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| iron and it also stimulates milk flow when breast-feeding. Nettle tea can also be helpful internally for allergic skin rashes, especially those connected with salicylate sensitivity (p. 78); drink up to 3 cups daily. The plant will also reduce blood sugar levels so is a useful addition to dietary control of adult-onset diabetes. Processing fresh young nettles in a juicer is a good way to make an energizing tonic; they can also be cooked in soups to help clear out the stagnations of winter. Simmer 3 cups of young nettle leaves with 3 cups of vegetable or chicken stock for twenty minutes, or until the nettles are tender; season well, and then blend in a food processor. |
| Tea (Camellia Sinensis) |
| When tea was first introduced into Europe in the 17th century it was regarded not as an everyday drink, but as a medicinal herb. Numerous tea house advertisements from the time extol the plants' virtues as a digestive remedy and cure for overindulgence. Tea has been drunk in China since around 3000 B.C. Most of the tea drunk in the West is black tea made by fermenting the leaves, while green tea is made from leaves that have been pan-fried and then dried. Oolong tea is a partly fermented variation. |
| Parts used: Leaves and leaf buds. |
| Actions: Stimulant, antibacterial, antioxidant, astringent, diuretic; some varieties reduce cholesterol levels and antitumor properties are reported in green teas. |
| Uses: The tea plant has a stimulating effect on the nervous system because of its caffeinelike alkaloids. Green tea is believed to improve resistance to stomach and skin cancers and stimulate the immune system, while oolong tea is generally regarded as a digestive remedy which it is now known can reduce cholesterol levels. Thus it may be useful to combat arteriosclerosis. In China, green tea is considered cooling and is preferred in hot weather, while oolong and black teas are more warming for cold days. |
| Black tea is especially astringent and is ideal (unsweetened and |
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