Super Skin Tea to Build Collagen

Collagen is the key to keeping skin smooth and resilient. It is a major structural component of skin that decreases as we age, resulting in wrinkles and sagging skin. There is no evidence to show that consuming collagen will increase its levels, so we are left to ingest foods and herbs that stimulate the production of collagen.

Minerals such as silica as well as vitamins A, C, and D encourage the body to create its own collagen. Although there are foods that contain these constituents, the best way to consume them is in a tea, where minerals and vitamins are extracted at a higher concentration.

Last summer I wrote about applying vitamins A, C, and D topically because those vitamins can work their magic through the skin.  Silica, on the other hand, must be consumed internally to do its work.

Calendula provides 100 times more vitamin A by weight than a sweet potato

The following tea recipe contains herbs that have the highest amounts of silica, vitamins A and C.  Peppermint, an antioxidant,  is thrown in for flavor, but it also contains vitamins A and C. Antioxidants combat oxidation (aging) of our skin.

 Super Skin Tea Recipe

1 part horsetail (highest concentration of silica of any source)
3 parts nettle (silica, vitamins A and C)
3 parts rose hips (more vitamin C by weight than any other source)
2 parts calendula (highest source of vitamin A)
1 part raspberry leaf (vitamin C, antioxidant)
3/4 part peppermint (antioxidant, vitamins A and C)

For a typical tea, steeping 10 minutes is adequate, but the constituents will be extracted to the maximum with a super-decoction—four hours or more.  You can make a pot to store in the refrigerator and drink it iced or warm it up as a hot tea.