Saturday, June 14, 2008

Linden tea, anyone?

These are linden tree blossoms, and their heady, sweet fragrance is intoxicating. There are many different species of linden trees, but the flower is the part that is most frequently used in medical preparations. Linden has been used in European folk medicine for centuries for a wide range of health conditions, and is used by some cultures to treat anxiety, although no clinical trials have confirmed its effectiveness. Some trials indicate that linden tea can help people with mild gallbladder problems, upset stomach or dyspepsia, and gastrocardiac syndrome. When taken as a hot tea, linden flowers induce a mild fever, possibly helping to increase the immune system's ability to fight infections. The fever also causes sweating to cool the body off. Tea time!

7 comments:

Annie said...

I have never seen linden flowers before, but they are so pretty and delicate.

Tash said...

Lipa! Lovely picture. I love the smell of linden flowers & remember liking the tea too. My grandmother used to pick them & dry them on sheets of spread out newsprint. My parents & I were so happy when we discovered a linden tree in our "new country" - in a park in NE Los Angeles in the early 70's. Thanks for invoking those memories!

Louis la Vache said...

"Louis", knowing Bibi is away from home, stopped by to make sure everything is OK.....

Janita said...

Hello all ! I am currently in the FYR of Macedonia with friends and we are leaving today for Greece. Will drop in from time to time!

"Bibi"

vero said...

Nice flower4, but I'm not sure thet iy' linden!?

Pat said...

They are!

Thérèse said...

Les feuilles de tilleul sechees sur des draps puis recueillies dans des boites en fer. A la moindre fievre nous y avions droit mes freres et moi...
Thanks for reminding me the sweetness of the souvenir as well as of the herbtea...

THE MARKET AFTER HOURS

 Merchants have all packed up and gone home....