If you are like me, you mistakenly thought England was the leading land of teas. After moving to Germany, however, I have discovered that Germans have more herbal tea remedies than I ever knew existed. And why not drink a nice cup of hot tea instead of taking pills or other medication? After all, before the invention of commercialized medicine, people had to take something to make their headaches, fevers, muscle pains and other various malaises go away. I also find herbal teas an especially mild and natural way to treat the discomforts of children, without exposing their delicate systems to medicines with potentially harmful side effects. In addition, certain herbal teas are wonderful for pregnant and breastfeeding women, not only for relief of symptoms which cannot be treated with conventional medicine, but also for support of the natural processes involved in becoming a mother.

Below is a list of herbal teas which I can recommend. As with all forms of medication, please keep them out of reach of your children. In addition, it is not wise to administer certain teas or ingredients for purposes other than those stated and do not subsitute ingredients; if in doubt, leave it out! Since I have all my recipes in German, I will list the ingredients in German, giving English translations when I am sure of them. All recipies unless otherwise stated are based on equal parts of all ingredients. You can find the ingredients at any Apotheke and at some organic food stores. Directions for use: pour boiling water over a teaspoonful of tea and let steep for 7-10 minutes. Of course, many teas can be purchased dried and in tea bags, but in order to get the full benefit of the tea’s ingredients, it is best to purchase the items fresh.

About the best herbal tea mixture for the entire birthing process from early pregnancy on through the early years of your child-to-be is what my organic food store calls "Babytee": it consists of Fenchel (Fennel), Anis (Anise) and Kümmel (Caraway) seeds. The basic function of this tea is to settle an uneasy stomach, which comes in quite handy for those pregnant women with morning sickness or any of its evil cousins. If your breastfeeding infant also has digestive difficulties, a few cups consumed by the mother will be passed on to the baby through the breast milk, thus bringing some relief without having to supplement with bottles. However, due to the mild nature of the tea, it can be given directly to breast-feeding infants. Furthermore, this tea also supports the lactation process. And finally, for a toddler or young child with a stomach ache, it is a mild way to bring him or her relief. The tea is mild tasting and a bit sweet due to the Anis.

Another tea especially good for children, but not good for very young babies or breastfeeding mothers, is what my organic food store calls "Kindertee" from the company Lebensbaum (which means "Tree of Life"). Due to its high Vitamin C content, it is good for children to help ward off colds and flues; but it is also the Vitamin C which makes it not so good for babies still in diapers and breastfeeding mothers (too much Vitamin C leads to evil diaper rashes). Ingredients: Hagebutte (Rosehips), Fenchel (Fennel Seeds), Melisse (Lemon Balm), Anis (Anise), Zitronengras (Lemongrass) and Orangenschale (Orange Peel). This tea has a delicately crisp fruity taste.

In addition, the above mentioned "Babytee" and "Kindertee" are excellent juice substitutes for children. The teas contain no added sugar (as do most ordinary fruit juices) and they do not contain any glucose, which is found in high concentrations in fruits and can lead to cavities if consumed in large amounts, especially through a bottle where the juice remains in longer contact with the teeth.

Here is the recipe for an excellent tea for pregnant women: Brennesselkraut (Nettles), Frauenmantel, Himbeerblätter (Raspberry Leaves), Johanniskraut (St. John’s Wort), Melissenblätter (Lemon Balm), Schafgarbenkraut and Zinnkraut. Story of the ingredients: The Frauenmantel lends gentle support to the hormonal changes of the pregnant body. The Raspberry Leaves help with the loosening up of the muscles, especially in the pelvic region; with circulation; and with the elimination of wastes, especially though the intestinal tract. The Nettles and the Zinnkraut help the kidneys with their waste elimination. The St. John’s Wort helps strengthen the nerves, and the Lemon Balm relaxes you. If you are suffering from low iron levels, the Nettles help out in this area too, especially if you add a few drops of lemon to your tea before drinking it. Finally, the Schafgarbenkraut helps with the coagulation of blood. This recipe and its story come from the book, Die Hebammensprechstunde by Ingeborg Stadelmann, and the tea has a neutral, herby taste.

During your pregnancy are you having: Trouble sleeping? Nightly leg cramps? An over-active uterus? Then try this tea: Baldrian (Valerian), Hopfen (Hops), Johanniskraut (St. John’s Wort), Majoran (Marjoram), Melisse (Lemon Balm) and Thymian (Thyme). Drink a cup or two before going to bed and it has a very relaxing effect, although the taste leaves something to be desired.

Looking for a decaffeinated beverage to enjoy during your pregnancy and breastfeeding months? Try Rooibos Tee (Rotbuschtee or Red Bush Tea). It comes from South Africa, and is an ideal tea-subsitute since it tastes like tea, looks like tea, but contains no caffein. Often you will find it infused with natural and/or artificial flavors (be sure to check the ingredients if you are senstivite about your food additives); vanilla, cinnamon, lemongrass, orange, rose, pineapple, peach, strawberry and caramel are just some of the flavors which you might find on the market. And since it contains no caffeine and comes infused in many yummy variations, it is also an excellent juice substitute for children.

Check out the website Traditional Medicinals for great organic teas, Tel. 1-800-373-3832.