REVIEW: Ten Healthy Teas by Valerie B. Lull

Synopsis

Ten Healthy Teas introduces you to the wonderful world of tea, which has many natural health benefits as well as being a beloved part of social ritual, and a comforting way to take a moment for yourself in a busy day. The information and recipes in this book are designed for those who want to explore the world of tea, but who might not have a lot of time to invest. Simple, clear, engaging information provides you with the inspiration to take your own journey into the delights of tea. Whether you prefer traditional black tea or herbal infusions, Ten Healthy Teas is an indispensable guide to healthy, enjoyable tea-drinking.


About the Author

Valerie B. Lull is currently studying herbalism with the American College of Health Sciences. She has always had a passion for staying healthy, and for the health benefits of teas and the various ways they can be prepared. Her passion for tea started in childhood, when she experienced a traditional-style teatime with her Canadian relatives.


My Thoughts

I'm a tea lover. I often drink hot tea in lieu of coffee or soda, and have been known to use tea to stave off cravings for sweets. I use peppermint tea to ease my unsettled stomach. I also have some experience with herbs, tinctures, aromatherapy, and the like. I spent a couple of years absorbing everything I could get on it back in my late 20s. I even made my own tea bag mixtures (using tea bags that were sealed shut with an iron!) and my own ginger capsules that I used for motion sickness when riding the ferry to Seattle. But now, a dozen years later, I am trying to get back to basics-- healthy eating, exercise, natural medicine. So I agreed to take a look at this book.

I've picked up quite a bit of knowledge in my personal studies, but one new one for me was Garlic Tea. While I am quite familiar with the medicinal properties of garlic, I never even considered making a tea out of it!

I'd also never heard before that peppermint tea can affect male fertility. At my age and in my single-state, that isn't really a concern, but good to know!

I also was pretty unfamiliar with Goldenseal. I'm sure I studied it "back in my day", but couldn't have told you today what you should use it to treat. Come to find out, it treats just about everything! Native Americans used Goldenseal extensively.

Which reminds me of a story that I wrote about on my other blog Heather's Eden:

I was working in the management office at an adult community, and we'd had a complaint from a resident about air potatoes behind her house (air potatoes are an invasive plant down here in South Florida). I checked out the situation, and the resident sent me back to my office with a few of the potatoes in hand.

Upon my return, I did a little research and confirmed that the air potato is in the yam family as I suspected. "I knew it!" I exclaimed to our 75-year-old receptionist Ruth Ann. "I knew this was in the yam family! You know, I believe that young Native American girls would use yams as birth control."

Ruth's eyes flew open as she looked at me in horror and she asked with great trepidation, "How did they use them?"

"They made a tea from them, I think," I replied.

"Oh! Thank God!" Putting her hand on her chest she looked at me with great relief. "I saw that potato in your hand, and when you said that they used them for birth control, I had this horrible vision in my head and thought, 'Oh, those poor girls!'" she exclaimed as she put her head down on the desk.

I loved Ruthie! She often made me laugh!

But I digress...

The book is organized into ten write-ups about a special ingredient to be used for teas "that are good for you". Each write-up explains how the tea is used, what it treats, any precautions or guidelines, recipes and "Tea Tips" like:

People often do not think of raspberries and lemons as herbs, but an herb can be any plant. Very often, weeds turn out to be valuable herbs. Actually, a weed is any plant that is in a place where a person does not want it!

Here is a recipe for Garlic Tea that I may have to give a try the next time I feel a cold coming on:

Garlic Tea III

3 garlic cloves, peeled and slightly crushed
1 bag lemon tea or 1 tsp lemon juice, whichever is desired
1 cup boiling water
Honey or stevia

Put ingredients in a cup and steep as long as desired. Add honey or sugar to taste.

My final word: This book is a good introduction into the use of herbs for the beginner just starting out. Teas are easy to make. Just a cup of water in a microwave and a tea bag is all that is needed to reap the health benefits that herbs have to offer.


My Rating: 7 out of 10 

Disclaimer:

I received a copy of this book to review from the author, in exchange for my honest opinion. I was not financially compensated in any way, and the opinions expressed are my own and based on my observations while reading this novel.