Since the dawn of mankind, we have collected and cultivated plants to use them for different purposes and in different ways. Whether as food, in infusion, in tonics, macerated, spread or distilled, man depends on the plant kingdom.
Ancient tribes had a healer or "witch doctor" who knew how to use the powers of plants to cure different ailments; ancient civilizations such as the Greek and Roman dedicated a lot of time to the study of the medicinal powers of plants, so much so that Hippocrates, the father of Western medicine, made an entire study of plants and focused health on food "Let your medicine be your food, and food be your medicine" said the wise philosopher.
In our continent, pre-Hispanic civilizations knew very well the powers of their native herbs, and even today we find Shamans whom people from all over the world go to see to cure their ailments. It is curious and even fun to see how very “advanced” cultures are turning to look at this ancient medicine, this knowledge of what Mother Earth gives us in abundance. Understanding that we are one with our planet is something that the ancients handled perfectly and that modernity took away from us.
Fortunately in our country (as in many on the American continent) there are still “home” remedies, herbal medicine, the famous “Tesitos” that cure everything (and if you are here I hope you know that they are not Tesitos, but Tisanes ).
On this occasion I will talk about some herbs that are known to help counteract discomfort exacerbated in these post-pandemic times, anxiety and stress, many of which you will find in some of our blends:
HEATHER : (Calluna Vulgaris ) The essential oils of heather help calm the nerves and control anxiety, thus strengthening the nervous system, for greater security and calm when carrying out your activities. The herbal teas that contain it are: Fresh Pillow Moon Milk and Relax
COCOA: (Theobroma cacao) The black gold of America, it is believed to have aphrodisiac powers, improves mood (euphoric) is a hormonal regulator and antidepressant.
Contains tryptophan, necessary to produce serotonin (which leads to melatonin, necessary for falling asleep).
It also contains phenylethylamine, a stimulant related to amphetamine, which is released in the brain when we fall in love. Is that why we love eating chocolate?
The herbal teas that contain it: Date Choco Chile and Rooibos Choco Praline .
BLUE BUTTERFLY PEA FLOWER: ( Clitoria Ternatea ) It is a flower with nootropic qualities; nootropics are known as smart drugs: memory stimulants and cognitive enhancers. They help the brain in disruptive conditions, protect neurons from physical and chemical attacks and intensify the effectiveness of communication between them. It is believed that they achieve this by improving brain metabolism. This plant is also anxiolytic and antidepressant. The herbal teas that contain it are: Blue Butterfly (whole flower) , Blue Matcha , Blue Tango , Blue Tropic , Blue Pillow Moon Milk and Fresh Pillow Moon Milk .
LAVENDER: ( Lavandula Officinalis) highly calming, helps you sleep better, fights headaches, refreshing and antiseptic. It is widely used to treat anxiety problems, studies revealed that its aroma (contained in a substance called linalool) is what helps your brain to relax. The herbal teas that contain it are: Blossom Dance , Blue Pillow Moon Milk , Fresh Pillow Moon Milk , Lucky Rabbit , Chamomile Lavender , Quiet Night and Relax.
CHAMOMILE : (Matricaria Camomilla ) Calms nervous excitement, improves sleep, and also helps with neuralgia. Its compound “apigenin” induces drowsiness when it binds to GABA receptors in the brain. Find teas and herbal teas containing chamomile in this collection: Herbal Teas with Chamomile
MELISA : (Melissa Officinalis) Mild sedative, although it does not induce sleep, it is a tranquilizing remedy to take during the day, especially effective in women's conditions such as dysmenorrhea and migraines. It corrects palpitations, anxiety and vertigo (typical of an altered nervous system). It is considered very useful to combat melancholy and sadness. The herbal teas that contain it are: Fresh Pillow Moon Milk , Lucky Rabbit , Quiet Night and Relax .
PASSION FLOWER: ( Passiflora incarnata) Helps to calm anxiety and insomnia as it contains flavonoids, which intervene in the functioning of GABA acid, an inhibitory neurotransmitter of the central nervous system that helps at night, allows you to be in a good mood and reduces stress and anxiety. The herbal teas that contain it are: Lucky Rabbit and Quiet Night .
ROSE: (Rosa Centifolia) Balances hormones, helps soothe menopausal and premenstrual symptoms. Find teas and herbal teas containing Rose in this collection: Find teas and herbal teas containing Rose in this collection: Herbal Teas with Rose
The power of the rose is used in both Chinese medicine and Ayurveda. It is believed to be a regulator of the 3 “doshas” or Chi, that is, energy. It helps to open the heart, thereby curing depression and anxiety.
LINDEN (or linden): (Tilia Cordata) Helps fight insomnia, calms the nerves, is antispasmodic and anti-inflammatory. The herbal teas that contain it are: Zero Stress , Fresh Pillow Moon Milk , Honey Bee , Lucky Rabbit and Quiet Night.
VALERIAN : ( Valeriana officinalis) its root contains essential oils with sedative and relaxing effects. They reduce nervousness and agitation, facilitate falling asleep and improve its quality. The problem is that it tastes very bad, which is why it is currently consumed more in pill form. The herbal teas that contain it are: Lucky Rabbit and Quiet Night .
VERBENA: ( Verbena officinalis ) calms the nervous system and relieves stress, anxiety and depression caused by nervous disorders. It is considered a neuroprotector and is recommended for people with neuronal deterioration, especially Alzheimer's. Herbal teas containing it are: Blossom Dance and Lucky Rabbit.
These are just some of the plants that help us with this modern man's illness. There are many more. Try one or a few combinations and see what effect it has on you. If it's not what you're looking for, try others until you find what best suits your current needs. It is recommended to stop consuming any of them at least twice a year so that the body can "renew" its energy.
I hope you find relaxation and peace in taking whichever one you choose. With love and compassion.
Notes: the way to prepare and take them varies from one to another, as it is a natural element, its active ingredients are in a much lower concentration than what we find in a medicine, so you should take some time to notice their effectiveness. On the other hand, these herbal teas should not replace medicines prescribed by a doctor and you should ask him if you can take it.
If you are not taking medication, observe your reactions when trying it, never overdo it and check its contraindications.
Olivia Medina de Jönsson
Tea Master, EURO TEA 