Herbal teas or tisanes, to give them their proper name, are made by infusing herbs in boiling water.

Herbal teas are made with fresh or dried herbs, flowers, fruit, roots, berries, hips and spices. They can be prepared from one type of herb or plant, or a combination of several, depending on the desired result and flavor. Since herbal infusions do not contain actual leaves from the tea bush, they are totally caffeine free.

For generations, herbal tea have been used in the Eastern world as a preventative measure and as a significant contribution to good health.

Avoid over steeping your herbs as some flavors such as peppermint can intensify and become rather medicinal instead of pleasant. Herbal teas can be enhanced with a little honey or natural sugar such as gur.

With a wide variety of health benefits, such as soothing effects, anti-viral aid, and detoxification, herbal tea has health benefits that go beyond mere hydration.

Apart from relaxing the body, most are high in vitamin C and rich in antioxidants. These antioxidants protect the human body from damage by free radicals, providing some protection against cancer, heart disease and stroke.

Herbal teas nourish our nervous systems and strengthen our immune systems. They ease cold symptoms, calm the nerves and relieve nausea, motion sickness, and dizziness.

It should be noted however that some herbal teas are not safe to drink during pregnancy. Chamomile tea, for instance, has been reported to have adverse effects on the uterus. Therefore avoid chamomile tea during pregnancy. Those that are safe to drink during pregnancy include citrus peel, ginger, lemon balm, orange peel and rose hip. Ginger, it should be noted, is known to ease morning sickness.

Sometimes, an infant with colic can be soothed by the mothers consumtion of chamomile tea. The chamomile enters the mother's milk and when the child drinks her milk it soothes his stomach.

Regular consumtion of these herbal tea beverages is proven to generate fresh breathe, rejuvenate skin tone and cool body temperature.

So remember, herbal tea is totally caffeine free, it is 100% natural without any chemical additions and it is a traditional health drink that is invigorating in itself and offers many medical benefits to health. Not only that but it leaves you with a lingering and wonderfully warm feeling of well being. Whether to warm you after a cold winters day or to soothe frazzled nerves, herbal tea is a calming way to go for many.