Medicinal Herbal Teas

Medicinal Herbal Teas

Medicinal herbal teas are used for many health problems. Two principal varieties are used: the small leafed China plant (C. sinensis sinensis), used for most Chinese, Formosan and Japanese teas (not Pu-erh), and the large leafed Assam plant (C. sinensis assamica), used in most Indian and other teas (not Darjeeling).

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From 'House Of Nutrition' 

Kalyx Gourmet Traditional & Herbal Teas 

Burdock Root (Arctium Lappa) has been traditionally used as a blood purifier, diuretic, stimulates bile secretion, sweating, gout, liver and kidney ailments, rheumatism, gonorrhea, abscesses, acne, boils, chicken pox, eczema, psoriasis and poison oak/ poison ivy.

Burdock (Arctium lappa) is a native to Europe and Asia, and if allowed, can grow in almost any uncultivated space.

It was used by India's traditional Ayurvedics and by the early Chinese for its very valuable health properties.

In addition to its healthful effects, the stalks form a delicate vegetable, similar in flavor to asparagus when boiled, and a pleasant salad when eaten raw with vinegar.

Burdock is greatly cherished in the Orient, especially in Japan where it is known as 'Gobo' and the root is used in everyday cooking.

The name is a combination of bur, from its tenacious burrs, and dock, Old English referring to its large leaves. And, as its name suggest, it is a plant which bears seeds in big round bristly cones that stick to clothing and animal fur.

Many modern-day herbalists continue to use Burdock for its health benefits...

Chaste Tree Berries (Vitex Angus-Cactus) stimulates the pituitary gland to produce more leutenizing hormone, this leads to greater production of progesterone during the second half (leuteal phase) of a woman's cycle.

Vitex may help with premenstrual syndrome, amenorrhea, infertility, heavy or frequently occurring menses and hot flashes associated with peri-menopause.

Used for centuries by women, Chasteberry (vitex agnus castus) is a delicious bush or tree which is very common in southern Europe and Mediterranean countries. The tree itself is a form of wild lilac, with the same pink-violet, sweet-smelling flowers and arrays of light green, pointed leaves.

It is the small, hard berry, somewhat similar to a peppercorn, that is harvested for its beneficial health properties.

Referenced in the writings of Hippocrates, Pliny, and Dioscorides, Chasteberry was highly revered, especially for the women. Today, Chasteberry is enjoying a considerable revival due to its unique properties...

From Chickweed (Stellaria Media) is traditionally used as a cooling demulcent and expectorant to relieve coughs, bronchitis, pleurisy, colds and hoarseness. Chickweed may also be used for all skin diseases, externally as an anti-inflammatory. providing large amounts of protein and minerals. The fresh tops are delicious boiled or as greens in a salad.

Native to Europe, but found throughout the temperate regions of North America, Chickweed is very common because it blooms as early as March and continues blooming throughout the summer. Its seeds are also easily scattered by the wind, thereby making it an easy herb to grow.

Chickweed is also known as Starweed because of the starlike shape of its delicate white flowers. The flowers open on sunny days but may close on rainy or cloudy days...

Cornsilk (Zea Mays) contains a compound called maizenic acid which act as a diuretic and may help with albuminuria, bladder infections, edema, heart trouble, hepatitis, kidney disorders, prostatitis, and urinary tract infections.

A North American native plant first grown by farmers in Mexico, Corn (Zea mays) has been harvested for over 7000 years.By the time Columbus arrived in the New World, Corn was being grown from Canada to the tip of South America, but was largely unknown in Europe. Columbus recorded in his journal the many virtues of corn as taught by the Indians. Corn, with all its uses, has spread around the world.

Cornsilk is the fine, silky yellowish threads that stick out from the tip of an ear of corn. It may be used fresh or dried, usually by the sun, and has a long history of health virtues. It is also used in cosmetics as a fine-grade, soothing face powder...

Cranberry (Vaccinium Macrocarpon) has astringent applications for the urinary tract and is a traditional remedy for bladder infections and kidney disorders.

Cranberries (vaccinium oxycoccos) were supposedly part of the first Thanksgiving in 1621, but did not become a national tradition until after the Civil War.

