if you try it.

I did not know what scullcap was so I looked it up and there is a recipe for making the tea and the uses of it.thanks for your article.
Folklore of skullcap:
Well known among the Cherokee and other Native American tribes, as a strong emmenagogue and female medicinal herb. Used in some tribes as a ceremonial plant to introduce young girls into womanhood. Once believed of use in the treatment of rabies and schizophrenia. Also used to induce visions.

Recipe
"Medicinal" tea: To 1 oz. of the powdered herb add a pint of boiling water, steep 10 min. give in 1/2 teacup doses, every few hours.

Laterifolia is the species most often used by herbalists, Its flowers are small and leaves triangular. However, you can use any species of skullcap for herbal teas and tinctures.

skullcapseed_sm.jpg (5265 bytes)


All Skullcaps have this unique seed pod and distinctive hooded flowers. Skullcap leaf size and shapes vary widely amongst the species. Color of flowers range from red-violet to blue-violet often with white markings.

AstroGirl,

I think I think I get enough of my daily hops from Coors Lite. Maybe I should just mix up the other ingredients?? Thanks for promoting something healthy & natural!

Colonel Possum

Sheryl, thanks for looking that up and giving us the info. I didn't know all that.

Colonel, that's why beer makes you happy too! ;-)

I probably should mention that the original basis for this recipe came from a friend of mine who is a RN. Her recipe only included the hops, the lavender, and the skullcap. I didn't like the taste. It was very bitter. That's why I added all the other ingredients, except the St. John's Wort, which I knew was also a mood elevating herb.

Perfect!!
I'm growing lemon verbena...I just bought some and planted it out back!!

St. John had a wort....who knew???
Thanks for the recipe

Astro, thanks for the recipe. I've seen St Johns Wort in capsules, but what form do you use for the tea?
If I don't drink this, I think I might bathe in it!

AstroGirl, good work, although it would help to mention that anyone with asthma should be cautious about herbs. Asthmatics particularly can have an episode from a variety of natural herbs including echinacea. Consulting a doctor is vital. Also St. John's Wort should not be consumed prior to any surgery.

Mimi, my local health food stores usually have bulk herb bins where you can get just the dried herbs themselves. The St. John's Wort that I get looks like just dried plant matter, mostly stems.

Donna, thanks for pointing those two things out. I would think asthmatics especially should be very careful about what they take. And thanks for letting us know we should not take St. John's wort before surgery.

What proportions?

I guess approximately 1 part of the first 5 ingredients and 1/2 part of the others. Does that make sense?

I may edit this article soon to include the answers to some of your questions and also the information provided by Sheryl and Donna.

Sounds good, Astro. Anyone taking prescription meds should ask theri doctor about herbal suppliments. Most Drug books,such as Mosby's, and even the PDR now have warnings about herbal interactions.

That's good to know Donna. I have found very few doctors in my life who were knowledgeable about herbs or any other alternative medicine, but it seems to be slowly changing.

thanks for sharing - this sounds like a great combination.
a friend made me some "mandala centering" tea not long ago and it's wonderful: spearmint, orange peel, dandelion leaf, lavender and lemon balm. its delicious and very calming.

Mona, that tea your friend made you sounds wonderful!

GREAT RECIPE