Nothing warms the body and soul like holding a steaming cup of herbal tea and inhaling its aroma as you sip. Herbal tea comforts us on cold winter days, coaxes us out of midafternoon lethargy, and clams us down at bedtime.
In traditional Chinese medicine, aromas and flavors are believed to have a direct effect on the body. The sweet aroma and flavor of rose tea help relieve menstrual cramps in cold winter, and rose petals are a natural source of vitamin C that provides support for the immune system; green tea is loaded with antioxidants and nutrients that help improve brain function and avoid putting on weight in winter.
Chamomile and lavender tea is a particularly common mixture of herbal tea to the calm nervous system. The soothing aroma of chamomile and lavender promotes relaxation and helps with anxiety, insomnia, stress and winter depression.
The pungent aroma and flavor of gingerroot help improve lung capacity. What’s more, the health benefits of herbal teas go beyond nutritional calculations. Preparing and drinking teas affords us the opportunity to take time out from hectic days, to slow down and spend a bit of time on ourselves. The time spent drinking herbal tea — even 10 minutes before heading off to work — can be used to think about the tea’s value, as in, “I am nourishing my nervous system,” or, “I am strengthening my immune system.”