A small evergreen shrub, which grows in mountain forests and damp bogs from Alaska to Tennessee, the Cranberry bush produces pink or purple flowers in spring and bright red berries in the fall.

High in Vitamin C, Cranberries were a favorite among early sailors for preventing scurvy. Cranberries make flavorful jams and preserves and are used in a variety of beverages.

It was 19th century German chemists who researched and defined many of Cranberry's valuable health benefits...

Dandelion root - Taraxum officinale: This slightly bitter herb aids kidney and liver function and detoxifies poisons that gather in the liver, spleen, and gall bladder. It promotes healthy circulation, acts as a diuretic, and helps maintain cholesterol and uric acid levels within the normal range.

Medicinal Herbal Teas Tea Plantation in India

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Eucalyptus leaves - Eucalyptus globulus: Is anti-bacterial and has the power to ease nasal congestion and quell coughs associated with colds, flu, asthma, sinusitis and croup. It also fights inflammation of the mucous membranes in the head and throat and can help to control earache pain and headaches.

Green Tea(Camellia Sinensis) contains catechin polyphenols which possess powerful antioxidant activity, anti-cancer properties, anti-platelet aggregation activity, collagen stabilization and hepatic support.

Green Tea may be used for the treatment of prevention of certain cancers: of the gastrointestinal tract, stomach, small intestine, pancreas, colon, lung, and estrogen related cancers.

 Also may be useful for arteriosclerosis.

The practice of drinking Green Tea (camellia sinensis) was brought to Japan by monks returning from their studies at the great Zen monasteries of 12th century China. For them, tea functioned as an aid to meditation, as a health aid, and as a tool to propagate Zen. 

Today, Green Tea is one of the three major non-alcoholic beverages in the world...

Medicinal Herbal Teas

Fresh Tea Leaves

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Hawthorne (Crataegus Oxyacantha) is known as a botanical heart tonic.

Hawthorne is recommended for angina, irregular heart beat, high blood pressure, congestive heart failure, hypertension, coronary heart disease, high cholesterol, nervous disorders, insomnia and Raynaud's Syndrome...

Medicinal Herbal Teas Loose Tea

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Licorice (Glycyrrhiza Glabra) is a sweet herb that possesses significant anti-inflammatory properties.

Licorice may be helpful for adrenal insufficiencies or exhaustion, allergies, headaches, Addison disease, colds, soothes coughs, bronchitis, laryngitis, pharyngitis, liver protectant, female complaints, stomach inflammation and ulcers, colitis, hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia, immune weakness and lung problems...

Milk Thistle (Silybum Marianum) contains silymarin which counteracts the toxic effects of a wide variety of poisons.

Silymarin is a potent liver protectant used for hepatitis, viral hepatitis, cirrhosis, jaundice, psoriasis, free radical protection, fatty degeneration of the liver, hemorrhoids, varicose veins, degenerative disorders of blood vessels, mushroom poisoning and other liver diseases...

Nettle (Urtica Dioica) helps strengthen and supports the whole body.

Nettle may help with chronic inflammations, excessive mucous drainage, ulcerations of the mucous membranes, burning and difficult urination, allergies, hemorrhoids, swollen prostate gland, BPH (Benign Prostatic Hypertrophy), arthritis, gout, gas, colic, lactation booster, psoriasis and passive bleeding in all parts of the body. Profuse menstruation...

Avena Sativa (Oats) is one of the best remedies for the nervous system, especially when understress.

Oat's is considered specific in cases of nervous debility, and exhaustion when associated with depression, nervous insomnia, enfeebled heart, to aid convalescence after debilitating disease, supports withdrawal from tobacco and other drug addictions.

It is believed that Oats (avena sativa) and Oatstraw originated in three widely separate geographic regions: Abyssinia, the Mediterranean and China. Today, the grain is grown primarily in the U.S., Canada, Russia, and Germany.

Considered mostly a food, the whole plant has health-giving as well as nutritional value.

Oatstraw can be taken as a delightful tea, sweetened with honey,and is valuable for its health benefits..

