The Health Benefits of Herbal Teas

There's nothing like a refreshing cup of tea, but did you know that what you drink could help your health? It's true, but it does depend on what sort of tea you choose!

These days, there are a whole host of different types of teas available, so sitting down for a quick cuppa needn’t mean purely having traditional black China tea. As well as speciality teas, organic versions, green tea and teas from different countries, there’s a wide variety of herbal offerings. Herbs have been used for centuries as remedies for various ailments and drinking infusions is a great way of gaining the benefits.

For most of us, using ready-made loose and teabag blends offers a much more accessible and user-friendly option than having to hunt down and pick the required herbs, and it means they're ready to hand when we need them. As a bonus, most are caffeine-free and low in calories, and many are available in organic versions too. Some teas are specially blended together for specific purposes, such as helping sore throats or helping improve a stomach problem. As well as being great hot, you can also drink herbal teas cold, in the same way as iced tea or coffee. Just brew as normal, then leave to cool and serve with ice.

The medicinal benefits available are varied, ranging from refreshing pick-me-ups and relaxing soothers, to extra help for digestion, sleep and your immune system. So pick carefully, or choose a selection in readiness for every health need!

Digestion

Aid your digestion at the end of a meal with a freshly brewed cup of peppermint tea.

Sleep

Encourage restful sleep with a cup of camomile or valerian tea. Or try a special mix designed for consumption at night.

Nausea

Ginger is great for aiding nausea and quietly sipping a hot pure or mixed ginger tea can help relieve feelings of sickness. It's a good alternative to take ginger capsules and a bag can easily be carried around by those likely to suffer travel sickness, or by pregnant women concerned about morning sickness.

Immune system

The popular herb echinacea can also be found in tea form. It's often included with a fruity companion and offers an extra way to boost your immune system and encourage natural cold-fighting abilities.

Concentration

If you have a busy job or are studying hard, then you could give your concentration a natural boost by drinking ginkgo biloba tea. It may even boost your memory skills, too.

Skin cleansing

There are even herbal teas that could offer help for cleansing your skin. In particular, look out for teas such as nettle, lemon balm or red clover.

Calming

Lemon balm produces a sweet aroma and as a tea it’s ideal for calming you down and soothing away any stresses and strains. It’s also believed to have some anti-depressant properties, too.

Headaches

If headaches are a problem, you could give rosemary tea a go. This herb contains antiseptic properties and can help relieve niggling headaches. Sometimes it can taste quite bitter, especially if it’s not blended with another herb, so if you don’t like the taste try adding a teaspoonful of honey to make it more palatable.

Article by Rachel Newcombe