Beating the Sickies

This week, we had two puny kids. Chloe had a stomach ache and Lydia had a hacking cough. So off to the herb cabinet I went. Peppermint to soothe Chloe's tummy and Wild Cherry Bark for Lydia's cough.
I made an infusion with both, but I did them differently because one is a leaf and the other is bark. With leaves, I use my tea press. I put a heaping teaspoon of the herb in the press, then add boiling water and let it steep for 10-15 minutes. I put about a teaspoon of raw honey in the cup and pour the tea over it. Chloe said, "It tastes like a peppermint candy!" For Lydia's cough, I take about 1/4 cup of Wild Cherry Bark in a 2 qt. saucepan and simmer it on low for 20 minutes.
Then I strain out the bark and toss that in my flowerbed (free mulch!) I put a bit of honey in the cup before pouring in the hot tea. I then refrigerate it for Lydia since she prefers cold tea.
By the next day, both were feeling much better.