Healthy Herbal Tea

When I learned of a handful of herbs high in magnesium, potassium, iron, calcium, zinc, copper, vitamins A, C, E, K and B, antioxidants and that also support liver, gallbladder, and kidney function, I wondered how bad they tasted… and how I could make them into a healthy herbal tea recipe.
Spoiler alert: they can actually taste quite lovely when properly prepared, and our whole family has been consuming this nutritive herbal tea recipe regularly for several years now. If you want a simple way to add more vitamins and minerals to your daily diet or support your organ function, a yummy glass (or popsicle) of this healthy herbal tea is an easy add to your menu.

When our family began the GAPS diet for a period of time while healing from food allergies and sensitivities, I did a deep dive into research on high mineral foods. I learned that many herbs are an EXCELLENT source of nutrition, particularly minerals. Thus, herbal teas have now become a regular dietary staple in our home. From high calcium nettle, to liver cleansing milk thistle, to glutathione boosting rooibos, we love to use different blends of herbs to create different tastes and satisfy different health goals.

Disclaimer: I am not a doctor and this is not medical advice. Always check with your doctor before introducing a new diet or herbs. Not all herbs are safe to consume during pregnancy and lactation. While our family re-mineralized our bodies and healed our digestive systems, this information should not be used to recommend, diagnose, or treat anyone else’s specific situation.

To learn more about how we healed from many food sensitivities and allergies see this article.

What is the Difference Between Tea and Herbs?

Generally the term “tea” refers to brewing just the leaves of a tea plant, while “herbal tea” generally refers to any or all parts of the plant: flowers, stems, roots, bark, and leaves might all be brewed together as a healthy herbal tea recipe or used to make an extraction.

Loose Leaf Tea vs Tea Bags

Is it better (tastier, healthier, more convenient…) to drink tea from tea bags or made from loose leaf?

After researching toxins in tea bags, our family switched to loose leaf tea and will never go back. According to a publication by PubMed, tea bags pose alarming health risks:

“Due to the potential health risks and negative impacts on the environment, the use of MPs in tea bags and other products is a major issue. In spite of the material’s nonbiodegradability, polypropylene is frequently used in manufacturing tea bags. Given that tea bags are subjected to high temperatures during the brewing process, it is concerning that certain branded teas are offered in tea bags made from allegedly ‘food grade’ polymers, such as nylon3. In tea bags additionally available are fluorine compounds, arsenic, radium salt, aluminum, copper, lead, mercury, cadmium, barium, nitrates, and many more4. So you are sipping tea and consuming these dangerous substances in the same bag4. Tea bag plastics, which can take hundreds of years to decompose in nature, may fragment into particles that range in size from 1 µm to 5 mm, or MPs4. Instead of utilizing the conventional paper tea bags, tea makers now use plastic ones5. This is concerning since water is regularly heated to 95°C or more while making tea, and even ‘food grade’ plastics can break down or release harmful materials when heated over 40°C5. People who drink tea frequently are continually dosing themselves with billions of plastic particles, some of which may be tiny enough to enter human cells. Most paper tea bags also have plastic fibers used in the sealant in addition to these nylon and PET plastic tea bags. Even paper tea bags have an unsettling substance called epichlorohydrin added to them in order to keep them from bursting. According to a recent study, each cup of tea produced by one plastic tea bag steeped at brewing temperature included roughly 11.6 billion MPs and 3.1 billion nanoplastics (NPs)6.” (Source)

Loose Leaf Tea Benefits

While these health concerns are definitely enough to deter me to only use loose leaf tea for our family to use for a healthy herbal tea recipe, additionally, I have found:

1. Loose leaf herbs are often more cost effective to purchase than tea bags
2. I like to create various blends of tea for flavor and to cover several minerals in each cup
3. Loose leaf tea is generally fresher and higher quality than tea “powder” in bags, therefore more nutritious and better tasting

What is Healthy Herbal Tea?

Fortunately many high mineral herbs also have good flavor, and if they do not, creating a blend and adding honey go a very long way. Brewing a higher concentration of a sweeter herb, like licorice root, with a more bitter one, like dandelion root, can improve the tea flavor while still providing the desired health benefits and nutrient profile.

