Herbal Teas

Fill your teacup with health benefits

Drinking herbal teas may not be your cup of tea (pun intended). But after reading this article, you might decide to start drinking it regularly.

Herbal teas have been around for as long as man can remember. Still, they’re not considered as true teas in the strictest sense. A true tea* comes from the leaves of the plant Camellia sinensis, usually referred to as the tea plant. Herbal tea is made using a combination of herbs, flowers, spices, dried fruits, bark, and leaves of plants other than the tea plant. There are generally four types of true tea: black tea, green tea, oolong tea, and white tea. Their differences lie in how much of the tea plant leaves have been oxidised.

*True teas may not be called herbal teas, but it doesn’t stop them from providing health and therapeutic benefits. So, for practical purposes, we shall include a couple of true teas (green tea and black tea) in our list of herbal teas in this article because of their medicinal properties.

Now back to herbal teas. Herbal teas are extensively represented in the traditional medicine of various cultures because of their health-promoting effects that include antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anticancer properties. Many of them possess these medicinal properties in varying degrees. Some are better than others for specific diseases or symptoms. Herbal teas are also known as tisanes or herbal infusions.

A BRIEF HISTORY OF TEAS AND HERBAL TEAS

The earliest verbal record of tea dates back to around 2700 BC in China. It was said that Emperor Shen Nung was resting under a tree beside his pot of hot water. A soft breeze made some leaves from a nearby plant (Camellia sinensis) fall right into his pot. The combination of hot water and leaves started to steep and gave out an enticing fragrance. Drawn to the smell, the wise emperor took a sip of the water and was surprised by the pleasant taste. This serendipitous moment became the earliest record of tea and herbal tea.

Emperor Shennong became known as the God of Chinese Herbal Medicine because of his numerous herbal infusions. They served as natural treatments for several diseases at that time.

Approximately 1000 BC, herbal medicines in the form of peppermint leaves were found in Egyptian pyramids.

In the 1st century AD, the Greek pharmacologist and physician Dioscorides wrote about the potential health benefits of almost 600 herbs when steeped in infusions. The word tisane originated from the Greek word ptisane, which means medicinal drink.

During the 3rd century AD, news of these medicinal drinks spread from China to Japan and Europe. Then, around 1650, the Dutch came to New York (then called New Amsterdam) and brought with them their tea traditions and several types of teas. During the same time, the first tea was sold as a health drink in London, England, at Garraway’s Coffee House. And it was in 1953 that the first instant tea was introduced. The rest, as they say, is history.

GENERAL HEALTH BENEFITS OF HERBAL TEAS

1. Stimulate the immune system. The antioxidants and vitamins found in herbal teas help your body fight off infections and other diseases. They lower your risk of chronic illness and shield you from stress.
2. Supports digestion. Drinking herbal teas can reduce bloating, indigestion, constipation, nausea, and vomiting.
3. Help with weight loss. Do you love drinking high calorie beverages? Switching to herbal teas may help you on your weight loss journey. Instead of drinking a sugar-rich mocha, try an almost zero-calorie herbal tea at your local coffee shop. You save yourself a few hundred calories. Catechins are also found in some herbal teas (not just true teas). These compounds increase your metabolism by stimulating your body to use fats for energy and burn more calories. They also have abundant antioxidant activity, which prevents oxidative stress-caused diseases.
4. Decrease inflammation in your joints. Drinking herbal tea daily can alleviate the symptoms of different forms of arthritis.
5. Slow down ageing. Who here would like to shed a few years in their appearance? Give thanks to antioxidants again found in herbal teas. They combat free radical damage and reduce the wear and tear of various cells in your body. Your skin and hair will look fresh and young looking.
6. Do you know anybody who drank herbal tea and then ran a marathon? We hope you don’t. Herbal teas relax and calm your mind and body, thereby relieving stress and anxiety. It also works great for people who have insomnia.
7. Reduce fatigue. Since herbal teas improve the quality of your sleep, you feel more energised and awake when you get up in the morning.
8. Lower high blood pressure. High blood pressure or hypertension is dubbed as a silent killer. This is because it could be stealthily causing damage to your body without you even noticing it. It’s the most common preventable risk factor for cardiovascular disease. You can incorporate many herbs into your herbal tea mixture to lower your blood pressure. Just remember to consult a qualified natural practitioner about it.
9. Herbal teas are easy to consume and simple to prepare. You can adjust the strength by shortening or prolonging the steeping time. Another preparation is to use loose-leaf tea instead of tea bags. A qualified herbalist will be of great help when using this option, they can tailor a tea formula to your specific needs. Also, herbal teas can be made to taste better by adding flavours like maple syrup, honey, citrus fruits (grapefruit, lime, lemon, oranges), berries, or cinnamon. They’re very versatile.

Commonly Used Herbal Teas for Everyday Health

1. Echinacea tea is made by infusing the leaves and flowers of the echinacea plant in hot water. The plant is native to North America and was traditionally used by the Great Plains Indians to treat ear pain and infection. People who frequently get colds may also benefit from drinking echinacea tea.


