which is more beneficial in regards to herbs--eathing the whole thing, or TEA?

[kaybee]

just wondering how you end up getting more benefits from herbs like basil, nettles, thyme, mint, medicinal herbs, etc. seems to me you would get more benefit from eating the whole thing but there is such a culture of herbalists, etc that recommend herbs in tea form; are the substances somehow made more absorbable for our bodies when theyve been steeped out into a tea, rather than eating the whole herb? also, can you get the herbs to steep in the same way if you only use warm or room temperature water as opposed to boiling, or does boiling somehow bring out the substances of the herb more into the water, and if so, do we as raw fooders basically have to "write-off" the modality of being able to benefit from herbs in the form of teas....???
thanks

kaybee

[Eva]

I still drink hot herbal tea -- but for my own desire when I am out with friends who are drinking beer or when I just want something hot. I don't feel quite the same benefits as when I have those herbs fresh, though.

We don't HAVE TO write anything off... for me, I went to raw because I was having stomach problems with digestion and an ulcer had flared up. Not fun. I have all the benefits of fixing that stuff and WAY more even if I have some hot herbal tea. I think it's a different story when you have green or black tea or anything caffeinated because your body still would be trying to rid itself of the caffeine. I'm sure there are plenty of people who choose not to have hot tea at all or choose to enjoy caffeinated tea as well. It's all a personal choice. We learn, we experience... and we choose what works best for us.

Ah, and some start out enjoying herbal tea but eventually do not desire it at all. I find that when I am 100% raw and juicing and doing ALL the things I "should" do ALL the time, I also do not desire it except on the very rare occasion.


do we as raw fooders basically have to "write-off" the modality of being able to benefit from herbs in the form of teas....??? Keep in mind too that the health benefits from raw food are so great, that frequently the benefits from the herbs are entirely unnecessary! For example, I used to need to drink peppermint and chamomile teas to calm my stomach and nerves. I no longer have that need because my stomach is very healthy and my life is full of peace and love.

[Raine]

I drink herbal teas simply because I like them and when you are fasting and you drink a new one you can really tell if it's doing something or not.

A recent fav is the Yogi Tea Peach Detox - the aroma is divine.

As for being out and about, Celestial Seasonings now has Cold Brew herbal teas. I picked up the blueberry green tea and have tried it a few times and it's great. You simply toss in some bags with cool water. And if you are out, you can pop a bag into your water glass at the table, add a touch of stevia and you're set!

The only tea I'm hesitant to try again is chamomile. I tried it once years ago and thought my throat was going to close up. I later found out that chamomile and ragweed are cousins and since I was allergic to ragweed the chamomile was anything but a soothing, calming experience. So these days if I see chamomile as one of the top ingredients in a tea, I just avoid it.

[Lelê]

I like my teas and nobody is going to mess with them! :mad: :D

No, seriously, I love tea. Specially white, green, floral, herbal, darjeeling.... I haven't been drinking lately simply because I burnt my kettle *shakes head*. But I bought a new one at Costco and am starting to drink again. I don't drink many times a day or even daily, but I love the taste and, lately, the sensation, since I'm feeling rather cold since going raw.

I don't use any sweetener on my tea, though. The idea of hot water + sweet makes me nauseous. Except for mulled apple cider.....which I'm wondering if I have to ditch since I'm going raw... :( *snif*

[Vaclare79]

I drink herbal teas simply because I like them and when you are fasting and you drink a new one you can really tell if it's doing something or not.

A recent fav is the Yogi Tea Peach Detox - the aroma is divine.

As for being out and about, Celestial Seasonings now has Cold Brew herbal teas. I picked up the blueberry green tea and have tried it a few times and it's great. You simply toss in some bags with cool water. And if you are out, you can pop a bag into your water glass at the table, add a touch of stevia and you're set!

The only tea I'm hesitant to try again is chamomile. I tried it once years ago and thought my throat was going to close up. I later found out that chamomile and ragweed are cousins and since I was allergic to ragweed the chamomile was anything but a soothing, calming experience. So these days if I see chamomile as one of the top ingredients in a tea, I just avoid it.

I 'm with you there avoiding the chamomile. It makes me sneeze when I smell it in the perfumes etc.. Along with being allergic to ragweed pollen. Stinks we're allergic. :(

[Vaclare79]

I like my teas and nobody is going to mess with them! :mad: :D

No, seriously, I love tea. Specially white, green, floral, herbal, darjeeling.... I haven't been drinking lately simply because I burnt my kettle *shakes head*. But I bought a new one at Costco and am starting to drink again. I don't drink many times a day or even daily, but I love the taste and, lately, the sensation, since I'm feeling rather cold since going raw.

I don't use any sweetener on my tea, though. The idea of hot water + sweet makes me nauseous. Except for mulled apple cider.....which I'm wondering if I have to ditch since I'm going raw... :( *snif*

You could still make fresh apple cider right?? Use fresh apple juice with some cinnamon in it ? Would that be similar or not??