Mixing Kidney Teas Yourself: Recipes According to Hildegard of Bingen

Water is the element of cleansing – and hardly any tradition knows how to use it as precisely as the monastic medicine of the Middle Ages. Hildegard von Bingen, the visionary abbess and naturalist of the 12th century, left us a rich herbal knowledge that is still valued in natural medicine today. Especially her recommendations for soothing herbal teas are timelessly fascinating – and mixing your own carefully composed kidney tea is one of the most beautiful ways to keep this knowledge alive. In this article, we show you which herbs Hildegard knew, how you can mix your own kidney tea from them, and why this ancient tradition can be a wonderful addition to a conscious lifestyle today. Hildegard von Bingen products

Hildegard von Bingen and her herbal wisdom: A tradition that endures

Hildegard von Bingen (1098–1179) was much more than a convent woman. She was a mystic, composer, theologian – and one of the most important naturalists of her time. In her main works Physica and Causae et Curae, she described hundreds of plants, animals, and minerals and their traditional uses for humans. Her herbal knowledge was not merely a collection of folk wisdom but a systematic understanding of nature based on observation and experience, which she integrated into a holistic doctrine of health and lifestyle.

For Hildegard, humans were part of nature, and nature offered everything needed for a balanced life. She spoke of Viriditas – the green life force inherent in all living things – and saw herbs as carriers of this healing energy. Her understanding of herbs was always embedded in a larger picture: nutrition, daily rhythm, inner attitude, and connection to nature were inseparably linked for her. This holistic perspective makes her teachings still inspiring today for people seeking a natural lifestyle.

What is particularly remarkable is how precisely Hildegard assigned specific herbs to certain body areas and seasons. Her descriptions sometimes read like poetic observations of nature, but they always contain concrete instructions on preparation, dosage, and application periods. For the kidneys and the water in the body, she recommended a number of herbs that are still considered valuable in traditional herbal medicine today. Hildegard von Bingen products

“The kidney is the hearth of warmth in humans” – this is how Hildegard of Bingen described the importance of this organ for overall well-being in the Physica. Her recommendation: warm, aromatic herbal teas that invigorate the body from within and support the natural balance.

The monastic medicine that Hildegard so significantly shaped is today the subject of growing interest—both in naturopathy and cultural history. More and more people are discovering that the knowledge of medieval herbal medicine is not only historically interesting but can be integrated as a living practice into everyday life. Mixing herbal teas yourself according to traditional recipes is a particularly sensual and connecting form of this engagement.

The most important herbs for kidney tea: What Hildegard recommended

Hildegard of Bingen named a whole range of herbs in her writings that she associated with water and internal cleansing. Her knowledge remarkably aligns with what generations of herbalists after her also described as traditionally valuable. The following selection is based on the transmitted sources and supplemented by plants closely linked to Hildegard’s school in European monastic medicine.

These herbs were traditionally valued in monastic medicine for kidney teas:

• Nettle (Urtica dioica): Hildegard valued nettle as a powerful spring herb. It has been traditionally used for centuries and is one of the best-known plants in European herbal tradition related to inner balance and water processes in the body.
• Goldenrod (Solidago virgaurea): Known as "wound herb" in medieval monastic medicine, goldenrod has been mentioned for generations in traditional herbal medicine in connection with the body's water balance. Hildegard recommended herbs of this category for spring and autumn cures.
• Horsetail (Equisetum arvense): The ancient plant being horsetail, which has inhabited the earth since the Jurassic period, was regarded as a water plant in monastery gardens. Traditionally, it is used in teas dedicated to inner balance and well-being.
• Birch leaves (Betula pendula): For Hildegard, the birch symbolized purity and new beginnings. Birch leaf teas are among the classic spring herbs of monastic medicine and are traditionally associated with the inner awakening of spring.
• Lovage (Levisticum officinale): In the medieval monastery garden, lovage grew as an indispensable medicinal herb. Hildegard described it in the Physica and traditionally recommended it for general well-being – especially in connection with the body's heat regulation.
• Parsley root (Petroselinum crispum): Hildegard von Bingen devoted a section to parsley in the Physica. She called it an herb that warms the body from within and was traditionally used in monastic medicine as a tea ingredient for autumn and winter.
• Juniper berries (Juniperus communis): Juniper held a special place in Hildegard's plant cosmos – as a plant of warmth and inner strength. Traditionally, juniper berries were used in teas and herbal blends dedicated to well-being during the cold season.

