Herbal Chai as a Base

In the Village Herbalist on www.herbmentor.com, Heather Nic an Fleishdeir gave a recipe for a chai men's tonic, a basic chai recipe along with sarsparilla, burdock root, and saw palmetto. I made up a batch for my dad omitting the sarsparilla (due to prostate troubles) and adding nettle root and parsley root.

Using these warming and yummy herbs as a medium for other herbs is really a fun way to administer herbs. Especially when it is constitutionally appropriate, as for people who tend to be cold and damp.

Also, in the comments section of my last post on chai, Kiva recommended adding black peppercorns as well - sounds good - I'll have to give it a try.

Immune Support Chai
dried burdock roots, two parts;
Astragalus root, two parts
cinnamon, one part. (a cinnamon stick or two works great, I use cinnamon chips)
dried or fresh Ginger root, one part
cardamon, I like the hulled seeds ½ part
cloves – 3 or 4 whole cloves

Men's Chai Tonic
dried burdock roots, two parts;
Saw Palmetto berry, two parts
Sarsaparilla, one part (not for prostate cancer)
cinnamon, one part. (a cinnamon stick or two works great)
dried or fresh Ginger root, one part
cardamon, I like the hulled seeds ½ part
cloves – 3 or 4 whole cloves

Men's Chai Tonic II
dried burdock roots, two parts;
Saw palmetto, two parts
Nettle root, one part
Parsley root, one part
cinnamon, one part. (a cinnamon stick or two works great)
dried or fresh Ginger root, one part
cardamon, I like the hulled seeds ½ part
cloves – 3 or 4 whole cloves

And my new favorite blend for menstrual cramps. I got the idea from Lesley Tierra who recommends using cinnamon to warm and unblock channels, alleviating coldness that causes menstrual cramps. She recommends taking capsules starting a few days before a woman gets her moon. I'll sip my chai instead. :)

Women's Crampbark Chai
Crampbark, two parts
cinnamon, one part. (a cinnamon stick or two works great)
dried or fresh Ginger root, two parts
cardamon, I like the hulled seeds ½ part
cloves – 3 or 4 whole cloves