Herbal Spotlight: Lemon Grass

I have been utterly addicted to Lemongrass.

I've been using it cooking, I've been adding it to my massage oils, and I've been blending like MAD with it....face it, I want to be on a exotic tropical island locale, and lemon grass takes me there.

With its lemony scent and hint of rose aroma, lemon grass is an essential ingredient in Thai and Indonesian cooking. Lemon grass grows wild in Indonesia, Indochina, and tropical Australia, and it is cultivated in southeast Asia and Sri Lanka as a culinary herb and in India as a medicinal herb.

Medicinally (as a tea or the essential oil), it is used a digestive tonic, as it promotes the digestion of fats and stimulates the liver. With its warming aspects, it is an all around immune stimulant and is unique in its stress reduction capabilities - which I can believe, because if I was in Thailand, I'd be eating well and would be very happy...

Drink it, eat it, breathe it....
I'm sure you could even bathe in it, and I may just have to...

If you have not taken a trip to Thailand in a teacup,
I would invite you to do so.

I will share with you some of my favorite blends as of late...

Mad Pots of Tea! BLENDS INSPIRED BY LEMONGRASS

Kick Back & Relax:
Lemongrass, Oatstraw & Lavender

Autumn Spiced Hug:
Lemongrass, Fennel Seed & Ginger Root

Thai Chai:
Darjeeling Tea, Lemongrass, Orange & Lemon Rind, Ginger Root, Kava Kava, Black Peppercorn, Cardamom, Cloves and Tumeric-encrusted Coconut Flakes

That "Green" Tea

You probably haven't thought about it, but you could be wasting electricity (and money) by boiling too much water when you make tea. I know I never thought about it, but the good people at EcoKettle have.

In fact this UK company contends that "...if everyone stopped overfilling their kettles, we'd save enough electricity to power the nation's street lights for seven months." I love how they figure out kilowatts into practical terms such as a nation's average running capacity for all street lights -- I'm glad that's not my job to unearth these bizarre comparisons, but it has made me take a step back and think about my own tea-brewing practices.

It's a good thing the planet-friendly folk at EcoKettle have us covered. Their water brewing devise has 2 chambers, one to brew the correct amount of water, the other as a resevoir. The user's score is signifgantly lower than the editor's score. As I don't have one, I can't really give you my own review. I would however like to remind my readers that they should be able to enjoy their tea without creating a lot of waste.

Did you know? Boiling a kettle uses far more power than leaving a computer on overnight. Your tea can cost you less with the Ecokettle though, which thanks to sensible shaping and wiring uses an average of 31 per cent less power than your ordinary pot, and Ecokettle claims it’s even helped cut carbon emissions by 500 tons.

Other Tips for Greening your Tea:
- only boil as much water as you need
- use loose tea (less packaging!)
- never use paper or disposable cups
- compost your used tea leaves
- too much tea? not enough time? water your plants with any lukewarm/cold tea!

Sip Madly - and Responsibly!
Mdm Potts

Tea: Makes the Blood Boil

ok, so it doesn't make the blood BOIL, but it does support movement of the blood, which can only happen with heat and warmth (as cold constricts movement)...

This week's Tea Class about Circulation went extremely well and I was excited to see so much local interest. While teaching science is not my forte, talking about teas and herbs in relation to the science made for a fun discussion.

Circulation is not something we readily think about unless we are hampered by poor circulation. The more profound examples of poor circulation include varicose veins, hypertension, Raynaud's or Buerger's Disease, or stroke. Other common symptoms of poor circulation are found in cases leg pains, joint & muscle aches, hearing/vision problems, headaches, as well as forgetfulness, poor memory or lack of mental clarity or focus.

Now if you walk down the tea aisle of your natural health food store (or anywhere that has more than the Lipton/Celestial/Bigelow selections)...you will not see a tea that states "Enhances Circulation!". Face it, as a marketing concept, it's just not very sexy. What you will see is "Improves Mental Performance!" and other such brain-boosting statements...which really is just more blood to the brain -- a product of overall increased circulation.

Why is Circulation important - and doesn't that just happen naturally? (you ask)... Basically circulation is the act of blood moving from cell to cell. In so doing, it is the system that nourishes the health of each cell, which make up every tissue and organ and system in our body. Taking care of yourself on a cellular level is to attend to the smallest living part of our bodies in an effort to take care of the whole body.

And while yes, it happens naturally, it can be impeded. By strengthening the blood vessels and encouraging them to be open (science word: vasodilation) it allows a greater amount of blood into the far reaches of your body = more nourishment and waste elimination=healthier cells=optimum functioning!

Warmth gets things moving. Consider a tray of ice vs a pot of boiling water. Add heat and liquid becomes more viscous, allowing more movement. So the warmth of tea inherently helps, as does the anti-oxidant properties of white, green or black teas (anti-oxidant again is protecting the very nature and health of the cells). In addition, anything spicy warms the blood, so consider adding spices to your tea: cinnamon, cardamom, ginger, cayenne, black pepper -- all stimulating properties. Consider drinking more chai or adding a cinnamon stick to your usual cup of tea.

The other superstar in terms of circulation enhancement is Ginkgo Biloba. Containing unique properties that encourage blood to the brain, it is often the main ingredient in products such as Traditional Medicinals Think O2 or Yogi Teas Ginkgo IQ.

So relax with the knowledge that when you are drinking tea, you are drinking to your health!

Madam Potts: In Person: Tues 10/14

As the cool weather approaches, hints of Autumn spices and warm flannel blankets abound. What a better time to talk about my favorite subject - Teas and Herbs.

So, if you live in the local area, you are invited to join me, Madam Potts, as I will be leading a class in Teas, Herbs and Circulation this Tuesday @ 7pm at Page Chiropractic and Wellness in Atlantic Highlands, NJ. Call to RSVP: 732-291-5575 (seating is limited!)

Come and join the lively discussion on how to
GET THAT BLOOD GOING!

and of course, the class includes tea tastings!

Tea Blend: Indigo Dreams

Inspiration is a mystery. It leaves a path of indirect clues, dimly lit by perception and interpretation. Universal only in that Inspiration touches everyone's life - but how and why and what is inspiring to each of us is the key to Universe within.

Lofty, perhaps, but it is the way in which I create my tea (perhaps my life, but that is a longer story for a differnt blog, no?). The bits and clues that I am given inspire creation and these blends feel like friends; I realized how rarely I introduce my readers to these friend...these PersonaliTEAS out there.

For those who have been reading along, you are familiar with the concept of a PersonaliTEA - a tea or infusion inspired by the unique traits and preferences of a tea-loving person. And so without any further rambling, I would like you to meet my newest friend, a PersonaliTEA fondly named Indigo Dreams.

This soft jasmine tea opens like a flower on the tongue. Aromatic and soothing, designed to offer a sense of peace. A touch of violets, lavender, blue malva and jasmine petals added to spiral jasmine green tea lull you into a most restful state, here in my deep purple dreams.....