Botanical Name: Tilia cordata
Energetics: Cooling, drying
Major Properties: Nervine, hypotensive
Examples of Uses: Headache caused by tension, hypertension, fever reducer
Parts Used: Flowers and bracts
Preparations:
Tincture
Dry - for tea throughout the year - lovely taste. However, tea made with fresh blossoms tastes
far better than tea made with dry. Makes a lovely iced tea for the summer, too.
Cooling both by the temp of the beverage and the cooling effects of linden flower itself.
Honey - loosely fill a jar about 3/4 full of fresh (but dry to avoid mold)) flowers and then add honey to the top. Cap tightly. Fresh flowers are definitely best for maximum sweet flavor and scent. So very lovely. I use it just on toast, in tea, medicinally as a throat coat if needed for soothing. I usually make a quart of this every year.
Personal Observations:
I've used it for reducing fever if it is making person miserable and they need some relief. Otherwise, I think a fewer is good for burning off a virus.
Have had good results for high blood pressure and headaches caused by HBP or tension. Studies show it helps by slowing down the overactive molecules.
Erin Piorier wrote an article on Linden Flower. Here's a link:
This brief overview merely highlights my observations. There is, of course, a great deal of information that you can find on the Internet or in books. Or better yet - get together with other herbalists and share your experiences!
Please add your own experiences so that together we can create a more comprehensive overview.
As always, if you have a chronic ailment that is not resolving itself or an acute issue, seek the attention of your physician.