Respiratory Tonic Tea to Support the Lungs

According to Chinese Medicine, the early fall is the time to watch for and prevent imbalances in the Lungs and Large Intestine. One of my favorite ways to soothe the lungs, especially as it begins to get cooler, is to drink lots of hot tea. Here is a great recipe from Rosemary Gladstar that includes many herbs you can find out in the wild or even in your own back yard. From Rosemary's Book, Rosemary Gladstar's Family Herbal: A Guide to Living Life with Energy, Health, and Vitality, " This blend is an effective and tasty tea for building strong, healthy lungs. It is especially helpful for children who have recurring respiratory problems such as colds, flu, hay fever, asthma, ear infections and general congestion. This tea is not necessarily the blend you might choose to use in the acute stages of a respiratory infection but, used over a period of time, it will aid in creating a healthy respiratory system."

Recipe:
4 parts fennel
4 parts rose hips
2 parts lemongrass
1 part calendula
1 part coltsfoot
1 part mullein
1 part red clover flowers

1. Combine all ingredients in an airtight container.
2. To make tea, boil 1 cup of water per 1 tbsp of herb.
3. Pour hot water over herbs and let steep for 30 minutes
4. Strain herbs and Enjoy in your favorite tea mug.