Feverfew
Tanacetum parthenium
Leaf · cooling-bitter · easing
A small bitter leaf for a pounding head.
In the mouth
How it tastes
Bitter daisy, slightly camphor. Not a sweet cup.
Traditional use
The name is older than the science. Folk use chewed a fresh leaf or drank a light tea when the head closed in and the light felt too sharp. Bitter first, then a little ease.
In the cup
2–3 fresh leaves in a sandwich (the old way), or ½ tsp dried, steeped 6 minutes. Very bitter — honey helps.
Blood
Bitter blood · bitter
Bitter is first hot, then cold. It speeds digestion, moves lymph and waste, wakes circulation, and calls bile from the gallbladder. As that hot, caustic bile travels, the body cools — which is why the old bitter cups were given for fever. Bitter is the strongest medicine in this tradition.
Read bitter bloodReached for
The promise
A careful hand
Some people, or a long pot, need extra care.
Fresh leaf can sore the mouth. Avoid in pregnancy. Aster-family allergy possible. Not a daily chew for months on end.
Read the whole promiseSits well with
Lemon balm
Melissa officinalis
A lemon-leaf for a circling mind and a mild viral season.
Frayed nerves · Restless sleep · Feverish & flushed
Brighten, circulate, and clear
Peppermint
Mentha × piperita
The lift in the cupboard — head, belly, and a closed room.
Bloating · Indigestion · Headache
Brighten, circulate, and clear
Chamomile
Matricaria chamomilla
The evening apple-scent that settles both belly and mind.
Restless sleep · Frayed nerves · Bloating
Ground, build, and settle
Traditional kitchen and folk use only. This is not medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you are pregnant, nursing, on medicine, or unwell, ask a clinician before drinking anything as a remedy.