Spring is the time when many people complain of sleepiness, lack of energy, fatigue, muscle pain, loss of concentration and weakness. Although our first association with this season is nature waking up, plants coming into leaf and the end of winter dormancy, many people do not feel in tune with the changes happening in nature at all.
Medicinal herbs can help. Winter is a period when we move less, the food we eat is usually fatty and heavy, and the air is full of smog and soot. Spring is therefore the right time to give your body a real, thorough cleanse of all accumulated toxins. The tea blends below are traditional recipes by Serbian herbalist Momčilo Antonijević.
Herbs for a Spring Cleanse
The herbs recommended for this purpose are most often diuretics. By increasing urination, the urinary tract is cleansed and the body is freed of excess fluid and accumulated harmful substances. This group includes horsetail, nettle and dandelion root, which also has a beneficial effect on the liver – the laboratory of our body responsible for processing toxins. Artichoke, mint, immortelle and calendula also have a positive effect on the liver.
Alder buckthorn bark, flaxseed, chamomile and wild apples have a beneficial effect on the intestines and stimulate their emptying, which is extremely important for anyone who wants to do a spring detox.
The respiratory organs will be cleared of accumulated mucus by herbs that contain saponins. This group includes primrose root and flower, mullein flower and ivy leaf.
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
In the last few years, there has been more and more talk about a group of symptoms jointly called chronic fatigue syndrome. More than twenty million people worldwide suffer from this condition, which is hard to diagnose because laboratory tests usually do not show any disorder. The cause of this condition has not been precisely determined, and possible causes mentioned include allergies, intolerance to certain foods or medications, chronic fungal infections and the Epstein-Barr virus (the cause of mononucleosis).
Some phytotherapists claim that herbs with antiviral action can greatly help people who suffer from this syndrome. Such herbs are echinacea, lemon balm, juniper, licorice and ginseng.
Green tea, known for its antioxidant properties, should replace coffee, because both drinks contain caffeine, a stimulant that helps tired people stay awake and focused, but green tea has a number of other beneficial effects that coffee does not.
3 Herbal Tea Blends
Tea for a Spring Cleanse of the Body
- Horsetail (Equisetum arvense) – 50 g
- Dandelion root (Taraxacum officinale) – 50 g
- Nettle (Urtica dioica) – 50 g
- Calendula (Calendula officinalis) – 50 g
- Oats (Avena sativa) – 50 g
- Flaxseed (Lini semen) – 50 g
- Elecampane (Inula helenium) – 50 g
Mix all the herbs. Pour half a liter of boiling water over three tablespoons of the mixture, stir, cover and leave for half an hour. Strain and drink throughout the day, divided into several doses, half an hour before meals.
Tea Blend for Chronic Fatigue
- Echinacea (Echinacea purpurea) – 50 g
- Lemon balm (Melissa officinalis) – 50 g
- Agrimony (Agrimonia eupatoria) – 50 g
- Licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra) – 50 g
- Juniper (Juniperus communis) – 50 g
Chop and mix the herbs. Pour a liter of boiling water over five tablespoons, stir, cover and leave for 45 minutes. Strain and drink throughout the day in small sips.
Tea Blend for Afternoon Sleepiness
- Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) – 100 g
- Knotgrass (Polygonum aviculare) – 50 g
- Chicory (Cichorium intybus) – 25 g
- Licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra) – 25 g
Mix all the herbs. Pour half a liter of boiling water over three tablespoons of the mixture, stir, cover and leave for half an hour. Strain and drink throughout the day, divided into several doses, half an hour before meals.
Read also: 8 Foods and 3 Drinks for a Natural Liver Cleanse and Herbs for Anemia.
