Make Morning Special With Herbal Tea

In ancient times, importance and usage of herbs were too high due to medicinal properties. They have become part of our lives through our cultural traditions and folklore. Whenever any person used to get ill or suffered from any dreaded or critical diseases was given herbal medicines only. If you really wants to know and study different aspects of herbs then must read herbalism books and scripts.

Similarly herbs do have played a major role in the preparation as well as development of teas since the ancient era. These different types of tea leaves were beneficial in treating certain ailments showing their positive effects in the human body. Consumers of herbal tea are increasing day-by-day now. It is also known by other names such as tisane and ptisan. They are herbal plants which are used for preparing teas with the help of infusion process. They don’t contain the tea leaves of camellia Sinensis plant. You can extract three different types of teas such as black tea, white tea and green tea from the camellia sinensis plant only. Medical experts and science have proved that it has helped in relieving the patients suffering from depression and stress.

Experts say that utility of herbal tea is more through whole leaves than processed tea bags in the market. They say the difference lies in the persistence of the plant oil which usually gets washed during the processing method whereas directly consuming whole leaves let the user to sip concentrated tea, tasty and original one. So make sure that you can prepare such types of tea by using fresh and dried herbal leaves. They are available in local market or through online shops.

This tea is valued more because of the infusion process. If you really want to know then it’s quite simple to understand even. First, you boil one cup of water and then pour it onto the dried herbs or tea bag. Later on steep them for a short duration and then filter and began sipping. If you’re under medication then must inform your physician as about the type of herb you’re consuming. Each herb is of different nature and medicinal properties.

Several brand and stores can be seen online that are designed for people who wants to taste quality and saving altogether. When it comes to tea then brands like Lipton, Celestial Seasonings, Yogi Tea, Traditional Medicinals, and Bigelow Tea are the best and for accessing them stores like Teavana, Whole Foods, GNC, Vitamin Shoppe, Amazon are beneficial. So, make your mother’s morning special with herbal tea.…

Wonderfully Healthy Decaf Herbal Chai Recipe

As I write this, I have a pot full of warming, herbal chai simmering on my stove, and I am so excited to sit by my fire enjoying a cup of it on this rainy autumn day following our record-breaking flood here in Carnation.

(Luckily our house is on high ground far enough from the rivers that we were only inconvenienced by not being able to drive into or out of Carnation because of flooded roads on all sides.)

But, back to that warming cup of chai I was telling you about…

I want to share with you how to make chai with this wonderful chai recipe. This is a great holiday drink to share with family and friends when they come by your home for celebrations or just to enjoy by the fire on a wet or snowy day.

Often chai is made with black tea, but I wanted to share how to make chai without caffeine, and this year I’m also adding some nourishing and immune boosting herbs to my chai blend.

Here’s a chai recipe for you to start with if you have been wanting to learn how to make chai. I recommend playing with amounts and types of herbs until you get the blend that’s perfect for you.

Immune Building Autumn Chai Recipe

o 3 1/2 cups of boiling water

o 2 Cinnamon sticks

o 1 Tablespoon fresh Ginger, grated

o 1 whole Nutmeg, chopped

o 1 Tablespoon Cardamom seed pods

o 1 Tablespoon Astragulus root

o 1/2 tsp. whole Cloves

o 1/4 tsp. black Peppercorns

o 1/2 tsp. Anise seeds

o 1/2 tsp. whole Allspice

o 1/2 tsp. Echinacea root

Simmer the spices in your chai recipe in the water for about 15 minutes. (If you’d like to add black tea, add 1/8 cup after removing from the heat and steep for not more than 3 minutes.)

Strain out the herbs, add warmed milk (I suggest at least 1/4 cup) and honey to taste.

I hope you enjoyed learning how to make chai. Enjoy!…

Can Diabetes Effect Your Cataracts?

Diabetes & Cataracts can be progressive conditions. Many develop these conditions as they age, but with both they can come at early stages in a person’s life. Learning to cope with both Diabetes and Cataracts can be a challenge. Early education can help you know what’s coming in the future and prepare you for what you are dealing with now.

Diabetes:

Type 2 Diabetes is the most common form of Diabetes. Management of your blood glucose (sugar) levels are extremely important the more out of control these levels get the harder it is to control the complications associated with the condition. For those struggling with various forms of Diabetes, they can develop problems with the eyes, the kidneys, and depending on their medications the liver. For those who have trouble managing their Diabetes a team of medical professionals is often needed.

Cataracts:

Cataracts are a clouding of the natural internal lens of the eye. As Cataracts develop vision slowly declines. Those who have Cataracts often suffer from Age-Related Cataracts it accounts for 90% of those with the Cataracts. Age-related Cataracts generally progresses over years, and an eventual Cataracts surgery is necessary. But in cases with those with Diabetes Cataracts can progress more quickly, in some cases within 6 months to a year. In those with Diabetes the glucose (sugar) levels can affect the lens causing the Cataracts to progress much more rapidly.

If you have Diabetes and Cataracts it is wise for you to see your eye care professional every 6 months. Diabetes and Cataracts is one of the leading causes of blurred vision in the United States. Taking extra special care of your eyes is of the most importance. Being sure that you follow your doctor’s instructions, and obtain regular eye check-ups can help monitor the progression of the condition. Cataracts surgery is the most common eye surgery performed every year in the United States. Don’t despair when you notice the vision decline from Cataracts, a 15-20 minute outpatient surgery will remove the clouded lens and improve your vision.

Below are the symptoms of Cataracts:

Blurred vision

Poor night vision

Frequent prescription changes

Halos around the lights

Sensitivity to glare from headlights

Shadows around images

The chance of you developing Cataracts earlier in life if you have Diabetes is higher. If you have any of the above symptoms please consult your eye care professional and get your eyes checked every 6 months to a year to preserve your vision.

For more information on Cataracts visit: …

How To Make Herbal Tea

It is fairly easy to make herbal tea, as all you need is the tea, hot water and a natural sweetener. The natural tea can be made from all types of spices and herbs. The flowers, roots, bark and leaves can be used to make an herbal tea. You can purchase the loose tea, or tea that is prepackaged in small tea bags for convenience. It is also fairly easy to grow your own herbs and spices and make a tea from fresh plant substances.

Some of the popular plants for making herbal tea are ginger root, peppermint, lemon balm, rosemary, rose petals and lavender. Spices such as cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves are also great when added to the tea. Sweeteners that work well in tea include raw honey, agave nectar and stevia.

To make the tea, start by bringing a pot of water to a boil. As the water is heating up you can measure your loose leaf tea into a tea ball, or into an infuser and place it into a cup. For each cup, measure about 1 tsp. to 1 tbsp. or more, depending on how strong you like the drink. Naturally some herbs give a stronger flavor, and thus you won’t need as much, while others you can add lots of them to get a nice rich flavor. If you are using prepackaged tea bags, then all you have to do is use one bag per cup of tea.

Once the water has come to a boil, simply pour the water over the tea and allow to steep for about 10 to 15 minutes. The longer you allow the ingredients to steep, the stronger the flavor will be.

Another way to make herbal tea is to make a whole pot by adding a larger amount of leaves, or several tea bags into a special tea pot. You can put the tea leaves directly into the pot, or you can use a larger tea ball. But once again, you want to pour the water on the ingredients after it has been brought to a boil. Never boil the herbs with the water as that will destroy the nutrients.

Some herbal teas are naturally bitter, and thus they can be sweetened with honey or another natural sweetener. Adding sugar, however, is not a good idea, as it can interfere with the medicinal ingredients in the herbal tea. Cream or dairy is also not recommended, as it too can interfere.…