Elderflower, Yarrow & Peppermint Tea
- Aunt Plantsy
- Apr 14
- 3 min read
This tea, also known as Gypsy Cold Care, is a recipe that I learned from Rosemary Gladstar when I took her herbalism course at The Science & Art of Herbalism. It is great for reducing fevers due to colds and flu.
This tea has a refreshing taste and can be taken several times a day (up to 4x/day).
The ingredients are Elderflowers, Yarrow leaves and flowers, and Peppermint leaves. These are all grown organically and harvested from our property or foraged in local areas.
Elder (Sambucus nigra) berries and flowers can be used but for this tea, we use the flowers. They are both powerful diaphoretics. By inducing sweating, they reduce fevers. Elder also has immune-enhancing properties.
Some popular reported uses for Elder include, but are not limited to reducing fevers, skin infections, colds, strengthening respiratory system, flu, upper respiratory infections, inducing sweating, etc.
Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) leaves and flowers are used. I use both in this tea. It is also a diaphoretic.
Reported uses of Yarrow include, but are not limited to using internally or externally to stop bleeding, reducing excessive menstrual bleeding (menorrhagia), promoting sweating to reduce fevers, relieving menstrual and stomach cramps, stimulating delayed or absent menstrual cycles, beneficial for heart and lungs, lowering blood pressure, cystitis, flu, colds, hemorrhoids, etc.
Peppermint (Mentha piperita) leaves and flowers are used. I use the leaves in this tea. It is a stimulant, which can help make you feel renewed and energized. It also helps ease nausea and stomach cramps.
Peppermint has many reported uses as well. Some of them include but are not limited to easing digestive problems, burns, nausea, stomach cramps, freshening breath, easing muscle tightness, fevers, headaches, heartburn, colic, flatulence, irritable bowel syndrome, vomiting, cold and flu, mental fatigue, and inhaling for nasal or sinus congestion, etc.
HISTORY: “Elderberry has been involved in human history for centuries. The generic name Sambucus may come from the Greek word, sambuke, a musical instrument supposedly made from elderberry wood. For centuries the plant has had the reputation of healing the body, but in the elderberry’s golden age, it made music to heal the spirit. It provided the wood for Christ’s cross; and it was the home of the goddess Freya. It was such a healthful plant that seventeenth-century herbalist John Evelyn called it a remedy “against all infirmities whatever.”
“Yarrow figured in the Trojan war over 3,000 years ago when Achilles packed it on his comrades’ wounds to stop the bleeding. Some botanists say Yarrow’s scientific generic name, Achillea, came from this story. But others attribute the name to the discoverer of the plant, who also happened to be named Achilles. This plant developed a reputation for wound healing and was part of the battle paraphernalia right up through the American Civil War.” There are many other historical stories to be told about this wonderful plant.
“Peppermint’s scientific name, Mentha, came about when Persephone found out that Pluto was in love with the beautiful nymph Minthe. Jealousy burned within her and she changed Minthe into a lowly plant. Pluto couldn’t undo Persephone’s spell, but he did soften it a little so that the more Minthe was tread upon, the sweeter her smell would be. The name Minthe changed to Mentha and became the genus name of this herb, mint. The Greeks used mint in various herbal treatments and temple rites. Beginning in the eighteenth century, mint became an important medicinal herb. Peppermint and spearmint came to the New World with the colonists, who also used them medicinally. They drank mint tea for headaches, heartburn, indigestion, gas, and to help them sleep. They also drank mint tea for pure pleasure, especially since it wasn’t taxed, but also simply because it tasted good.”
(Rodale’s Illustrated Encyclopedia of Herbs)
Here are some of my resources:
The Science & Art of Herbalism by Rosemary Gladstar
Rosemary Gladstar’s Herbal Recipes by Rosemary Gladstar
The Way of Herbs by Michael Tierra, L.Ac., O.M.D.
A Modern Herbal by M. Grieve
Herbal Medicine of the American Southwest by Charles W. Kane
The Green Pharmacy by James A. Duke, Ph.D.
300 Herbs Their Indications & Contraindications by Matthew Alfs
Herbal Medicine from the Heart of the Earth by Dr. Sharol Marie Tilgner
Southwest Medicinal Plants by John Slattery
Rodale’s Illustrated Encyclopedia of Herbs by Rodale Press
Note: This product has not been evaluated or approved by the Food and Drug Administration to treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Please consult your healthcare professional before taking.
Please visit me online at www.peasbeewithewe.com
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