What connects these plants is their long history in European herbal medicine and their anchoring in the tradition of monastic herb gardens. Hildegard von Bingen did not "invent" many of these herbs – she documented them, organized them into a system, and linked them with her own natural philosophy. This makes her writings such a valuable source: they are a window into the herbal knowledge of entire generations. Hildegard von Bingen products

The plants of the Hildegard tradition have been passed down for over 800 years – their knowledge of nettle, birch, and goldenrod is deeply rooted in European herbal medicine and still inspires natural health enthusiasts worldwide today.

What is behind these herbs?

Nettle, goldenrod, and birch leaves have been part of traditional herbal teas in European herbal medicine for centuries. They are not used as remedies but as a complement to a conscious, nature-connected lifestyle – in line with Hildegard's philosophy: adding what corresponds to human nature instead of interfering.

Three kidney tea recipes to mix yourself: From spring to autumn

Mixing your own herbal teas is a deeply satisfying activity. The scent of the herbs, the weighing, the conscious blending – all of this makes mixing a small ritual that brings a quality of silence and mindfulness into the hectic everyday life. Hildegard of Bingen recommended always choosing herbal teas in harmony with the seasons and the needs of your own body. The following three recipes follow this idea.

For all recipes: The herbs should be organic quality, preferably from certified organic cultivation or your own garden. For preparation as an infusion, use about one level teaspoon of the finished mixture per cup (approx. 200 ml), pour over with freshly boiled water (no longer bubbling boiling, approx. 85–90 °C), and let the tea steep covered for 8–10 minutes. Covering is important so that essential oils do not escape. Then strain, drink calmly – and enjoy the moment.

Hildegard recommended always drinking herbal teas warm and slowly – never in a hurry, but as a conscious pause. This aspect of the ritual is not an add-on for her, but part of the effect: the body receives the plant substances differently when the mind is calm and open. A beautiful thought that perhaps speaks to us today more than ever before.

Recipe 1: Spring Tea according to Hildegard – "The Green Awakener"

For about 50 g of mixture:
• 20 g nettle leaves
• 15 g birch leaves
• 10 g dandelion leaves
• 5 g horsetail

Preparation: Mix all herbs well and store in a dark, airtight container. Use 1 tsp of the mixture per cup, steep covered for 8 minutes, then strain. If desired, add a small drop of birch honey.

Hildegard's idea behind it: Spring was for Hildegard a time of renewal and inner awakening. Nettle and birch represent this energy of new beginnings in her tradition.

Recipe 2: Summer Tea – "The Quiet Companion"

For about 50 g of mixture:
• 15 g goldenrod herb
• 15 g nettle leaves
• 10 g horsetail
• 10 g horsetail (field horsetail)

Preparation: Mix herbs well. Use 1 tsp per cup, pour over with water that is no longer boiling, let steep covered for 10 minutes. This tea is especially suitable for calm summer evenings – also wonderful chilled as an iced infusion.

Hildegard's idea behind it: In summer, when the plant world is in full bloom, Hildegard recommended light, clarifying herbs that support the body's natural balance in the heat.

Recipe 3: Autumn and Winter Tea – "The Warm Root"

For about 50 g of mixture:
• 15 g parsley root (dried, finely chopped)
• 15 g lovage root
• 10 g juniper berries (lightly crushed)
• 10 g nettle leaves

Preparation: First simmer roots and juniper berries for 5 minutes as a decoction (gentle simmering), then add nettle leaves and let steep covered for another 5 minutes. Strain and drink warm. Caution: Juniper berries should only be used in small amounts; this tea is intended for occasional enjoyment, not for long-term daily consumption.

Hildegard’s idea behind it: Autumn and winter were for Hildegard times of introspection and warmth. Roots and seeds – the powerful things hidden underground – symbolized inner strength and endurance for her.

Blending your own herbal teas according to traditional recipes is much more than a pleasant pastime – it is a form of conscious self-care that connects us with a centuries-old tradition and brings a new quality of mindfulness to everyday life.

Blending tea as a ritual: How to integrate Hildegard’s herbal wisdom into your daily life

Hildegard von Bingen lived in a time when life followed clear rhythms – seasons, prayer times, work times. For her, this rhythm was no coincidence but an expression of a divine order, which humans best align with through mindful living. Her herbal knowledge was therefore never to be thought of separately from this way of life. Even today, we can learn from this attitude: a tea that is consciously blended, prepared, and drunk is more than the sum of its herbs.

