Woodruff tea is a gentle home remedy that is traditionally used for a wide variety of complaints. Here you can find out how to prepare the tea and in which cases it helps.
Woodruff is best known as an aroma in desserts and lemonades. The intensely fragrant plant is also an old medicinal herb that is used fresh, as a tincture or as a tea.
Traditionally, woodruff tea is mainly given for the following symptoms:
- a headache and migraine
- sleep disorders and inner restlessness
- Indigestion
Overall, the tea is said to have a calming and antispasmodic effect. However, there are no studies on this.
Woodruff tea is made from woodruff that is collected and dried during flowering. You can buy the dried herb from some pharmacies or online.
Woodruff tea: this is how you prepare it
Woodruff tea
- Preparation: about 15 minutes
- Quantity: 0.25 liters
Ingredients:
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250 ml
water
-
1 teaspoon
dried woodruff
preparation
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Bring the water to a boil in the kettle or in a small saucepan.
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Put the dried woodruff in a tea strainer in a cup and pour the hot water over it.
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Cover the cup with a small plate and let the woodruff tea steep for ten minutes. Drink it while it’s still hot. Tip: If you want to use the woodruff tea for sleep problems, it is best to drink it shortly before going to bed.
Woodruff tea: tips and important information
(Photo: CC0 / Pixabay / zimt2003)
Woodruff contains Coumarin – a substance that is slightly toxic if consumed in excess. Therefore, you should never drink more than three cups of woodruff tea a day. According to the consumer advice center If overdosed, coumarin can cause headache, nausea and reversible liver damage. For this reason, children should not drink more than one cup of woodruff tea a day.
Important: Do not drink woodruff tea if you are taking blood thinners. This can lead to interactions.
You can also collect woodruff yourself when it is in bloom from the beginning of April to June and dry the plant parts for the tea. It usually grows in partial shade in deciduous and mixed forests. You can recognize it by its white flowers and fan-like leaves. To be on the safe side, you should determine it with the help of a wild plant book or an app before you pick it.
Read more on Techzle.com:
- Woodruff syrup: delicious recipe to make yourself
- Collect, identify, eat wild herbs: 11 tips
- Domestic medicinal plants: the strongest plants and their effects