Here is a list of herbs our family uses daily:

Stinging Nettle – Stinging nettle leaves are high in calcium and one of the greatest sources of vitamin K. This is very important for families who do not yet tolerate dairy. They also contain magnesium, iron, potassium, and zinc. They support lymph and sinus drainage, thus provide relief from season allergies. Stinging nettles also supports liver and kidney function and have antioxidant compounds like carotenoids and polyphenols. Stinging nettle has antiproliferative, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, analgesic, anti-infectious, hypotensive, and antiulcer characteristics, as well as the ability to prevent cardiovascular disease, in all parts of the plant (leaves, stems, roots, and seeds) (source).

Dandelion Root – Dandelion root is a strong source of vitamins (A, C, E, K, and B) and minerals calcium, sodium, magnesium, iron, copper, silicon, zinc, and manganese. It has a strong detox effect on the liver and gallbladder, and helps support kidney function and the immune system (source). Dandelion root is referred to as an anti-diabetic plant due to its anti-hyperglycemic and anti-oxidative properties (source).

Milk Thistle Seed – Milk thistle seed was first recorded in the old testament and used in ancient Greek, Chinese, and Indian medicine to cure liver and gallbladder disfunction. In modern times, it was classified in 1970 as official medicine with hepatoprotective (liver protecting) qualities (source). Animal studies show the silymarin found in milk thistle reduce liver injury caused by acetaminophen, radiation, alcohol, hepatitis, and other toxin-induced liver disease (source). Milk thistle seeds are more powerful if ground just before use.

Rooibos and Honeybush – Rooibos and honeybush teas significantly enhance the body’s ability to make glutathione. Glutathione helps the body eliminate toxins, repair cells, stimulate the immune system, support DNA synthesis and gene expression, and improve insulin resistance and metabolic disease (source).

Licorice Root – Licorice root is much sweeter than sugar or honey. We often brew licorice with a more bitter herb to offset the taste and provide sweetness. Licorice root supports adrenal function and helps balance H-pylori bacteria levels. H-pylori bacteria infections cause a variety of significant digestive problems and are the biggest cause of ulcers (source).

Pau d’Arco – Pau d’Arco reduces yeast overgrowth. According to PubMed, this herb can be taken internally to reduce incident of vaginal yeast infections (source).

Rosehips – Rosehips are an excellent and inexpensive source of whole food vitamin C. Whole food vitamin C can be absorbed and used by the body much better than ascorbic acid. Many supplemental sources of whole food vitamin C (like powders) are made from rosehips. Vitamin C is crucial for preventing and fighting infections and protecting cells against damage from toxins.

Red Raspberry Leaf – Red raspberry leaf is known for its beneficial uterine effects during the third trimester of pregnancy and labor. However, it is also high in minerals magnesium, potassium, iron, calcium, and vitamins B, A, C, and E.

Chamomile – Chamomile is widely recognized for its calming and soothing effect, often used before bedtime to aid in sleep. Chamomile can be used as a digestive relaxant and to treat flatulence, indigestion, diarrhea, anorexia, motion sickness, nausea, and vomiting. In children, chamomile has also been used to treat colic, croup, and fevers. It is also effective in arthritis, back pain, bedsores and stomach cramps (source). Another study shows chamomile has anti-diabetic properties when consumed daily by lowering blood sugar levels (source).

Caution: Some herbs are unsafe to consume during pregnancy or lactation. Ask you doctor or midwife provider before consuming herbs.

How to Make Healthy Herbal Tea?

My favorite way to brew tea is to make 1-2 gallons at a time, as we have a large family and enjoy making several batches of popsicles.

I add all the herbs and water to a large stainless steel cooking pot, brew, and strain it afterward into half gallon mason jars or into popsicle molds to enjoy frozen. Some people prefer to use a tea infuser for smaller batches, such as brewing 1 quart of tea.

Healthy Herbal Tea Recipe

What is your favorite way to drink herbal tea? I’d love to hear your recipes below!

Resources

Posts

What is the GAPS Diet? An Easier Explanation
How To Cure A Dairy Allergy or Sensitivity With the GAPS Diet?

Shop this post:

• stinging nettle
• dandelion root
• milk thistle seed
• rooibos
• honeybush
• licorice root
• pau d’arco
• rosehips
• red raspberry leaf
• chamomile
• mason jars
• mason jar lids
• tea strainer
• raw honey
• popsicle molds
• stainless steel pot

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