Cinnamon Bark comes from a small evergreen tree that is native to Sri Lanka. Cinnamon is a pungent, sweet and hot spice that can warm and invigorates the body and support function of the respiratory and digestive systems. It can also help to promote circulation to the joints and support immune function.
Honeybush is indigenous to the cape area of South Africa, where it has been used for centuries to make a beverage and a medicinal tea. Similar to the famous rooibos, also native to South Africa, honeybush brews into a delicious tea with a pleasant, mildly sweet taste and aroma, somewhat like honey. Honeybush tea is caffeine free and supplies antioxidants.
Licorice root (Glycyrrhiza glabra) is a flavorful, sweet herb that has been used for thousands of years and is still one of the most widely used herbs in all herbal systems. Licorice has been used traditionally to support the skin and the liver. It also is thought by herbalists to help soothe indigestion and the throat.
Ginger Root, the underground stem, or rhizome, of the plant Zingiber officinale, has been used in many herbal traditions since ancient times. In Ayurveda, ginger is known as the wonder herb, and it's no wonder, since Ayurveda uses ginger for a wide variety of conditions, including supporting digestion. Historically, ginger root was one of the most respected herbs for supporting joint health. Ginger has also been traditionally used to support healthy peripheral circulation, so it can help warm up cold hands and feet, and will also promote sweating when that is needed.
Alfalfa Leaf is a very mild, food-like nutritive plant in the pea family, which has been used in traditional herbal medicine for over 1,500 years. It is a natural source of protein, calcium, vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin D and more.
Dong Quai Root is the most respected woman's herb in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). An herb in the celery family native to China, Japan, and Korea, it has been used for centuries to support the reproductive organs and to help regulate the menstrual cycle. TCM also uses this herb for maintaining blood pressure levels already within a normal range and for supporting healthy lung function.
Not only is Black Pepper one of the most widely used culinary spices in the world, it also has a long history of use in traditional herbal medicine. A spicy herb that can help support digestion, it also supplies antioxidants, which can help to reduce free radicals. As a diuretic, black pepper can support water balance in the body.
Hibiscus is a large genus of about 200 flowering plants native to warm, temperate, subtropical and tropical regions throughout the world. Used as a primary ingredient in many herbal beverages, hibiscus flower is also used by herbalists to support bowel function and urination. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, hibiscus is used to support skin health.
Astragalus Root, or milk vetch root, is considered a superior herb in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), where it is known as Huang Qi. A member of the legume family, Chinese families regularly add astragalus to the family stewpot. Japanese herbalists use astragalus, which they call "ogi," to support a variety of functions, including energy, digestion and elimination. Unlike many Chinese herbs, astragalus is surprisingly tasty as a tea, with a velvety texture and a sweet, buttery taste.
Bring water to boiling and steep 5 to 10 minutes. For a stronger tea, use 2 tea bags. Drink 2 to 4 cups a day.