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Page 35
| pleasantly sweet taste to any tea. For several years stevia was hard to find in U.S. herb shops because of an FDA embargo imposed after lobbying efforts by the manufacturers of artificial sweeteners. Today it is available without restriction. A dash of apple juice also works well as a sweetener. |
| External Applications |
| Any discussion of herbal teas would be incomplete without a brief discussion of their external applications. |
| A poultice is a wet herbal pack applied directly to an inflamed, irritated, swollen, infected or injured part of the body. While poultices, can be made of fresh mashed herbs, they can also be made of the residue left after brewing tea. |
| Poultices are usually applied cool rather than hot. Some herbalists recommend spreading a thin layer of olive oil or castor oil before applying the plant material. Use whatever will hold the poultice in place for several hours: bandages, plastic wrap, cheesecloth, muslin, etc. A layer of plastic over the poultice helps prevent fabric stains. |
| A compress is an application of cold herbal tea on a saturated towel, diaper or thick cloth. Use medicinal-strength infusions or decoctions for this purpose. To treat a painful bruise or to relieve inflammation in a joint that feels hot or swollen, chill a strong peppermint tea, then soak the cloth and wring it just until it stops dripping. The compress |
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