2. Peppermint tea. Just a whiff of peppermint, and you may find relief from a cold or headache. It’s like aromatherapy in a cup. The peppermint plant is indigenous to the Middle East and Europe. This tea is noted for clearing your sinuses, soothing an upset stomach, and relieving a headache. Pure peppermint tea doesn’t contain any caffeine.
3. Nettle tea comes from the leaves of the nettle plant. Nettle plants are notorious for stinging you when you get too close to their stems and leaves. When it comes to the tea, be not afraid, for they provide medicinal properties against an enlarged prostate, allergic rhinitis, and infection. The plant has an almost worldwide distribution.
4. Ginger tea. Multiple research studies have repeatedly demonstrated ginger and ginger tea's antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-aging properties. This spicy herbal tea from Asia is well documented to relieve nausea (especially from chemotherapy) and pain (joint pains). It’s also recognised to decrease your risk of high blood pressure and support weight management.
5. Chamomile tea. The name alone of this tea (say it) is calming enough to relax and ease the stress out of you. People with diabetes may benefit from drinking this tea because it can lower insulin, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and triglyceride levels, according to a 2015 article published in the Journal of Endocrinological Investigation. It can also help ease digestion and anxiety.
6. Hibiscus tea is another caffeine-free tea made from steeping the buds of dried hibiscus flowers in hot water. The majority of its supply comes from Thailand and China. It may lower your blood pressure, decrease insulin resistance, and lower LDL, similar to chamomile tea.
7. Rooibos tea or red bush tea is made by fermenting the leaves of a flowering shrub in the legume family. The shrub only grows in the Cederberg Mountains of South Africa. Its health benefits include maintaining and building bone strength, lowering cancer risk, and decreasing high blood pressure by inhibiting an enzyme that makes your blood vessels contract and subsequently increase your blood pressure.
8. Melissa tea or lemon balm tea has a smooth flavour with hints of mint and lemon. It comes from the leaves of the lemon balm plant and can easily be grown in your backyard. It’s known to enhance mental cognition and may alleviate some symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease. It can also speed up recovery and decrease the severity of symptoms from herpes simplex virus infection.


9. Rosehip tea comes from the fruit of the rose plant. It grows readily in warm climates and is quite popular in central and eastern parts of Europe because of its high vitamin C content. It’s suitable for those who want to lose weight because it’s naturally calorie-free, making it a perfect substitute for sugary beverages. Since it contains vitamin C, it’s good for your immune system and is excellent in reducing pain secondary to chronic conditions (like arthritis).
10. Yerba mate tea. The name alone might suggest it came from Australia, mate, but this herbal tea originated from South America. It naturally contains caffeine, theobromine, and theophylline, the same stimulants found in coffee. It may lower the risk of developing osteoporosis and can aid in weight management. Let’s not forget that it contains caffeine, and with that comes caffeine-related health benefits and side effects.
11. Raspberry leaf tea doesn’t taste like a raspberry; it tastes like black tea. It may help stimulate milk production in lactating women and is used by some midwives to induce labour among pregnant women ready to give birth. It’s also rich in calcium and magnesium compared to other herbal teas.
12. Green tea and Black tea. Strictly speaking, these two aren’t herbal teas, but for practicality, we’ll include them here. Both are considered to have originated in China. Below are some of their health benefits:

1. Decrease tooth loss by decreasing inflammation and altering the pH in your mouth when you drink it.
2. Support weight loss.
3. Minimise your risk of stroke and heart attack.

PRACTICE CAUTIOUS CONSUMPTION OF HERBAL TEAS BY OBSERVING THE FOLLOWING:

1. Too much of a good thing may be bad for you. True teas contain tannins, (in varying concentrations) which are naturally occurring compounds known to decrease the absorption of iron in your intestines. They bind with iron in peas, beans, leafy green vegetables, and nuts (plant foods). This may become a concern, especially if you have iron-deficiency anaemia or if you’re a vegan. Try to limit tea consumption to three to four cups per day.
2. If your herbal infusion contains caffeine, watch out. Some people are more sensitive to the effects of caffeine than others. Make sure it remains a herbal infusion and does not end up a herbal confusion. The consequences of which could be difficulty falling asleep, headache, dizziness, and increased restlessness and anxiety. The caffeine can also increase acid production in your stomach and aggravate a pre-existing GORD (gastro-oesophageal reflux disease).
3. Herbal teas are mostly safe during pregnancy and breastfeeding. However, always read the packaging to check for cautions and warnings. If you are purchasing from a health store then staff should advise you.
   
   The following herbs are contraindicated for pregnant women:
   1. Blue cohosh (Caulophyllum thalictroides)
   2. Black cohosh (Cimicifuga racemose)
   3. Shepherd’s purse (Capsella bursa-pastoris)
   
   Note: If you’re pregnant or breastfeeding, consult your primary healthcare provider first before drinking herbal teas.
4. Tisanes may potentially trigger your allergies. Make sure to always check the ingredients on the package before you drink a new herbal tea.
5. Steer clear of herbal detox teas that claim to make you quickly lose weight. Their results may be unverified, and they’re usually loaded with laxatives that can be detrimental to your health. Always check the labels located on the boxes of pre-packed tea bags for ingredients you should watch out for.

Teas (true tea and herbal tea) are probably the healthiest drinks you can consume as an adult next to water. There are lots of varieties to choose from. You can even make your own concoction (of herbal tea). They do come with certain precautions. What we’ve presented here is just a glimpse into the beautiful world of herbal teas. Start steeping.