An herbal tea is an herbal infusion made from anything other than tea buds. Herbal tea has been imbibed nearly as long as written history extends. It can also be used as a tisane or herbal infusion. Herbal teas is simply the mix of boiling water and dried fruit, flower or herb tea and then leave it to brew. Formerly, combining some leaves, flowers and spices directly in boiling water until the desired flavor is reached made herbal tea.
Some varieties of herbal tea :
* Anise tea, made from either the seeds or the leaves. * Artichoke tea, recommended for health benefits . * Bissap. * Boldo, used in Latin America to cure upset stomachs. * Citrus peel, including bergamot, lemon and orange peel. * Roasted corn. * Echinacea tea, often consumed to prevent or relieve cold or flu symptoms. * Essiac tea, a blended herbal tea * Fennel * Ginseng * Horehound * Jiaogulan * Kapor tea, dried leaves of fireweed. * Licorice root * Lime blossom, dried flowers of lime tree (Tilia in Latin). * Lotus flower, from the stamens of Nelumbo nucifera. * Mate (or yerba mate) is a shrub grown mainly in South America * Nettle leaf * Pennywort leaf, in Southeast Asia * Red raspberry leaf * Scorched rice, known as hyeonmi cha in Korea * Rosemary * Sage * Sugarcane drink, in Asia * Thyme * Tulsi
Medicinal concerns
Herbal teas are famous for their medicinal effects, especially for their stimulant, relaxant or sedative properties.
Regarding Green tea, it's not just a soothing hot drink to complete a meal. Green Tea Lovers reports that green tea is ranked as one of the top health-giving ingredient in Chinese medicine, and has been proved by science to have an effect on health conditions such as cardiac health, hypertension, blood circulation, cholesterol, diabetes, the brain, strokes, the liver, the kidneys, the bowels and the skin. It also contains antioxidant, cooling and antiseptic qualities.
Nadine Taylor, author of Green Tea, explained the power of antioxidants in the "Tea and Health" category of Greentea. She describes antioxidants as substances found in certain foods that struggle against the damaging effects, such as cancer and heart disease, caused by free radicals in the body.
Tea contains one of the most powerful antioxidants, called catechins. Catechins can fight cancer before it starts, check its progression and slow the growth of tumors. The Journal of the American Dietetic Association states that the catechins in green tea can also reduce the risk of coronary artery disease and gastric and esophageal cancer.
Its taste and stimulative properties are said to be useful for treating tumors, abscesses, bladder ailments, lethargy, among other conditions. The probability of how beneficial for health effects tea consumption can be, have been estimated by some studies, but others have found no beneficial effects. The studies contrast other claims, including antinutritional effects such as preventing absorption of iron and protein, usually attributed to tannin. The vast majority of research have been on green tea so far.
By : Victor Epand
