Hibiscus and Peppermint tea infusion

I was living in New-Zealand when I first stubbled across the power of herbs and their many different uses. I would forage the field for dandelion with a shovel in hand, I would also put on my rubber gloves to pluck the leaves of the stinging nettle ‘weed’. I find it fascinating that- what most people consider weeds— are indeed plants that hold the secretes of healing.

So naturally, a year ago when I started getting consistent bladder and UTI infections, I couldn’t help myself but to seek the herbs and plants that would help me heal. With absolutely no help from western conventional Doctors, I was hitting exhaustion from constant pain, de-hydration and confusion as to this mysterious problem was. Doctors couldn’t seem to help, and of course prescribe antibiotics and other random pill’s to ‘cure’ me of a problem that wasn’t showing up on tests.

I took matters into my own hands- I turned to natures medicine cabinet.

I found that Hibiscus is a common herb used by native African’s and Asians to support the bladder and kidneys. The most common cause of UTI’s is an over growth of bacteria, and un-known to me up until I started seeing my Naturopath- another cause can be GUT HEALTH.

I won’t say drinking the tea alone cured me, but it most certainly supported and strengthened my whole being while taking the severity and inflammation down-It wasn’t until I addressed my gut health that my bladder started to heal, but I do say now, that drinking this tea infusion has helped in more ways than one..

Hibiscus

This herb holds anti-bacterial properties and is equally rich in bacteriostatic polyphenols—including the flavonoid gossypetin—hibiscus possesses profound anti-microbial effects.

Hibiscus has a stronger antimicrobial effect than cranberry, particularly against Candida and is said to have high levels of vitamin C which is defiantly an essential to keep a healthy immune system.

It’s also known to help tame inflammation and strengthen the immune system, as well as helping with digestion.

Other herbs in this infusion

Horse Tail- Urva Ursi- Peppermint.

I was drawn to horsetail for it’s diuretic qualities. But quickly discovered it is beneficial for a variety of different health boosters— helps your body to eliminate fluids, and if you drink consistently for one month only, it’ll help you body softly remove toxins. Horsetail is said to strengthen bones and tendons, prevent cavities and assists with wound healing.

Personally I like Horsetail for its aesthetic and regenerative properties, as it helps to renew cell tissues, giving a better look to our skin and hair.

I picked Urva-Ursi because its direct support to the urinary track. It contains the chemical arbutin. The body excretes 64-75% of Arbutin in urine, and Arbutin converted to hydroquinone maintains a healthy microbial balance within the urinary system. I would suggest only using this herb for a short period and if you feel like leaving it out- thats fine too.. The tea Infusion will be just fine without it :)

Peppermint tea- now this was an easy and most recent addition to my infusion because it’s tasty, refreshing and calming. Peppermint tea is know for its calming of the digestion and relief from headaches. But its also a powerful antibacterial as well.

So, you might be wondering what the difference between brewing a regular cup of tea and an infusion is?

According to Nourished Kitchen Regular herbal teas use smaller amounts of herbs and they steep for a shorter period of time – about 5 minutes. By contrast, herbal infusions use a higher volume of herbs and often steep for several hours. Therefore, they’re more nutrient-dense.

Hibiscus and peppermint tea infusion

Natural medicine for strengthening and up lifting the immune-system-along with supporting the bladder and urinary tract.

INGREDIENTS-

• 1 Quart sized mason jar

• 1/4 Cup orangic dried Hibiscus loose leaf tea.

• 1/4 cup horsetail, mixed with loose leaf urva ursi.

• 1/4 cup peppermint.

• Teaspoon of honey (optional)

  *Note - I make my mix of horsetail and urva ursi that I buy separately in 1 lb bags. I fill half and half into a larger storage jar so that scooping a 1/4 of each works just fine

  you can buy these from Amazon I preferably like the brand frontier and StarWest botanicals for my loose leaf teas.

Prep time: 5 mins Servings: 1- I drink one of these a day!

INSTRUCTIONS-

• Place all of your teas into a mason jar. Leaving the honey out for later use, if you're using.

• In kettle, boil one Quart of filtered water. Once boiled, pour over the tea filling the jar to the top.

• Let steep over-night, or for several hours- this ensure’s the extraction of all nutrients and minerals.

• When ready to drink the next day or after several hours, use a small tea strainer to strain the tea into a glass if drinking cold OR strain into a small saucepan to bring to a slight boil, and enjoy warm with a teaspoon of honey.

• INJOY

After drinking this tea consistently you’ll be able to see and feel the benefits from these powerful plants..

Stay tuned for my hibiscus, peppermint and lime infusion cooler to enjoy iced during hot summer day instead of reaching for the soda or sugary juices.

And as always please be sure to tag me in your stories on instagram when making these recipes, I would love to see and support you in your tea journey.

Much love, Nadine xx

This blog post is not intended to provide diagnosis, treatment or medical advice. The content on this blog is for informational purposes only. Consult with a health care practitioner if seeking help with any health concerns, and to use this recipe for healthy living and support-its not to re-place any health care needs.

Sources- Gaia Herbs , Robis , organic facts , Nourished Kitchen .