What can I do with bee balm?
The individual petals of bee balm flowers pull out easily and can be dried to make a beautiful bright red tea. In season, the petals can also be used fresh. Bee balm tea is a digestive aid that helps relieve nausea, upset stomach and gas. Like most herbal teas, it takes a bit longer to steep than a standard black tea, around 15 minutes.
What is Beebee balm?
Bee Balm herb is noted for its fragrance, and is a source of oil of thyme. The fresh or dried leaves are brewed into a refreshing, aromatic herbal tea. Other Names: Eastern Beebalm, Bergamot, Wild Oswego Tea, Horsemint, Monarda
Can you make bee balm tea from dried leaves?
Bee balm tea can be made from both fresh and dried leaves. I find the flavor of tea made from Monarda didyma to be rather strong. To make tea, start with about 1-teaspoon of crushed, dried bee balm leaves per 8-ounce cup of boiling water.
What are the benefits of bee balm tea?
Herbal tea prepared from bee balm is effective for combating oral problems like Dental Caries, Tooth Aches and Gingivitis. It is advantageous for the Stomach.
See more
What part of bee balm is edible?
All above ground parts of the plant are edible. The leaves and flowers can be eaten raw or cooked. Bee balm has a minty taste and a flavor similar to oregano. It also has a citrusy aroma.
Can you use bee balm leaves for tea?
Bee balm tea can be made from both fresh and dried leaves. I find the flavor of tea made from Monarda didyma to be rather strong. To make tea, start with about 1-teaspoon of crushed, dried bee balm leaves per 8-ounce cup of boiling water. Steep for at least 5 minutes and drink like regular tea.
How do you make bee balm tea?
InstructionsPut the water into a large glass jar or pitcher. Remove the flower petals from the bee balm stems.Add the bee balm to the water, giving it a good stir. ... Cover and refrigerate for up to 24 hours. ... Strain the tea through cheesecloth or a coffee filter and then keep chilled until ready to use.
Is bee balm toxic to humans?
It's leaves are used to make tea. Bee balm is not poisonous for humans. In fact, eating the leaves will not harm a cat, dog or other animals in any way. Despite not being poisonous to animals, eating parts of any plant can cause digestive upset to an animal.
What are bee balm leaves good for?
All parts of the plant are especially adept at treating digestive issues as the plant has carminative properties that combat a buildup of gas in the body. Additionally, the plant acts as a diuretic which can also help to soothe digestive problems. Bee balm is also a febrifuge, leading to its use in fever reduction.
What to do with bee balm after it blooms?
As your flowers start to fade, you should deadhead bee balm just above the next flower bud to encourage further flowering. Once a stem has finished flowering, trim it back down to the ground or pinch it off. This will encourage the plant to send up another blossoming stem.
How do you make bee balm tincture?
0:072:21How to Make Bee Balm Tincture - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd shove it into a jar. And if you just shove as much as you can into a jar it comes out to almostMoreAnd shove it into a jar. And if you just shove as much as you can into a jar it comes out to almost exactly a 1 to 2 extract which is per every 2 ounces of alcohol. We have one ounce of curves.
Are bee balm and bergamot the same thing?
One of the loveliest of the flowering herbs, Bee Balm (also known as Bergamot), is a great attractor for hummingbirds and bees. Known also as beebread plant, Oswego tea, horsemint, and simply monarda, its leaves have a strong fragrance reminiscent of the bergamot orange.
What is bee balm tea used for?
Hot bee balm infused tea has been used to relieve upper respiratory ailments like colds and flu. It’s often used to sooth indigestion, nausea , and menstrual cramps. It has purported anti-septic and anti-microbial properties because it contains a high proportion of thymol, and is used to treat stings, bites, and wounds.
How to make a bee balm infusion?
Instructions. Put the water into a large glass jar or pitcher. Remove the flower petals from the bee balm stems. Add the bee balm to the water, giving it a good stir. You can also add leaves if you like. Cover and refrigerate for up to 24 hours. I give the jar a shake every now and again to help the infusion along.
What did the colonists make with bee balm?
The story goes that colonists starting making bee balm tea in the Boston Tea Party era when they were boycotting British black tea, but the Native Americans were doing it way before that. You can make tea from fresh or dried bee balm. I use the fresh flowers to make a blushing pink iced tea, but you can make tea from the fragrant leaves, as well.
