Habitat and Description
Mormon tea is a shrub that grows in the south western desert of the United States as well as Mexico. On dry rocky slopes, gravel terraces and canyon walls, often on limestone, at elevations of 800 – 2500 feet. You can almost always find them near old Indian ruins.
Some of the other names are Brigham tea, Squaw tea, Popotillo, and Joint Fir. Mormon Tea (genus Ephedra) is a woody shrub that grtwo to five feet high and wide. In some places in Mexico, such as the desert east of the Pinacate volcanic field, these plants can reach 15 feet tall.
Medicinal Benefits
Mormon tea can be used for colds. Flu, headaches, lung problems, water retention,and rheumatism.
It can be used safely for urinary tract problems as a diuretic and a urinary tract astringent and a moderate anti-inflammatory.
Externally as dressing for wounds.
Mormon tea is one of the best tea sources for calcium, if using for calcium make it fresh each time. It is helpful alone or with other plants for a women at risk for osteoporosis and in early menopause.
If drank on a regular basis it can help alleviate seasonal allergies.
Mormon tea does not cure asthma but it can help with the symptoms related to asthma.
It can help stem diarrhea.
Dried and powdered stems can be used externally as a dressing on wounds and sores.
It was used by frontiersmen to cure venereal or sexually transmitted diseases.( Not sure how well that worked lol).
How to use
Tea,You can use it fresh or dried to brew a tea and can be drank hot or cold. I mix mine in my peppermint and spearmint tea and drink it cold I use about 1/3 cup of each and brew a strong tea then add to a gallon picture and fill with water I do add sweetener . In the winter I will brew a cup of Mormon tea to drink hot I can’t drink coffee anymore so it is nice to have something that I can replace it with, and since it grows wild here it is free.
Have you ever used Mormon tea ? If so how did you like it?
Wow! I’ve never heard of Mormon Tea. Thanks for sharing all the ways this can be used. I really appreciate you linking up at Together on Tuesdays.
I love Mormon Tea. We also call it Brigham Tea in our family. My pioneer ancestors used it extensively, and it grows quite green in our area! When I was a little girl, out horseback riding with my Dad, we would pick a sprig and chew on it. The bitter tannic taste helped with thirst, believe it or not! 🙂 Great profile!
Heidi,
I love it also, I drink a lot of it and it grows like crazy around here so it free also haha. I hadn’t heard about it helping with thirst, I will defiantly have to try that.
Have a great day.
Connie
Could you please give the exact latin name? I’m trying to find it through Mountain Rose Herbs
Carol,
Hi the Latin name is Ephedra nevadensis, I guess I need to start adding that when I do the herb profiles. Hope this helps.
Have a great day.
Connie
Thank for sharing with us at Together on Tuesdays.
We have Mormon Tea growing all around here in Arizona. I’ve used it as tea a few times, but never thought about incorporating it into a tea blend. Thanks for the great idea. And I didn’t know it was high in calcium. Good to know. I’ll have to dry some and start drinking it again.
I’m visiting from Homestead Blog Hop. Have a wonderful Thursday.
Gleniece,
Thanks for stopping by. It is a lot easier to drink when mixed with other teas. Although it is good by it self, I just seem to drink more when it’s mixed with something else.
Have a great day
Connie
Interesting stuff. Thanks for sharing on the #WasteLessWednesday Blog Hop!
Hubby and I just returned home from St. George, UT. While there we walked through a dessert garden and saw the Mormon Tea plant. I am a Mormon and I was curious as to whether or not it was used for medicinal purposes. This post was great and answered all of my questions! Thanks for sharing with SYC.
hugs,
Jann