Medicinal Herbal Teas Tea cup and Strainer

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Papaya Leaf (Asimina Triloba) may be used as a diuretic and insecticidal. lso known as The Medicine Tree or Melon Tree, Papaya (carica papaya) is frequently mentioned in the writings of the early explorers who observed that natives not only ate the fruit but used the leaves for their beneficial properties.

Passionflower - Passiflora incarnata: Passionflower is used to treat hyperactivity, insomnia and nervous tension...

Peppermint (Mentha Piperita) is of the most widely used herbs for flavoring and its menthol content.

Peppermint may be used for colds, bronchitis, diarrhea, gastritis, enteritis, indigestion, nausea, intestinal gas, bloating, griping, colic, colitis, heartburn, irritable bowel syndrome, gallstones, stomach spasms, vomiting and ulcers..

Peppermint (mentha piperita) is a universally used flavoring.

The volatile oil, which contains menthol, is responsible for Peppermint's aromatic and health attributes.

So highly regarded was Peppermint, that it was included in a list of plants being taken to the New World...

Rooibos (Red-Bush) leaf, called the 'Tea of Africa,' is from the fine, needle-like leaves of Aspalanthus linearis, which grows on the high mountain ranges of the South African Cape region.

The leaves make a distinctive tasty, reddish brown aromatic tea that is often used as a coffee substitute.

Rooibos is naturally caffeine-free and has less than half the tannins of regular tea so the flavor is mellow and rich without the sharp or bitter notes...

Caffeine-free, organic Rooibos tea can be enjoyed as often as you like. Rich in essential minerals, it contains natural sweeteners and is as delicious as it is rejuvenating.

Rooibos (ROY-boss) herb - Aspalathus linearis: Scientific studies indicate that drinking Rooibos tea daily can reward you with powerful antioxidants that help slow the aging process, build the immune system and create a longer, healthier life.

It has all the benefits of green tea, but it is completely caffeine free so that you can enjoy unlimited cups, multiplying the benefits of all its healthful properties. Rooibos has anti-spasmodic properties which help to relieve mild stomach and digestive problems such as occasional nausea, vomiting or heartburn.

It has a soothing effect when applied directly to the skin and can relieve itching, rashes and sunburn when added to a bath.

Rooibos contains zinc and alpha hydroxyl acid, which promote healthy skin, and it supplements daily amounts of calcium, magnesium, manganese and fluoride, needed for the development of a healthy nervous system and for strong teeth and bones...

Rosemary Leaf (Rosmarinus Officinalis) may be used for flatulence, dyspepsia, headache, depression, muscular pain, sciatica, and neuralgia.

Rosemary may be used as an astringent for kidney, bladder and colon, controlling diarrhea and reducing urine excretion and intestinal leakage...

Medicinal Herbal Teas Tea with Milk

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Sage (Salvia Officinalis) may be used for inflammations of the mouth, throat, tonsils, and isused in treating ailments such as gingivitis, mouth ulcers, laryngitis, and tonsilitis.

Sage may be also used as a carmative in dyspepsia...

Saw Palmetto (Serona Repens) has been discovered by scientist to prevent the conversion of testosterone to dihydortestosterone which helps to prevent the development of prostate disease.

Saw Palmetto is also suggested for genitourinary problems, endocrine disorders, infertility, impotence, menstrual disorders, ovarian dysfunction, lactation, thyroid deficiencies, and painful menstrual periods...

Spearmint leaves - (Mentha viridis): Soothes & settles the nerves, & can calm a nervous stomach.

South America's traditional energy & nutrient booster 500 years ago, the Guaraní Indians of South America taught the Spanish explorers their secret to surviving in the harsh jungle. Sip an infusion made from the sacred caa bush's leaves. Centuries later, the gauchos continued the tradition of sipping yerba maté to energize themselves. Bija is pleased to offer this quality yerba maté for your enjoyment. South America's coffee substitute energizing tonic herb supports good metabolism QAI certified organic...

Medicinal Herbal Teas Glossary

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Albuminuria is a pathological condition wherein albumin is present in the urine. It is a type ofproteinuria.

