Good digestion is the crux of healing in Ayurvedic medicine.  Most of us, at one time or another, have directly experienced discomfort from making the wrong food choices, eating under stress, or on the run.  Though ideally you’ll learn to change your habits if you frequently experience discomfort, these three herbal digestive tea blends can help balance your digestion those times you ‘forget’ to eat right.

3 Digestive Tea Recipes

Metabolic Fire (Agni) Tea

Warming, increases metabolism, burns toxins

Ingredients-

• 2 T grated or minced Ginger Root
• 1 tiny pinch of Cayenne powder
• 1/4 tsp of Rock Salt
• 3 c Pure Water
• 1 tsp Honey (do not boil)
• Lime juice from 1/4 fresh lime (about 1 tsp – do not boil)

Preparation-

1. Bring all of the ingredients EXCEPT the honey and lime to boil in a pot.
2. Strain and add the honey, and juice of 1⁄2 lime.
3. Sip throughout the day, or especially before meals to encourage better digestion.

This tea is great to bring with you in a thermos when you know you will be going out for a heavy meal.  It’s quite spicy, and this pungency kick-starts your metabolic fire – gets the good juices flowing – so you have greater capacity to digest a meal.  It is not only beneficial short-term, but if used regularly before meals, can have a long-term effect on improving your metabolism.

CCF Tea

Cooling, carminative (expels gas), burns toxins

Ingredients-

• 1 T Cumin seeds, whole
• 1 T Coriander seeds, whole
• 1 T Fennel seeds, whole
• 2 c Pure water

Preparation-

1. Place all ingredients together in a small sauce pan.
2. Simmer over medium low heat for 5 minutes.
3. Strain and sip after meals.

You may double this amount to make enough tea to last you throughout the day! Room temperature is fine.

This famous tri-doshic blend of seeds is sipped after meals for aid the removal of toxins, the presence of which may be represented by gas pain or bloating after meals.  The ‘C’s stand for Cumin and Coriander, and the ‘F’ for fennel.

Cumin is a mildly pungent and very memorable aromatic which works to expel gas and relax cramping.  Coriander and Fennel are both cooling and soothing, and have the special quality of also burning up toxins.  Fennel adds a lovely sweetness to this otherwise savory mixture. A phenomenal digestive tea.

Licorice-Mint Tea

Cooling, calming

Ingredients-

• 1 tsp Dried Mint Leaves
• 1 tsp Dried Licorice Root
• 2 c Pure water

Preparation-

1. Place licorice root and mint leaves in a tea pot.
2. Pour 2 cups of boiling water over licorice and mint.
3. Allow to steep for 5 minutes.

This tea is great to sip after meals if you are experiencing signs of excess heat, like acid reflux, belching, or a burning sensation after eating.  It is also excellent for lung congestion during coughs and colds. A strong cup of mint tea is beneficial for any acute case of ‘tummy ache,’ in my experience, and licorice root has a lovely natural sweetness which can satisfy cravings for dessert (which would probably lead to further indigestion.)

Try one or try all three digestive tea blends and see which suits your needs.