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Herbal Tea – No
Wonder They Are So Popular
When you consume an organic herbal tea or buy an herbal tea remedy,
you are actually drinking tisane. Herbalists define tisane as an infusion
made from the fresh or dried roots, leaves, seeds,
or flowers of plants
other than Camellia sinensis (the tea bush).
You may also purchase herbal tea extract which is a concentrated mixture
of the given infusion meant to be mixed and diluted in hot water before
consumption. But, in the strictest use of the word, these drinks are
not “teas.” The name simply derives from the fact that
they, like “real” tea, are most often brewed in boiling
water.
What Kind of Herbal Teas are Available?
Any attempt to put together a list of the best herbal teas will be
a source of tremendous debate. There are literally hundreds of herbs
and hundreds of ways they can be used. Below you will find a list
of six teas highly regarded for their benefits as relaxing agents,
gastric remedies, heart tonics, or cleansing mixtures. This is but
the smallest sampling of herbal teas available.
CHAMOMILE
Chamomile herbal tea has long been regarded as one of the most versatile
and useful natural beverages available. It is both an anti-inflammatory
and an anti-spasmodic that will help with stomach cramps, indigestion,
loose bowels, cold, fever, flu, insomnia, nervousness, and menstrual
cramps. It will relieve colic in babies and the annoyance of teething
pain.
CHRYSANTHEMUM
The flowers of the chrysanthemum when boiled produced a sweet tea
that is believed to be useful in recovering from the flu. Most popular
in the Orient, chinese herbalists describe chrysanthemum as clearing
heat from the body, neutralizing toxic agents, improving and brightening
the eyes, and protecting against liver damage.
HAWTHORNE
Since the 17th century, hawthorne has been used for heart problems.
It serves to increase blood flow to the heart and to strengthen the
heart muscle itself. Hawthorne combats arrhythmia and enhances the
heart’s ability to function efficiently during periods of decreased
oxygen (times of stress or excitement).
PARSLEY
Parsley makes a good herbal cleansing tea as it is regarded as generally
beneficial to the kidneys and has a diuretic effect. It is particularly
useful to menstruating women suffering from the water retention and
bloating that come each month. Parsley tea will help to keep the system
cleansed of fluid build-up. (If you have kidney problems, consult
your physician before using a diuretic of any kind.)
PEPPERMINT
Thought by some to have even stronger relaxing properties than chamomile,
peppermint will also soothe all types of gastric distress. For this
reason, many people enjoy a cup of peppermint tea after a meal, a
liquid form, if you will, of the after-dinner mint. Peppermint tea
has the added benefit of freshening the breath and helping to relieve
feelings of fullness.
SLIPPERY ELM
Another excellent herb for stomach problems including stomach ulcers
is slippery elm. A benign and safe herb, it will sooth stomach cramps,
relieve gas, and protect the digestive tract from wounds and abrasions.
It is a good tea during periods of recuperation from other illnesses
and is very useful in elderly patients.
Avoid Comfrey, Pineapple
Weed, Chaparral, Coltsfoot
It is good to remember that a product listed as an organic herbal
tea is not necessarily safe. There are herbal teas you want to avoid
due to their own native toxicity or to their potential interaction
with prescription medications. While the “organic” label
is important as we all need to avoid contact with pesticides in our
food, with herbs “organic” cannot be used as a synonym
for “harmless.”
Due to the high presence of alkaloids in comfrey which damage the
liver, comfrey should not be used long term. Normally comfrey tea
is used to relieve stomach ulcers. Pineapple weed, which bears a close
resemblance to ragweed and is sometimes sold in place of chamomile,
can cause individuals with hay fever to suffer violent allergic reactions
including potentially fatal anaphylactic shock.
Although believed by many to be a cancer remedy, chaparral tea damages
the liver and kidneys. Traditionally coltsfoot has been used for tuberculosis
and other respiratory illnesses, sore throat, and ulcers. It also
contains a high concentration of liver and kidney-damaging alkaloids
and is believed by some to be a carcinogen.
Tea made from lobelia, used to treat asthma and bronchitis, causes
vomiting, respiratory distress, convulsions, and in some individuals,
coma. Sassafras, once a popular drink, has been removed from items
like root beer and food products because it has been linked to cancer.
It should also be noted that herbs formulated in combination in various
“herbal tea remedies” should be carefully evaluated. Some
items, like tonka beans, woodruff, and melilot are anticoagulants
that can cause excessive bleeding especially in menstruating women.
Read the label carefully and understand each ingredient and its potential
side-effects and interactions.
Herbal teas can Help and they
are Pleasant
There are many recognized herbal tea benefits that vary from herb
to herb. Many people prefer the use of herbal drinks to relax their
nerves, increase their circulation, or relieve their gastric distress
because they believe (correctly) that the liquid enters their system
more quickly than a pill or tablet. It is also a simple fact that
sitting down with a warm cup of an herbal beverage is itself a pleasant
interlude in a stressful or hectic day.
As with the use of any natural or supplemental product, you want to
make sure that you’ve done your homework and that you understand
the herb you are using. Although by and large most herbs are completely
safe for use, they can interact poorly with one another or with prescription
medication and some herbs are not appropriate for individuals with
given medical conditions (often those affecting the liver and kidneys.)
Continue to : Grow Green Herbal Tea on Your Own
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