The kidneys normally do not filter large molecules into the urine, so albuminuria can be an indicator of damage to the kidneys. It can also occur in patients with long-standing diabetes, especially type 1 diabetes.

Causes of albuminuria can be discriminated between by the amount of protein excreted.

There is some evidence that dietary interventions (to lower red meat intake) can be helpful in lowering albuminuria levels.

Amenorrhoea (BE), amenorrhea (AmE), or amenorrhœa, is the absence of a menstrual period in a woman of reproductive age.

Angina pectoris, commonly known as angina, is severe chest pain due to ischemia (a lack of blood, thus a lack of oxygen supply) of the heart muscle, generally due to obstruction or spasm of the coronary arteries (the heart's blood vessels). Coronary artery disease, the main cause of angina, is due to atherosclerosis of the cardiac arteries. 

A carminative, also known as carminativum (plural carminativa), is a herb or preparation that either prevents formation of gas in the gastrointestinal tract or facilitates the expulsion of said gas, thereby combating flatulence. Carminatives have been shown to decrease lower esophageal pressure, which on the other hand increases the risk of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) or 'heartburn'.

Catarrh  is a disorder of inflammation of the mucous membranes. It can result in a thick exudate of mucus and white blood cells caused by the swelling of themucous membranes in the head in response to an infection. It is a symptom usually associated with the common cold and chesty coughs, but can also be found in patients with infections of the adenoids, middle ear, sinus or tonsils. The phlegm produced by catarrh may either discharge or cause a blockage which may become chronic.

Dysentery (formerly known as flux or the bloody flux) is an inflammatory disorder of the intestine, especially of the colon, that results in severe diarrhea containing mucus and/or blood in the feces with fever and abdominal pain. If left untreated, dysentery can be fatal.

Dyspepsia, also known as upset stomach or indigestion, refers to a condition of impaired digestion. It is a medical condition characterized by chronic or recurrent pain in the upper abdomen, upper abdominal fullness and feeling full earlier than expected when eating. It can be accompanied by bloating, belching, nausea, or heartburn. Dyspepsia is a common problem, and is frequently due togastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) or gastritis, but in a small minority may be the first symptom of peptic ulcer disease (an ulcer of the stomach or duodenum) and occasionally cancer. 

In medicine, enteritis, from Greek words enteron (Small Intestine) and suffix -itis (Inflammation), refers to inflammation of the small intestine. It is most commonly caused by the ingestion of substances contaminated with pathogenic microorganisms.

 Symptoms include abdominal pain, cramping, diarrhea, dehydration and fever.

Enuresis refers to an inability to control urination. Use of the term is usually limited to describing individuals old enough to be expected to exercise such control.

Gout (also known as podagra when it involves the big toe) is a medical condition usually characterized by recurrent attacks of acute inflammatory arthritis—a red, tender, hot, swollen joint. The metatarsal-phalangeal joint at the base of the big toe is the most commonly affected (approximately 50% of cases).

However, it may also present as tophi, kidney stones, or urate nephropathy.

It is caused by elevated levels of uric acid in the blood which crystallize and are deposited in joints, tendons, and surrounding tissues.

Dietary causes account for about 12% of gout, and include a strong association with the consumption of alcohol, fructose-sweetened drinks, meat, and seafood.

Other triggers include physical trauma and surgery.

The consumption of coffee, vitamin C and dairy products, as well as physical fitness, appear to decrease the risk. This is believed to be partly due to their effect in reducing insulin resistance.

Both lifestyle changes and medications can decrease uric acid levels. Dietary and lifestyle choices that are effective include reducing intake of food such as meat and seafood, consuming adequate vitamin C, limiting alcohol and fructose consumption, and avoiding obesity.

A low-calorie diet in obese men decreased uric acid levels by 100 µmol/L (1.7 mg/dL).

 Vitamin C intake of 1,500 mg per day decreases the risk of gout by 45% compared to 250 mg per day.

Coffee, but not tea, consumption is associated with a lower risk of gout.

Gout may be secondary to sleep apnea via the release of purines from oxygen-starved cells. Treatment of apnea can lessen the occurrence of attacks.

