sown & uprooted

Hierba de la Princesa, a potpourri ingredient, seasoning herb for food or beverages and an apparently popular scent with 19th century Victorian ladies. Similarly, in the famous book Gone in the Wind it is mentioned that Scarlett O’Hara’s French mother Ellen smelled faintly of the lemon verbena sachets that were kept in her silk dresses. A highly effective natural mosquito repellent. A herb associated with purification of the house, love, luck and joy.

Lemon Verbena or Aloysia triphylla is an originally South American plant, known for its strong lemony smell and taste. It is believed that the Incas were the first to use it as a healing herb. Since, it has been applied in traditional medicine to treat colds, anxiety and insomnia, to help relieve headaches, improve digestion, and to promote respiratory function. It was imported to Europe by the Spanish and Portuguese in the 17th century during their colonial era as one of the many “exotic” plants brought from the New World, primarily cultivated for its oil. Grown in European gardens for its beauty and scents. The plant has sedative, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant components. Especially the leaves are said to have a varied set of positive effects on our health, among them it is supporting our immune system as it may help reduce inflammation and oxidative stress in your body. Most commonly the leaves are consumed as a healing tea or added as a herb to our food. In Peru, you would also find Lemon Verbena used in Inca Kola a soft drink with a sweet, fruity flavor that somewhat resembles the soda’s herbal main ingredient. You’ll also find it in Gin, desserts, ice cream and salad dressings.

Lúcia-Lima Hibiscus Flower Tea with Raw Honey [Recipe]

For a 250ml mug (~8 ounces in US) of healing evening tea, I mix:

• 1 – 2 teaspoons of dried Lemon Verbena Leaves
• 2 to 3 dried, crushed Hibiscus flowers

Let the brew steep for 10min. Add raw honey to your liking and enjoy!

The combination of different smells and flavors makes this tea mix overall a pleasure to nose and mouth equally, while the healing qualities of the ingredients get our mind and body ready for bedtime.

Hibiscus or Hibiscus sabdariffa is more and more of scientific interest, said to fight inflammation, lower blood pressure, impact our cholesterol level and boosting our immune system. It has a fruity flavour which, in this tea, combines well nice with the lemony note of the Lemon Verbena.  The Hibiscus flower represents beauty and the importance of living in the present moment. The flower blooms for only a short time, often just one day. The hibiscus may not be originally from China, with most speculations pointing towards India, but China is where the earliest and most extensive cultivation of the various species began. The Pacific Islands also play a big role in the history of hibiscus plants. Nowhere in the Pacific does hibiscus have a richer history than in Hawaii. Clinical research recently found potential value in applications of hibiscus to reduce oxidative stress and obesity, to treat arterial hypertension and to increase physical fitness in healthy adults.

Raw Honey is a particularly nice addition to this tea mix. It obviously lends some sweetness to the herbal tea but beyond that, it has been valued for its healing qualities since ancient times. It has been almost glorified by many antique healers such as the Greeks or the Ayurvedic. Raw honey has not been heated to the point of pasteurization while our regular honey in the supermarkets goes through a processing that lessens some of honey’s healthiest compounds, like bee pollen and antioxidants. Pasteurization allows it to stay on shelves for longer periods in its visually appealing liquid form and makes it a lasting, safe product to its consumers.

That’s it for now…

…good luck and sweet dreams!

– with love –

Lina

sown & uprooted

https://for-a-better-living.com

Please note: As with all things in life, some things will have ripple effects and the amounts make the difference. So please don’t overdose herbal teas either. Especially if you are on medication, suffer a medical condition, are prone to allergic reactions and during pregnancy it’s recommended to seek medical advisory before starting any self medication.