Labrador Tea

Labrador Tea has been used for generations by the Native peoples of North America and also in the northern parts of Europe where the Labrador plant grows.The Labrador Plant is an evergreen with medicinal properties.
It's uses range from the common cold,cough,upper respiratory infections to flu symptoms and upset stomach.It is also a common remedy for the effects of a hangover and while not a cure,it helps to alleviate the symptoms.Another use for this tea is to apply to skin sores and eczema to help relieve itching.If a strong enough batch is made it can also be applied to the hair to kill lice.Labrador Tea is also a rich source of Vitamin c,if you are suffering from a bad case of scurvy this is the drink for you ;)

WARNING:If you choose to follow this instructable please follow this link to the toxic effects of this brew:http://www.health-care-clinic.org/alternative-medicines/labrador-tea.html

The tea brewed should be drank in weak doses or watered down as was done in this instructable.Please be sure of the effects of this plant by following the link.
That said this tea is safe in small doses and the benefits are time tested and proven.

Step 1 Locating The Plant

The Labrador plant can be found in the evergreen forest.If you know of a place where the dominant tree species is spruce chances are you will find the plant.The Labrador plant grows out of the moss.Look for a boggy area with plenty of moisture and moss.
In the second picture the plant can be clearly seen protruding out of the snow.

Comments

[ColdFire5]

I grew up in the middle of Labrador, and you couldn't walk 2 feet into the woods without being surrounded by them, but never once did I think to try it for tea. What is the taste like?

[skaar]

first thought... don't you just boil a retriever? :P

[Xuthal]

haha good one. Actually it was named "Labrador" after the region in Canada it was first discovered by early European settlers. The region Labrador Newfoundland is also the place the dog breed got it's name from, mainly since they were bred there.
Droppin' some knowledge yo! :P

[skaar]

i's from nova scotia...

[supersoftdrink]

I couldn't find any clinical studies proving its benefits. Could you link some?

[Xuthal]

In all honesty if the medical benefits were verified it's highly doubtful they would be that easy to find.You would have better luck looking on a homeopathy website.The studies of most medicine are funded by the pharmaceutical companies.If it's found to grow in the wild and in abundance they wouldn't make any money by selling it when people can get it for free.

[etymological]

The argument that "Big Pharma" doesn't do any studies on "alternative medicine" because they can't make money off of it has never made a lick of sense.
They make plenty of money off of aspirin. Lots of medicine is made from natural sources and they can still make money off of it. They actually get pretty excited when they find something that works and has a cheap/free source, because it means they can refine the free source and mark it up for a profit.

Something else found in nature that companies make a fortune off of: bottled water.

[ChrysN]

I remember seeing someone was selling Labrador tea leaves a farmers market a while back, but it was rather pricey. I was wondering, how does it taste?