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| multiply the ingredients by two to make a pint, or by four to make a quart. Double the amount of herb and extend brewing period for medicinal-strength tea. |
| AGRIMONY (Agrimonis eupatoria). This astringent, tonic, diuretic herb is a time-honored treatment for the liver, jaundice, diarrhea, fever, colds and asthma. Agrimony is especially healing to the mouth and throat. Maria Treben, the famous Austrian herbalist, wrote that gargling with agrimony tea clears the voice for singers and public speakers. Drink up to two cups daily for digestive problems, spleen disorders and as a liver tonic. Prepare the tea by infusion (pour 1 cup boiling water over 1 teaspoon tea; let stand 10 to 15 minutes). |
| ALLSPICE (Pimento officinalis). This sweet tropical spice, popular in cooking and baking, is an aromatic carminative and digestive stimulant. Used alone or in combination with other herbs, allspice eases flatulence and dyspeptic pain. Use it freely whenever a pleasant carminative is needed. To use in tea blends, crush or grind the seeds and do not boil for more than five minutes. This preserves the spice's volatile essential oils, which would otherwise escape during boiling. Combine 1 or 2 teaspoons crushed allspice in 1 cup water in a covered pan; bring just to a boil, simmer for 5 minutes or less, then remove from heat and let stand, covered, for 10 minutes before straining. Allspice can be added to any digestive blend. Use these same general instructions for the sweet spices cardamon (Elattaria cardamomum), cinnamon (Cinnamonomum zeylancium) and cloves (Eugenia caryophyllus). |
| ALOE VERA. While the bitter sap of the rind of aloe vera contains cathartic principles, giving it dramatic laxative properties, the inner gel or juice of this healing plant is a digestive tonic that soothes internal organs. Aloe vera has been used in the treatment of ulcers, colitis and indigestion. Its popularity has produced several brands and product lines, including flavored aloe beverages. Whole-leaf products that are not filtered have a laxative effect; filtered whole-leaf juice and gel collected from the inner part of the leaf do not. |
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