Herbs for Digestion: Digestive Vitali-Tea

Although this strong and spicy digestive vitali-tea recipe can be served cold, both its flavor and ability to help digestion are improved when it is served hot.

article image
by Archangeli/Courtesy of Flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/archangeli/
Mixing the herbs into a loose tea is a tasty and practical way to treat digestion problems.
1 quart SERVINGS

Ingredients

  • 2-1/2 ounces (1 cup) astragalus root slices
  • 2 ounces (3/4 cup) ginger rhizome, fresh or dried
  • 2 ounces (3/4 cup) dried or fresh orange peel
  • 1-1/2 ounces (1/2 cup) hoelen
  • 1 ounce (1/4 cup) red ginseng (Panax ­ginseng)
  • 1 ounce (1/4 cup) licorice root

Directions

  • Combine ingredients, then simmer 3 ounces of the herb blend in 1 quart of water for 5 minutes in a covered pot.
  • Let the brew steep for 20 minutes, strain, and refrigerate.
  • Drink 1 cup morning and evening, preferably just before meals.
PRINT RECIPE

Although this strong and spicy tea can be served cold, both its flavor and ability to help digestion are improved when it is served hot. The ingredients in this recipe are easy to find at a natural foods store. Pregnant women and people with heart or liver disease or hypertension should avoid licorice.

More from: Herbs for Digestion


Christopher Hobbs’s case studies are gleaned from his thirty years of studying and practicing herbalism. Hobbs, a fourth-generation botanist and herbalist, is an Herbs for Health Editorial Advisory Board member and licensed acupuncturist. He is the author of St. John’s wort: The Mood Enhancing Herb, (Botanica, 1997), Stress and Natural Healing, (Botanica, 1997), and many other books.

Online Store Logo
Need Help? Call 1-800-456-6018
Free health and natural beauty tips from Mother Earth News!