Preparing herbs

Fresh plants have stronger healing properties than dried plants, but a fresh plant cannot be sustained for long. The main purpose of drying is to remove water from the plants and stop or weaken the activity of the enzymes. The faster the plant dries, the better the quality. The quality of the medicinal product raw material greatly depends on its drying. Only occasionally it is processed without drying.

The raw material containing essential oils is dried at a temperature not exceeding 40° C. Plants containing alkaloids, glycosides, mucus, yeasts, saponins are dried at 50-60° C. The juicy fruits are first ripened at a lower temperature, then dried at 70-80° C.

Direct sunlight destroys many of the active ingredients and, with the exception of some fruits, seeds, roots and rhizomes, it should be dried in a well-ventilated area protected from direct sunlight. The raw material dries better if applied in a thin layer and turned from time to time (not always raw material can be turned).

The dried raw material is stored in a dry, dark, cool, well-ventilated room. It is packed in bags, containers, boxes, etc., depending on the type of herb.

Here’s one herbal tea recipe to understand how much effort it takes to make these natural herbal tea blends

For many people, drinking hot tea is an integral part of treating a variety of cold season illnesses. Drinking properly selected herbal teas not only replenishes the body with fluids, but also aids in the fight against disease with the help of the elements contained in the herbs. Here is a recipe for herbal teas that everyone can not only make themselves, but also to grow or pick the herbs they need.

Tea consists of the parts of seven well-dried and crushed plants listed in the table below.

Name of the plant	Quantity in the tea	Notes:
Medicinal thyme	4 parts	Twigs with flowers are used
Oregano	4 parts	Twigs with flowers are used
Spearmint	3 parts	Only leaves are used
Pot marigold	2 parts	Only flowers are used
Sweet mock-orange	1 part	Only flowers are used
Bee balm	1 part	Only leaves are used
Birch	1 part	Only leaves are used

In the table, the quantities of plants are given in volume, for example, 4 parts of medicinal thyme means that the tea contains it 2 times more than pot marigold and 4 times more than birch leaves. Before measuring the quantities of plants, they should be crushed. The leaves and twigs of the plant are crushed by hand tearing. The chopped plants are mixed well and placed in a closed storage container.

The photo shows what the dried plants look like before crushing: the upper row, from the left – the pot marigold flowers, the monarda leaves, the sweet mock-orange and the thyme and the lower row – the oregano, the spearmint and the birch.

Tea is prepared by pouring boiling water on herbs. Leave it on for at least 10-15 minutes. The longer the time the tea is brewed, the more active substances will be released into the water. The longer the time the tea is brewed, the darker it becomes. When the water has cooled slightly, tea can be flavoured with honey. It is recommended to drink 1-2 cups of this tea per day as it has medicinal properties. For example, both thyme and oregano help with colds, improve digestion, strengthen the nervous system, and have other medicinal properties.

All the plants needed for tea can be grown on their own or found in remote areas of nature where they grow further from sources of contamination. The flowers and leaves of all plants should be harvested during the second half of May – June, when the flowers are in full bloom and the leaves are fresh. The harvested parts of the plants must be well dried. Dry in a cool, well-ventilated area away from direct sunlight.

Finally, we present the photos of all the plants that are part of the tea: