Tag Archives: herbal remedies

September 22, 2021 · 6:48 am

Natural Healing – Flor de Azahar

Citrus × Aurantium (photo credit Zeynel Cebeci)

The word Azahar comes from the Arabic az-zahr which means flowers. This term can refer to the blossoms of el naranja, el limonero (Citrus × Limon), or even the cidro or citrón (Citrus medica) tree. Most often, Flor de Azahar refers to sweet orange flowers (Citrus × Sinensis) rather than bitter orange (Citrus × Aurantium). However bitter orange blossom is the preferred ingredient for the Mexican pastry pan de muerto.

Citrus trees are not native to Mexico. They arrived with the Spaniards in the 1500s and were embraced as both a flavoring and a medicinal component. One account of the town of Chapala records that Father Sebastián de Párraga arrived in 1562 and planted the first orange trees in the area.

Flor de Azahar is used to treat anxiety, insomnia, and as a digestive stimulate in traditional Mexican remedies. A tea made from blossoms and leaves is used as a remedy for anger issues known as muina or coraje. Adding 7 drops of rum or brandy to Té de Flor de Azahar (Orange Blossom Tea) is thought to help menopausal hot flashes and alleviate menstrual cramps.

Flor de Azahar is also used to treat tuberculosis in some areas of Mexico. Bitter orange (citrus × Aurantium) and sweet orange (citrus × Sinensis) have been shown to have anticancer, antianxiety, antiobesity, antibacterial, antioxidant, pesticidal, antimycotic, and antidiabetic activities. They have mild sedative effects, supporting their use in insomnia and anxiety treatments. Sweet orange (citrus × Sinensis) is an effective treatment for infectious diarrhea and both sweet and bitter orange have antimycobacterial activity supporting their use as a treatment for respiratory issues including tuberculosis.

Té de Flor de Azahar (Orange Blossom Tea)

Here are some simple remedies you can make using Flor de Azahar.

Anxiety Tea

Boil ¼ liter of water. Add:

1 tablespoon Flores de Azahar (Citrus × Aurantium)

Sweeten with honey. Drink 3 cups per day. The last cup should be drunk right before bed.

Digestive Elixer

1 liter of water
4 to 6 tablespoons of flores de Azahar (Citrus × Sinensis)
1 ½ kilo of sugar
2 tablespoons of rum

Boil until it gets syrupy. Take 1 tablespoon after each meal.

Insomnia Tea

Boil ¼ liter of water. Add:

1 tablespoon of Flor de Tila (Ternstroemia lineata)
1 tablespoon of Flor de Azahar (Citrus × Sinensis)
Sprinkle with canela (cinnamon)

Stress Headache Tea

Boil 1 liter of water. Add:

1 tablespoon Flores de Azahar (Citrus x Aurantium)
1 tablespoon Passiflora (Passiflora edulis)
1 tablespoon Flor de Tila (Ternstroemia lineata)
1 tablespoon Manzanilla (Matricaria chamomilla)

Steep for 10 minutes. Strain and enjoy.

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Interested in natural remedies? Uncover herbal remedies from traditional Mexican sources for healing and wellness in the Exploring Traditional Herbal Remedies in Mexico series.

Natural Healing — Toronjil Morado

I had quite a time identifying the Toronjil Morado (Agastache mexicana) that grows in my garden. The issue came with the general translation of toronjil as lemon balm, also known as Melissa. In certain remedies, these plants are used interchangeably since they both belong to the Lamiaceae family of plants. However, the two plants have very different characteristics.

Toronjil morado (Agastache mexicana) is Mexican giant hyssop and native to Mexico. The indigenous people of central Mexico used toronjil morado (Tzompilihuiz-xihuitl) as an inhalant to treat colds. A white-flowered subspecies, toronjil blanco (Agastache mexicana xolocotziana)(Tzompilihuitz-patli), was used in poultices for wound treatment. Other names for this plant include Toroji (Otomí), Agastaché mexická (Checo), Pinkil (Tepehua), Júpachi, and Noritén. Agastache mexicana was classified as a “hot” treatment (as opposed to dry, wet, and cold). Used in conjunction with ahhuachcho tonatiuh-yxiuh (tonatiuh ixiuh ahuachyo / tonatiuh yxiuh ahhuachcho) and incense (probably copal), it was used as a parasite treatment.

These days, toronjil morado is used mostly for its sedative effects in the event of espanto or susto (a sudden scare) or mal de ojo (the evil eye) in central Mexico. Don’t be too hasty to dismiss this lovely purple flowing plant because of its main uses, however. It has quite a bit to offer.

According to popular belief, symptoms of espanto or susto (fright) include loss of appetite, insomnia, depression, and paleness, some of which this plant can actually help with. Furthermore, toronjil morado is prescribed for stomach pain, excessive bile (coraje), cough, vomiting, chills, and anxiety, while toronjil blanco (Agastache mexicana xolocotziana) is sometimes taken to treat heart disease. Studies have shown that both varieties are anti-inflammatory, anxiolytic, (anti-anxiety), sedative and antioxidant. Toronjil blanco does indeed have anti-hypertensive and vasorelaxant effects, supporting its use for heart disease. According to research, it is toronjil blanco rather than toronjil morado that is more effective in treating stomach ailments such as ulcers, colitis, and abdominal pain.

Additionally, scientists have found that Agastache mexicana is an effective treatment for asthma, pain associated with inflammation, and can be used as a non-toxic botanical fungicide.

Anxiety Tea

Equal parts:

Toronjil Morado (Mexican giant hyssop) (Agastache mexicana)
Canela (Cinnamon) (Cinnamomum zeylanicum)
Flor de manita (Mexican Hand Tree Flower)(Chiranthodendron pentadactylon)
Tila (Tilia mexicana)

Boil for 10 minutes. Allow to steep 5 minutes. Strain and serve.

Insomnia Tea

15 to 20 grams of leaves Toronjil Morado (Mexican giant hyssop) (Agastache mexicana)
10 grams of orange tree leaves (Citrus sinensis)

Brew in one liter of water. Strain. Drink one cup before bed.

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Interested in natural remedies? Uncover herbal remedies from traditional Mexican sources for healing and wellness in the Exploring Traditional Herbal Remedies in Mexico series.

Ultimate Bundle Herbs and Essential Oils 2020

It’s that time again! A new Herbs and Essential Oils offering from Ultimate Bundles is available. Honestly, it’s hard to get essential oils where I live in central Mexico, so I’m only lukewarm about those items. But the herb stuff! Now that’s what I’m talking about!

With COVID and now the flu season kicking into high gear, I’ll be spending just as much time at home as I have for the past few months in self-quarantine. My fingers are tingling to get started on some of the resources in the bundle. Who wouldn’t want to try some Healthy Herbal Sweets? There’s an ecourse for that! EEEK! Exciting!

Herbs and Essential Oils Super Bundle 2020

Then for those of you homeschooling, there’s a Mom and Me Herb Bundle Lesson with printables to keep those little minds active! And the Quick and Easy Family Favorite Recipes: Use Essential Oils in the Kitchen to Make Your Food POP with Flavor! ebook will liven up your dinner table.

If you’re looking for gift giving ideas, then you can’t go wrong with the DIY Herbal Gifts for Men, Herbs and Essential Oils in Soap Making, Natural Facial Soaps, and Relaxing Home Spa: 24 Natural Recipes for Self-Care ebooks.

If you really want to dive into herbal lore, then Medicinal Herbs Materia Medica Starter Pack ebook, The Herb Study Notebook: A Printable Guide to Deepen Your Herbal Knowledge, One Herb at a Time printable, and Making Herbal Preparations 101 by Herbal Academy ecourse are sure to please. You know I’m a big fan of Herbal Academy courses!

If you are interested in what you can do to boost your immunity with herbs, then An Herbal Winter, Simple Remedies for Cold and Flu Season, and the Echinacea 101: How to Use Effectively During Cold and Flu Season ecourses will appeal. The Happy & Healthy Holidays: The Ultimate Guide to Using Essential Oils for Health, Home, & Hosting, Healing Kitchen Herbs: 12 Common Herbs With Powerful Medicinal Benefits, and Herbal Teas for Winter Health ebooks will certainly make interesting reading in that regard as well.

Available only through the Herbs and Essential Oils 2020 bundle from Ultimate Bundles.

Now, it’s time to toot my own horn here. My latest herbal compilation Traditional Mexican Herbal Remedies is part of the bundle. It includes 20 herbs, or rather 19 and miel sagrado (sacred Melipona honey) and their medicinal use by Mexican healers as well as scientific research on their effectiveness in treating a variety of ailments. This little book is ONLY available through Ultimate Bundles which will ONLY be available November 16 – 20.

All in all, you’ll get 18 ebooks (including mine), 11 courses, 6 printables and workbooks, worth a total of worth $684.36 for $37. WHOO HEE! I’m all set to liven up my self-quarantine with a little herb action! How about you?