I probably should start this post with a disclaimer: Few, if any, of the following statements have been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration, and this post is not intended to diagnose, cure, treat, or prevent any disease. These reflections are based on personal experience and research relating to the folk and traditional medicine practices of various cultures. Please consult a doctor if you have questions about the potential benefits or harms of these tisanes. Some of these should be avoided by pregnant or breastfeeding women. Again, please consult your healthcare professional if you’re not sure.
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Before the advent of modern pharmaceuticals, folks generally relied on remedies they could find growing outside. Most floral and herbal tisanes are have been traditionally thought to help with stress, depression, and anxiety as well as other health issues. There are several herbal infusions (tisanes) that I could highlight, but here are just a few I have experience with.
Chamomile may be one of the most commonly consumed floral tisanes, and it has anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, and antibacterial properties. While these properties in chamomile need to be studied more extensively, a handful of studies indicate that chamomile may help with insomnia, anxiety, migraines (if you drink some right when you’re feeling a headache coming on), IBS, diabetes, thyroid cancer, osteoporosis, and menstrual cramps (and any irritability that may have accompanied them), among other ailments. You can also use it as part of your beauty regimen or as a topical healing agent.
I like to drink my chamomile plain, but I sometimes add a teaspoon of honey and/or 1/4 teaspoon bee pollen.
Jasmine often accompanies white, green, and black teas and also has antioxidants. Jasmine is soothing, but sometimes the aroma can be overpowering and sickly sweet. Despite that, I find it always needs to be sweetened with honey.
Lavender, like rose, is one of those florals commonly used in baking. Infusions made with lavender help with headaches, migraines, PMS, anxiety, and insomnia. Applied topically, lavender helps sooth aching muscles. Lavender infusions taste best to me with a bit of honey.
Passionflower in an English suburb. Photo by Heart of Pixie.
Passion Flower is a really pretty flowering vine that also helps with stress and anxiety. Originally from North and South America, passion flower was used as medicines in some Native American tribes to calm the nerves. This is likely due to the fact that passion flower contains chrysin, which has anti-anxiety benefits and is also helpful with inflammation and insomnia. An infusion with passion flower may interact with other medication, especially sedatives or tranquilizers.
Linden (AKA Lime Tree or Basswood) is a tree that has provided another of those ancient medicines, used for centuries to cure cough, stomach ache, insomnia, migraines, stress, diarrhea, and even seizures. Like with the other herbs, linden needs further research, but these were the properties this herb has been historically thought to have, and it also promotes perspiration and cleans the kidneys, bladder, and stomach of excess mucus. It can also be used topically to cure boils and other skin conditions.
St. John’s Wort is probably the most well-known flowering herb with antidepressant properties that helps with SADD as well as PMS, among other ailments.
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As you’ve likely gathered, many of these infusions share similar effects, so it’s a matter of preference. There are also many other floral infusions that I haven’t named.
Which are your go-tos when you’re feeling unwell?
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