Cup of fever tea with fresh mint leaves

I hope you are keeping healthy and avoiding ills and chills this winter. After a mild and easily managed bout of Covid we are all in good health and are taking plenty of natural remedies to stay that way.

However, if I find myself with symptoms of an illness I’ll definitely be making up a batch of fever tea.

This blend of herbs infused in boiling water helps to relieve fever, for children or babies you can make a larger amount and add it to their bath. The tea will keep for two to three days in the fridge.

Catnip is easy to grow, and although it doesn’t send out runners like other plants of the mint family it does shed a lot of seeds as it grows so I put mine in a pot instead of the garden. Most garden centres sell catnip seedlings.

Yarrow can be a little harder to come by, you can buy seeds for both catnip and yarrow from Kings Seeds. You can also used dried catnip and yarrow which you can purchase from these stockists.

Dried Catnip – Shaman.co.nz

Yarrow Leaf & Flower – The-apothecary.co.nz

Make a Cup of Fever Tea

1 teaspoon yarrow

1/2 teaspoon catnip

1/2 teaspoon mint

2 cups water

Try using a 1/2 cup of each herb instead to prepare an infusion and pour it into a warm bath for the child. This is a great solution for babies too young to drink this tea.

Instructions:

Boil 2 cups of water.

Place the herbs into a tea ball or fine strainer.

Once boiling, pour the water over the herbs and steep for 10 to 15 minutes.

Remove the herbs and discard.

Sweeten the tea lightly, if desired, and serve. This tea will keep 2 to 3 days in the fridge.

Dosing: Children can drink this tea freely until they feel better. Or give one infused bath, once or twice per day, until the fever goes away completely.

Good to Treat: Fevers

Contraindications: Do not give to children under 1 year of age in tea form; use it in a bath instead. Do not use with pregnant women. Nursing women may use it in bath form, or with the peppermint omitted.