Peace Tea...

        The holidays have come and gone, and I admit I am imperfect.  Every year I swear that this will be the year I have it all together, house clean, children scrubbed and smiling, myself scrubbed and smiling (!), gifts wrapped, yummies baked, and decorations strung throughout the house and yard.  Every year, and again this year, it was not to be.  The house got cleaned, and the yummies were baked, but the smile was a tad forced.  Although I love the hustle and bustle of the Christmas season, I am not immune to the stress that comes along with it. 
       On top of all this, I developed an abscessed gum, which traveled from one side of my mouth to the other.  How it managed this, I'm unsure, but there it is.  I successfully treated the first abscess with Drastix tincture (topically and internally), but am still working on the second one which seems more severe.
       All this to say, stress got the better of me. 
       In an effort to soothe my frazzled nerves, and also deal with the abscess, I sought herbs that are both calming, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory.  I had made Peace Tea before, and felt that it fit the bill perfectly.  The chamomile is a gentle herb that is best known for it's calming effect.  It's also wonderful for stomach complaints, which often accompany anxiety.  What some don't realize is that chamomile is also wonderfully antibacterial, antiviral, and an excellent anti-inflammatory.  Lavender has many of the same properties, and is an even stronger calming herb.  Last, but certainly not least, comes the lemon balm.  With its pleasant minty, lemony flavour, it contributes greatly to the taste of the tea.  It is a calming herb, too, and strongly antibacterial and antiviral.  It should not be used by those with a hyperactive thyroid, however.  In this case, peppermint is a nice substitute! 
       Give it a try, and let me know what you think!

Peace Tea
2 parts chamomile flowers
1 part lavender buds
2 parts lemon balm (or peppermint)

Blend the herbs.  Use a spoonful in a cup of just boiled water.  If drinking for pleasure, steep covered for 2-3 minutes.  Any longer will result in a bitter tea.  For a therapeutic tea, steep covered for 10 minutes.  Sweeten with honey as desired.