Tuesday

Loose Leaf Tea

By Steven Jones

For thousands of years loose leaf tea has been used for a variety of reasons by many cultures. Sitting down after a days work to enjoy a cup of tea has been a ritual for many. A great release after a stressful day would be to sip some chamomile, lemon myrtle or peppermint herbal tea. The following are some useful benefits of some of the most popular herbal teas sold today.

HORNY GOAT Horny goat weed has been used in Chinese medicine for thousands of years. As well as increasing libido in men and women, it also improves erectile function in men. Although it is unclear how this herb works, the plant has long been claimed to restore sexual fire, boost erectile function, alleviate menopausal discomfort and allay tiredness.

GINSENG Ginseng has many uses including its ability to help people deal with physical and/or emotional stress. It can improve your mental performance and help to lift depression and fight off infections. It has also been known to improve your vitality and sex drive for both women and men. It has also been shown in studies to regulate the immune system and can assist in the prevention of colds and flues. In case studies it has also been effective in lowering sugar content in the blood and lowering cholesterol levels. CAUTION Ginseng should not be taken by pregnant or breastfeeding women. Also ginseng should not be taken when you have an acute infection such as a cold.(although it is used to prevent colds).

LEMON BALM As well as being the sweetest tasting herb lemon Balm is also a great herb for stress. It is particularly good for indigestion where anxiety and tension play a part. As well as stimulating circulation making it a good herb to calm tension it can also be used for problems such as irritable bowel and stomach ulcers.

BEARBERRY Bearberry also known as uva ursi is a beneficial herb used against infections of the bladder, urethra and kidney. It is used to not only kill infective organisms, but also soothes inflammation and strengthens the tissue in these areas. Bearberry is also used to relieve the pain of urinary tract infections such as pyelitis, cystitis and urethritis.

HAWTHORN Hawthorn herbal loose leaf tea is renowned for its use in most cardiac and circulatory disorders. It is well known to improve coronary artery blood flow and improve blood flow too the extremities. Many of the active constituents found in Hawthorn exhibit potent antioxidant properties. Hawthorn is also useful for high blood pressure, hypertension and angina. CAUTION With serious conditions such as angina, heart failure and high blood pressure, it is wise to seek medical advice when mixing medication and herbs. Please seek advise from your doctor or herbalist or both. - 26706

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