Tea Infusion Update

It's been over eight weeks now, since I have been drinking the "high calcium" tea mixture.   First, let me begin by telling you all why I tried the tea.
Physician suggestions for me where taking calcium with magnesium and/or biotin.  For over two years, they made zero difference with my nails.  I've struggled with brittle, splitting, slow-growing, nails my entire life.  With my nails being brittle, I too could have a bone issue later in my life, so I was trying this out for me and for Mom.

Almost every one of my fingernails are split at the white part.  A calcium situation inherited possibly?

Hence the tea, and what was I to lose by trying?  I did research the two herbs in this tea, and made sure it was healthy, non-toxic etc.  

Just remember I have a disclaimer on my blog.  I'm not a doctor, just sharing my experience with this.  Also, some herbs cannot be taken with certain prescriptions, so always ask your doctor and inquire.


The tea is made with (organic) 1/2 cup of nettle and 1/4 cup of oatstraw, topped with boiling water into a quart jar.  I let this sit anywhere from 8 to 12 hours, then strained it.  I had one cup (one quart lasts about 3 days of tea, using about 1 glass/cup as a serving).  I enjoyed it cold.  It is said you can have it either way (hot or cold).   I've read that some teas can be infused for 12 hours (or overnight), but I find that after 8 hours, this tea becomes too bitter.

The results at eight weeks?  My nails are worse than before.  I'm guessing because the entire nail has not had time to grow completely out yet.  In fact, they are worse than before - weak, brittle, peeling more, etc.  However, they are growing.  So, I'm still going to continue until I see how my nails grow, and if they will eventually change.  So far, research shows that our nails grow 1/10th of an inch a month.  I may not have any more results to share until six months into trying this tea infusion.   Maybe July?

I am finding many sources of information on oatstraw on the internet, and very little in actual books, so I was skeptical.  I ordered all the "tea infusion" books I could, but the library was very limited on this topic

After reading about the fingernail health, I was even more interested when I found several sources stating that oatstraw is "anti-osteoporosis."  One source (again online) stated that a doctor claimed it to "heal broken bones."  I found this interesting as well, but skeptical, because I could not find written sources at our library.  I did find many other books through the bookstores, but I can't afford to buy them all, so those will have to wait.  

Oh, and I found out there are many more benefits from both of the nettle and oatstraw.  I have been drinking nettle tea for a year or so, for allergy relief, but learned much more about it now that I took the time to read up on it.  One source stated it is good for "arthritis, and sciatica" (both that I struggle with, and so does Mom).  There were many other benefits, so I highly suggest you get the books and read up on every herb you want to try, before you try it.  

I'll be doing more research on other tea infusions (for health), so stay tuned.

This herbal stuff is frustrating to say the least.  I get contradicting information.  One source suggested I infuse the two together as I did.  Another suggested to infuse them separately and drink one tea one day, and the other the next.  I just have to keep researching it.   Maybe infuse the nettle, drink it until it's gone, then infuse a quart of oatstraw?  I wonder if I'd get more nutrition from the infusion that way?  Until my six months have been reached, I'll keep infusing it together.

If you are looking for good herbal tea recipes, you might want to sign up to follow Mountain Rose Herb's blog. They post a "Sunday Steep" recipe, along with other recipes and suggestions.