How long can you keep bee balm tea in the refrigerator?
Strain the tea through cheesecloth, or you can also use a coffee filter. Your strained tea will keep in the refrigerator for up to a week.
What is the use of muslin tea?
It is also said to be helpful for the treatment of depression. Native Americans used it to treat fever and chills. Herbal teas of all kinds can be soothing…try filling a small muslin bag with dried bee balm and adding to your hot bath in the winter for a relaxing aromatherapy experience…it’s sheer heaven!
How long does strained tea last?
Your strained tea will keep in the refrigerator for up to a week. Serve over ice, sweetened with honey, and a wedge of lemon, if you like. If you’d prefer to add sugar to your tea, just stir it in and give it time to dissolve. Sugar will dissolve in cold liquids, but it takes longer than it does in hot tea.
What is cold brewing tea?
Cold brewing is a method for making tea that relies on time rather than heat to infuse the tea. Granted it takes a little longer than standard tea kettle tea, but it’s a lovely back to basics experience not to be missed.
What is bee balm used for?
As with most members of the mint family, bee balm has often been used to help aid digestion issues, colic, gas, poor appetite, and vomiting. Bee balm tea is used by some natural medicine fans to help relieve menstrual cramps. Rubbing flowers from the plant onto the skin has been successful in repelling mosquitoes and other insects.
How to use bee balm for wounds?
The plant can be used as both an antiseptic and an antibacterial agent to help cleanse wounds and prevent infection. Soak a cloth in a bee balm tea and then apply as a compress to the affected area . To make a simple bee balm tea, chop the stems and flowers from the plant and add them to boiling water. Allow the tea to cool to the touch ...
How to make Oswego tea?
Oswego Tea Recipe. Place 5 teaspoons of dried bee balm leaves in a glass pitcher or Mason jar. Add 1/4 cup of dried chamomile flowers to the mix - optional. Add 2 teaspoons of dried rosemary leaves and flowers into the tea mixture. Add 1/3 cup of cut pineapple or apple slices into the tea pitcher or jar.
What is the most common way to use wild edible tea?
Both Oswego tea and bee balm tea are the most common ways the wild edible is used in natural homemade remedies. Native Americans used bee balm plants to make wild Oswego tea. Bronchial problems and stomach aches were the two primary problems tribes used the tea to treat.
What was the Native American tea?
Native Americans used bee balm plants to make wild Oswego tea . Bronchial problems and stomach aches were the two primary problems tribes used the tea to treat. Early settlers in New England also drank the tea, but for entirely different reasons.
What was the tea party after Boston?
After the Boston Tea Party, quality English tea was nearly impossible to find or afford, so a native wild tea soon took its place in the homes of most British immigrants. There are multiple Oswego tea recipes with slight variations. One of the most common tea recipes is detailed at the bottom of this report.
Where does bee balm grow?
Bee balm is a perennial herb that grows naturally in the Eastern United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Materia Medica : How to use Bee Balm - Uses and Benefits
Bee Balm is another name for Horsemint. The whole plant is valuable for medicinal purposes.
Bee Balm for Bloating
Cut Bee Balm leaves into pieces. Boil them in water for 15 minutes. Strain. Drink thrice a day.
How to use bee balm for anxiety?
5. Tincture. Bee balm can act as a nervine and is helpful to folks dealing with anxiety and depression. Make a tincture by filling a jar 3/4 full with fresh bee balm and then covering it with vodka. Let steep for 1 month before straining and storing. To use the tincture: Take 1 teaspoon in 8 ounces of water up to 3 times a day.
What is the best tea to give as a gift?
1. Bee Balm Jelly. Bee balm jelly is essentially just bee balm petal tea with sugar and pectin. It’s lovely in the jar and carries a light honey flavor with minty undertones. It’s delightful with cream cheese or simply spread on toast. Makes a great gift. 2.
How long should I steep tea?
To make tea: Cover 1 teaspoon of dried leaves and/or flowers with 1 Cup of boiling water. Steep for 15 minutes before straining and enjoying. Besides the medicinal benefits, the tea is just plain tasty on a cold winter night. 3.
