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Herbal Teas - Healthy Beverages from Nature's Pharmacy

Herbs had been used by all cultures throughout history and herbal medicine is the oldest form of healthcare known to mankind. Much of the medicinal use of plants seems to have been developed through observations, and by trial and error. Women with a knowledge of herbal medicine were often hunted and hanged.

Some 1200 years ago Charlemagne encouraged his tenants to plant herbs onto his private estate. Under Charlemagne, plants for the first time were catalogued. These records contain regulations concerning the instruction of the youth, the improvement of agriculture and the design of gardens. Many herbs that were used for healing purposes then, are still around now. Many herbalists became skilled in medicinal herbs through the study of Charlemagne’s gardens, and Hildegard von Bingen was one of them. Even though the teachings of these “experts” varied greatly back then, they all had one thing in common: their doings were approved by the Catholic Church.

For self-educated herbalists the story was a different one. Most of their knowledge was a result of their own experiences, folk memory and oral lore. After 1300 A.D., the image of the folk herbalist changed from helpful wise woman to evil witch. Accusations of "sexual intercourse with the Devil" were typically accompanied by testimony that the alleged witch practiced herbal medicine and made healing mixtures, cosmetics, love potions, aphrodisiacs, abortifacients and poisons. After the witch-hunts, herbalists like Hildegard were largely forgotten but some of their knowledge lives one.

Recently there has been a revival of interest in herbalism, not least thanks to the wellness craze. Today herbal remedies and treatments are the “dernier cri” at spas and modern wellness drinks contain herbs that have an either stimulating and invigorate or calming effect. In realty they are nothing but good old herb teas in a new wrapping.

Tip:

Today it is easy to find information on medicinal herbs and how to use them, and most plants can easily be purchased in pharmacies. In Tirol you can go a step further tough and combine your interest in medicinal herbs with healthy field trips. Many tourist boards, hotels and coaches organize “herb hikes” which offer a hands-on experience in gathering and crafting homemade herbal remedies.