Medical terms related to the liver often start in hepato- or hepatic from the Greek word for liver,hēpar.

Hirsutism or frazonism is the excessive hairiness on women in those parts of the body where terminal hair does not normally occur or is minimal - for example, a beard or chest hair.

It refers to a male pattern of body hair (androgenic hair) and it is therefore primarily of cosmetic and psychological concern.

Hirsutism is a symptom rather than a disease and may be a sign of a more serious medical condition, especially if it develops well after puberty.

The amount and location of the hair is measured by a Ferriman-Gallwey score.

Hirsutism can be caused by either an increased level of androgens, the male hormones, or an oversensitivity of hair follicles to androgens.

Male hormones such as testosterone stimulate hair growth, increase size and intensify the growth and pigmentation of hair.

Other symptoms associated with a high level of male hormones include acne and deepening of the voice and increased muscle mass.

Growing evidence implicates high circulating levels of insulin in women for the development of hirsutism. This theory is speculated to be consistent with the observation that obese (and thus presumably insulin resistant hyperinsulinemic) women are at high risk of becoming hirsute.

Further, treatments that lower insulin levels will lead to a reduction in hirsutism.

It is speculated that insulin, at high enough concentration, stimulates the ovarian theca cells to produce androgens. There may also be an effect of high levels of insulin to activate the insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-1) receptor in those same cells. Again, the result is increased androgen production.

The following may be some of the conditions that may increase a woman's normally low level of male hormones:

• Polycystic ovary syndrome, abbreviated PCOS, (the most common)
• Congenital adrenal hyperplasia, in turn mostly caused by 21-α hydroxylase deficiency
• Cushing's disease
• Tumors in the ovaries or adrenal gland (cancer)
• Certain medications
• Insulin resistance
• Stromal Hyperthecosis - in postmenopausal women
• Obesity: As there is peripheral conversion of androgens to estrogen in these patients, this is the same mechanism as polycystic ovary syndrome, PCOS.
• Use of drugs like Tetrahydrogestrinone

The medical term for excessive hair growth that affect both men and women is hypertrichosis.

One method of evaluating hirsutism is the Ferriman-Gallwey score which gives a score based on the amount and location of hair growth on a woman.

Leukorrhea (US) or leucorrhoea (Commonwealth) is a medical term that denotes a thick, whitish or yellowish vaginal discharge.There are many causes of leukorrhea, the usual one being estrogen imbalance. The amount of discharge may increase due to vaginal infection or STDs, and also it may disappear and reappear from time to time, this discharge can keep occurring for years in which case it becomes more yellow and foul-smelling; it is usually a non-pathological symptom secondary to inflammatory conditions of vagina or cervix.

Mastitis is the inflammation of breast tissue. S. aureus is the most common etiological organism responsible, but S. epidermidis and streptococci are occasionally isolated as well.

The popular misconception that mastitis in humans is an infection is highly misleading and in many cases incorrect. Infections play only a minor role in the pathogenesis of both puerperal and nonpuerperal mastitis in humans and many cases of mastitis are completely aseptic under normal hygienic conditions. Infection as primary cause of mastitis is presumed to be more prevalent in veterinary mastitis and poor hygienic conditions.

Breast cancer may coincide with mastitis or develop shortly afterwards. All suspicious symptoms that do not completely disappear within 5 weeks must be investigated.

Pleurisy (also known as pleuritis) is an inflammation of the pleura, the lining of the pleural cavity surrounding the lungs. Among other things, infections are the most common cause of pleurisy.

The inflamed pleural layers rub against each other every time the lungs expand to breathe in air. This can cause severe sharp pain with inhalation (also called pleuritic chest pain).

Psoriasis  is a chronic immune-mediated disease that appears on the skin. It occurs when the immune system sends out faulty signals that speed up the growth cycle of skin cells. Psoriasis is not contagious. However, psoriasis has been linked to an increased risk of stroke.  There are five types of psoriasis: plaque, guttate, inverse, pustular and erythrodermic. The most common form, plaque psoriasis, is commonly seen as red and white hues of scaly patches appearing on the top first layer of the epidermis (skin). Some patients, though, have no dermatological symptoms.

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