~ Winter Warming Herbs ~

Here we are, December, 2010.  This year if you're having a hard time believing that we really just walked through another whole year of life, just open your front door.  The insta chill in your bones will remind you what time of year it really is.  I am a 'home body' anyway, but I am even more so during the cold winter months. 

My small frame and high metabolism cuts down drastically on my fatty tissues, which means, I've got very little insulation, which means ... brrrrrrrrrr! Stay inside, go no where, become a hermit and blog.

Since this is near humanly impossible to do in order to function in day to day life.  We have to go to the grocery store, the bank, taking and picking up kids from school ... it's inevitable that we must embrace the cold, away from the comfy warmness of our homes.

With that said, let me introduce you to two or three herbs to help you tolerate and embrace these bone chilling temperatures by warming you up, inside, to face or unfreeze your fingers, toes and nose, after already facing the conditions, outside.

Astragalus, Ginger and Cinnamon.

• Astragalus is a great herb to take for your immune health, but it also helps circulate blood flow and creates a warming effect in your body.  It's also great herb to use for recovery from an illness and helps enhance the benefits of other herbs when combined in any blend.   

• Ginger is an awesome herb, widely known and popular and beneficial for a variety of conditions.  Ginger is also known for improving blood flow and warming the body.  For cold hands and feet Ginger is a great tea to help warm them up.  

• Cinnamon, one of my favorite herbs, apart from it's captivating 'feel good all over' aroma, that in itself seems to give a 'warm, fuzzy' sensation from head to toe, is not only a great 'spice' for candies and cakes, especially now, during the Holiday Seasons, but it also has several health benefits to it that you wouldn't even consider.  It's the perfect herb to use this time of year, keeping you warm, internally as you drink it as well as, in my opinion, due to  the way it effects my senses, sensually, by it's aroma. I love it!

Okay, so there you have it.  Three excellent herbs to help keep you warm, while at the same time, bringing your body multiple benefits in other areas by each one's own unique design and intended purpose at it's creation.

Tea Preperation:

• For a single cup of tea use 1 tsp dried (not powdered) herb/Cup boiling hot water.
• (for powdered herbs use 1/8 - 1/2 tsp/Cup. You don't need as much as dried or fresh herbs)  (powdered herbs can filter through tea balls and mesh strainers) 
• 1 Cinnamon stick - I generaly break off small pieces and put it right in the tea and leave it in after I've taken the tea ball out. A whole stick in a single cup may or may not be too potent of a taste for you, it will depend on your preferences.
• If you choose to place the herbs loosely in the boiled water intended to strain after steeping, let your water boil first, then place the herbs in to steep.
• Steep the herbs for at least ten minutes before straining and drinking your tea blend. (For larger amounts made, you can strain only what you want to drink now and leave the herbs steeping in the hot water, covered, for later.)
• Sweeten as desired. My sweetener of choice is always a bit of honey or Stevia herb. (note: Stevia herb is very sweet and very little is needed)

(One option when using powdered herbs is to use a 'tea press'.  I have a tea press 'travel mug'. (I'll have to check the website and make sure that's exactly what it's called.) I love this mug.  I can put several herbs at once in the cup, fill it with boiling water, let it steep, press it and drink away, refilling it over and over again through out the day without having to replace the herbs each time.)

~ HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!! ~

Stay WARM!!

Cherie'