Is bee balm a pollinator?
Bee balm is definitely a plant that pollinators of all kinds adore and while that is reason enough to have it in the herb garden it is also full of tasty and medicinal uses for us as well. If you want to get creative with this beautiful perennial try these 5 ways to use bee balm.
Can you take bee balm internally?
Who Should Avoid Bee Balm. Bee balm can interfere with certain thyroid medications, so be sure to ask a doctor if you’re taking one before using bee balm internally or externally. It can also be an issue for some pregnancies, check with an herbalist or doctor first before using if you are or might be expecting.
How to use bee balm tea?
I find the flavor of tea made from Monarda didyma to be rather strong. To make tea, start with about 1-teaspoon of crushed, dried bee balm leaves per 8-ounce cup of boiling water. Steep for at least 5 minutes and drink like regular tea.
What is bee balm?
Bee balm is a member of the mint family (Lamiaceae). There are over 15 species and over 50 different cultivars of bee balm that grow both wild and in gardens. Colors range from bright red to lilac to shades of pink and white. Monarda didyma is the variety I grow in my perennial garden bed.
How long does it take for bee balm to dry?
Depending on the humidity level, drying can take 1-2 weeks. The quickest way to dry bee balm is by using a dehydrator. Spread the leaves out on the screens and dry at a low temperature. Check every 30-minutes until completely dry. You can tell when the leaves are dry, by crushing a leaf or two.
How tall does bee balm grow?
Bee balm grows in a clump with 3-foot tall stalks. Most bee balm varieties are perennials and will grow in average to well-drained soil in full sun. You can grow bee balm from seed, but it establishes quicker when planted from divisions from a friend’s garden or purchased plants from your local garden center.
How to preserve bee balm?
How to Harvest and Preserve Bee Balm. Harvest mid-morning after the dew has evaporated for the greatest flavor. Harvest by clipping the base of the stalk. Gather the stalks by their stems, tie the ends, and hang to dry.
When does bee balm bloom?
Once established, bee balm is very trouble free and requires very little maintenance. Blooms begin in July and continue until late summer. Deadheading spent blooms will prevent seeds from self-sowing and encourage the plants to continue to flower longer.
Is bee balm tolerant of mildew?
The native types of Bee Balm are vulnerable to powdery mildew. Plant in full sun and provide plenty of air circulation or seek out varieties that are more tolerant to powdery mildew. Bee Balms prefer moist soil that is rich in organic matter.
What is bee balm used for?
Externally, Bee Balm is used as an application for skin eruptions and infections.
What is the name of the tea that is made with red bee balm?
Author information 1 Belgorod State University, Russia. (c) K.Bergeron. Red Bee Balm, Monarda didyma, is also known as Oswego Tea. Bergamot’s distinctive aroma, found in both the leaf and flower is wonderful for use in potpourri.
How many flowers does bee balm have?
Bee Balm has showy, red, pink, or lilac flowers in large heads or whorls of about 20-50 flowers at the top of the branching stem, supported by leafy bracts, the leaflets are a pale-green color. The stem of Bee Balm is square, grooved and hard; and about 3 feet high.
Why did the colonists use bee balm?
It was used by colonists in place of English Tea after the Boston Tea Party, when they threw the English tea in the harbor to protest the high taxes imposed on it by the British. Bee Balm was used as a healing plant by Native Americans who recognized four varieties that had different odors.
When does bergamot bloom?
Wild Bergamot flowers bloom from June to July. Gather edible leaves and flowers in bloom, dry on small bundles in paper bags in a dry, well ventilated area. Bee Balm can be used as tea, or as an aromatic suitable for sachets and potpourri.
Where does bee balm grow?
It grows in dry thickets, clearings and woodland edges from Ontario and British Columbia to Georgia and Mexico. Bee Balm has showy, red, pink, or lilac flowers in large heads or whorls of about 20-50 flowers at the top of the branching stem, ...
What is the use of herbal infusions?
An herbal infusion is used internally in the treatment of colds, catarrh, headaches, and gastric disorders, to reduce low fevers and soothe sore throat, to relieve flatulence, nausea, for menstrual pain, and insomnia. Steam inhalation of the plant can be used for sore throats, and bronchial catarrh (inflammation of the mucus membrane, ...
