Health Benefits of Herbal Teas – Three to Consider

Health Benefits of Herbal Teas – Three to Consider

Eastern cultures have used herbal teas to treat illness for many centuries. It is only recently that western culture has begun to begrudgingly accept that there may be some truth to the treatment and use of herbal teas and supplements. The best thing to do, in my opinion is to take the best of both words. Use “modern science” and ancient secrets to get full benefits in treating what ails you.

One definite benefit of teas is that you are not taking the supplements in the form of pills or tablets. In herbal teas the supplements get into your bloodstream more quickly and you don’t have issues with swallowing pills, some of which can be fairly large. The following three teas are very commonly used and are good for you and have the added benefit of great taste (in most people’s opinion, anyway.)

Valerian tea has been used to address a host of conditions mostly having to do with the nervous system. I have found that it definitely relaxes me when I am trying to shift from the pressures of the work day. Some people have found that it actually helps them to sleep better at night. (Personally, I use melatonin for that purpose, but that’s getting away from the topic of herbal teas.) Valerian tea is also said to help with digestion issues including cramping and indigestion. Think of it as a natural alternative to pink bismuth type medications. For best results while brewing use steaming water, not boiling hot water.

One of the more popular herbal teas is made with Echinacea. Echinacea, in tablet form, has been becoming more and more popular and can be found in most grocery and discount stores, but again, if you take it in tea, it is more quickly absorbed into your system. Regular use of Echinacea tea is said to stimulate “T cells” (not to be confused with Tea cells) and helps increase interferon production. T cells and interferon are important components of you immune system.

Hawthorn tea is the third herbal tea we are going to talk about in this article. Hawthorn has been known to help with cardio-vascular health. It can help with circulation and may even help to lower your blood pressure and cholesterol. An added bonus is that this is also an anti-oxidant.

As with any sort of supplementation you should discuss usage with your doctor and at the first sign of reaction stop using them. Some folks can have an allergic reaction, so test a small quantity before “jumping” into it. Herbal teas can become a integral part of your healthy lifestyle and are a way to get away from all the unnatural chemistry that has invaded our lives.