Tarragon Tea: Calm in a Cup

I've never been a fan of Tarragon until today. I've recently started working full-time and of course, like anything in life, I was adjusting. But I was adjusting so badly, it came to the point that I thought I was having an Adjustment Disorder (Think every form of escapism and shrink here). Note: Don't rely on the Internet to diagnose yourself. You have been warned.  So this morning, I asked my mother if there is such a thing as over-the-counter CALMING medicine. And it was then when my mom suggested that I take Tarragon tea. (For more of my mom's best herbal and herb advice, visit https://herbalandherbs.wordpress.com/)

Tarragon tea, according to my mom, calm nerves. I never really enjoyed Tarragon in food but as tea, it was just heavenly. It reminded me of licorice but milder in flavor. It was indeed calming. I had it all day in the office and  I was alert enough. And I got a lot more work done because I was relaxed. And the smell is awesome too! I like how it filled the office with a homey - not so corporate - smell. I researched a bit and found out that it's good for digestion and detox. 

Image from:  http://bluepalletoncanvas.wordpress.com/

But the biggest surprise to me was how it relieved my Dysmennorhea, which explains my hormotional behavior. Don't listen to your emotions all the time especially on those days. Usually on my first day, I feel so much discomfort even when I'm sitting down. But today, I didn't feel so much pain. I was even energetic for a 30-minute stroll.

Get your Tarragon at Php60/seedling. 
Visit https://herbalandherbs.wordpress.com/ for more details. 

I've read that Tarragon essential oil does this pain reliever job. But hey, why bother when you can get it in a cup? 

What you will need:

Tarragon leaves (dried or fresh)

Hot cup of water

What to do:

Steep for 10 minutes and enjoy. You can refill the cup as many times. 

The ideal intake a day is three cups. I think I had 6 today. Dried leaves are said to be more stable. But I like fresh leaves because they smell better and taste much sweeter.

Get your Tarragon at Php60/seedling. 
Visit https://herbalandherbs.wordpress.com/ for more details. 

This is good for insomniacs too. Take a cup of Tarragon tea an hour before bed. Calm days and sweet dreams everyone! 

Java Minty Tea Bath

I had a lot of Java mint spare when my parents harvested for the Fresh Mint Chocolate Chip cookies and the Mint Chocolate ice cream I made for them so I figured why not air dry it and make a tea bath out of it. 

This baby came from my mom's garden. Pretty thing, isn't it? Smells great too. 

Air-drying takes about 3 days. I used about 3 tbsps. worth of dried leaves before putting them in boiling bath water. I left it to boil for another 20 minutes. At around 15th minute, the house was filled with the sweet, refreshing smell of Java mint. My mom noticed it first. I completely forgot about heating the water with tea leaves in it. Ha! This is why I do not cook! But, it was incredible like a whole-house aromatherapy session. But the smell just doesn't stay too long. Too bad. 

The bath was incredible. I currently use mentholated shampoo because when it changes weather a lot, I tend to get dandruff. What I notice about Java mint bath is that it's not as mentholated as what we use in commercial shampoos and body washes. It's a lot milder and the smell doesn't stick so long as all good things but the effects are to be in love with. My hair was really shiny and soft and manageable right after and no itch! I had my mom feel my hair and she said it was like a horse's. And I take that as a compliment. 

After talking about a lot of tea baths here, you might think that all tea baths are made the same. Well, no. I'm just lucky that so far because I've tried good teas that have great effect on hair and body. My mom has tried Lagundi tea bath, although it has warmed her entire body on cold days, it didn't make her hair look as nice. So not all tea baths are made the same but I am starting to believe that all are awesome for skin. I haven't used lotion for weeks (apart from the fact that it's summer)  and I can tell you it's far from being dry. 

DIY Stevia Tea Bath

So another of the tea bags that I have totally forgotten and just expired are the free samples given to me by an organic Stevia gentleman farmer I met. 

And it would be a waste to throw away like the Expired Organic Chamomile tea bags I had. So I did a little research. According to Wisdom of the Ancients, Stevia can heal cuts and sores. It is said also to smoothen wrinkles and make skin soft when they dry from this tea rinse. A woman also claims that it removes aches and pains when put in the bath and is just as relaxing. It's also a good hair conditioner that helps retain hair color and makes the hair stronger. Just leave the rinse at the bath for 5 minutes. 

With my expired Stevia tea bag, it's time to try this ancient secret to sweetness and beauty.

What you need:


Hot bath water
Stevia tea bags (enough to color water)

Steep tea bags for 15 minutes. Remove the tea bags and enjoy. Tea bags may be reused 5 times.

Review:


It's indeed relaxing but it didn't have the extremely calming effect as the Chamomile bath I had last night. I almost fell asleep through dinner. And it did get  my aches and pains I have or maybe it's the hot water. As for the effect on hair, it didn't turn out as soft as the chamomile bath but the shine of my hair was fantastic and it managed to calm my curls. Definitely a must do! Can't wait to do a chamomile-stevia fusion bath!

This is what it looks like when it's fresh by the way.

Get your Stevia at Php60/seedling. 

Coming soon at https://herbalandherbs.wordpress.com/ 

What to do with Expired Chamomile Tea Bags

Our next door neighbor gave us a box of organic chamomile tea bags from London about a year ago. But being busy people that we are, we forget things. And two days ago I found out that it already expired.

Photo from: http://www.whittard.co.uk/tea/herbal/organic_camomile_caffeine_free_herbal_25_teabags.htm

Honestly, I found it a waste to just throw it away so I found a different use for it that's just as effective as the oral intake. I used it in my bath. 

I placed in hot bath water 3 bags of this baby. I shampooed and scrubbed with loofa and rinsed out with chamomile tea.  

I knew of the calming properties of chamomile as a drink and as an essence but as a tea bath, who knew? I was so relaxed right after, you'd think I came from the spa. 

I was well-aware that chamomile can be used for highlighting hair for blondes but not of the other benefits of bathing hair with chamomile tea. My hair was so soft and shiny after. Conditioner got nothing on chamomile tea! And it is said to lighten eye bags too. I have yet to try this!

Which reminds me, I have expired stevia tea bags too - but that's another story. Expired tea bags rock!!!