When you start blending your own herbal teas, it’s worth keeping a small herb journal. Note which blends you’ve tried, how they tasted, and how you felt. This might sound unusual – but it’s exactly this kind of mindful observation that Hildegard herself practiced. She was a keen observer of nature and humans, and this attentiveness was the foundation of her knowledge. Keeping an herb journal connects us to this tradition and wonderfully sharpens our own perception of nature.

Practically speaking: A small corner in the kitchen or bedroom where your herbs are stored in pretty jars is already the first step towards a lively herbal routine. Label the jars with plant names and harvest dates, buy your herbs in organic quality – preferably from vendors who value controlled origin and quality. Hildegard von Bingen products Visiting a monastery shop or a herb market can also be a wonderful way to discover new plants and expand your own repertoire.

Modern herbal research is increasingly concerned with the traditions of medieval monastic medicine. Scientists like Dr. Wighard Strehlow, who has studied Hildegard’s work intensively, emphasize that many of the plants she described still play an important role in traditional European herbal medicine today – an impressive testament to the enduring nature of this knowledge.

A particularly beautiful aspect of mixing herbs is its social dimension: mixing and gifting herbal teas yourself is one of the most personal forms of giving. A jar of homemade spring tea, lovingly labeled and accompanied by a note about the Hildegard tradition – that is a gift that carries a story. Hildegard shared her knowledge with the community, and we too can share and pass on herbal knowledge.

For those who want to dive deeper into the world of Hildegard herbs, Hildegard von Bingen products offer a good starting point for further content and suitable products. Those who want to expand their focus beyond kidney teas will find complementary traditions of monastic medicine in the liver products from Bitterkraft section, and those interested in the big topic of fasting and internal cleansing will find what they need under fasting products.

Quality and sourcing: What to look for when buying your herbs

Not all herbs are the same. The quality of an herbal tea depends entirely on the quality of the plants used – and this depends on cultivation, harvest, drying, and storage. Hildegard herself lived in a time when monastery gardens grew and harvested herbs for their own needs. This control over the entire value chain is an ideal we can strive for today, even if we do not have our own garden.

When buying medicinal herbs, organic certification is a good first indicator, but not the only criterion. Also pay attention to the origin, the condition of the herbs (no dust, no browning, no mold), the harvest date (fresh is better than very old), and the scent – a good herbal product should smell aromatic and lively. Loose organic herbs from small, specialized shops or trusted online retailers are often the best choice.

For high-quality organic herbs – ideal for mixing yourself according to Hildegard’s recipes – it’s worth taking a look at the selection on Bitterkraft.com. Here you will find selected herbs and blends that consistently focus on quality and origin. Hildegard von Bingen Products

Those who want to grow their own herbs will find wonderful inspiration in Hildegard’s herbal garden tradition. Nettle, parsley, and lovage can also be cultivated on the balcony – and there is hardly anything more satisfying than mixing your own tea from home-grown herbs. This brings us back to Hildegard’s basic idea: Humans are part of nature, and when they nurture this connection, they do themselves good.

One last note on storage: Mixed herbal teas should be kept in well-sealed, light-proof containers – preferably made of glass or ceramic. Direct sunlight and moisture are the biggest enemies of herb quality. Properly stored, homemade herbal teas retain their quality for up to a year. Label each blend with the name and mixing date – this way you keep track and always know when it’s time for fresh herbs.

In short – this is what you need for your first homemade kidney tea:

• High-quality organic herbs (nettle, birch leaves, goldenrod, horsetail, etc.)
• A fine kitchen scale
• Airtight, dark storage containers
• A tea strainer or tea filter
• Fresh, good water (filtered or spring water)
• Some time and leisure – the most important thing of all

And perhaps: a small notebook for your personal herbal diary.

The knowledge of Hildegard von Bingen is not a museum that we observe from the outside – it is a living source from which we can still draw today. Mixing your own kidney tea according to traditional herbal recipes may be a small gesture, but it connects us with a long line of people who have seen nature as a companion, not just a resource. In this spirit: To your well-being – with a steaming cup of homemade herbal tea. Hildegard von Bingen Products