Chandini Ravikumar /J. Pharm. Sci. & Res. Vol.

6(5), 2014, 236-238

Review on Herbal Teas

Chandini Ravikumar
BDS Student, Savitha Dental College, Chennai

Abstract:
Herbal tea is essentially an herbal mixture made from leaves, seeds and/ or roots of various plants. As per popular misconception, they
are not derived from the usual tea plants, but rather from what are called as ‘tisanes’. There are several kinds of tisanes (herbal teas) that
have been used for their medicinal properties. Some of them being consumed for its energizing properties to help induce relaxation, to
curb stomach or digestive problems and also strengthen the immune system. Some of the popular herbal teas are Black tea, Green tea,
Chamomile tea, Ginger tea, Ginseng tea, Peppermint tea, Cinnamon tea etc. Some of these herbal teas possess extremely strong
medicinal benefits such as, Astragalus tea, a Chinese native herb that is used for its anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties;
which in many cases helps people living with HIV and AIDS. Demonstrating very few demerits, researchers continue to examine and
vouch for the health benefits of drinking herbal teas.

Key words:Camellia Sinensis, tisanes, types, medical benefits, ability to cure various ailments, advantages, disadvantages.

INTRODUCTION:
Herbal tea, according to many, look like tea and is brewed
as the same way as tea, but in reality it is not considered a
tea at all. This is due to the fact that they do not originate
from the Camellia Sinensis bush, the plant from which all
teas are made [1]. Herbal teas are actually mixtures of
several ingredients, and are more accurately known
as‘tisanes.’ Tisanes are made from combinations of dried
leaves, seeds, grasses, nuts, barks, fruits, flowers, or other
botanical elements that give them their taste and provide Image 1: Green tea
the benefits of herbal teas [2]. So what are the ingredients a cup of herbal tea usually
contains?
Unlike most other forms of tea, herbal teas do not contain The thing is, there are many different herbs that can be
caffeine. They also taste great and are easy to drink. Most found in herbal tea, each with a different use and purpose.
herbal teas may consist of one main herbal ingredient or a Some common ones include:
blend of herbal ingredients, intended to bring about a  Chamomile – is renowned for its calming properties
specific purpose, such as relaxation, rejuvenation, relief and is also said to be anti-inflammatory and anti-
from a specific condition, amongst other things [3]. spasmodic
 Chrysanthemum – is sweet-tasting and is able to
It is also important to understand that there are a huge reduce body heat resulting from fever. It also helps
variety of herbal teas available in the market, each of which protect against liver damage and neutralises toxins.
is designed to have a specific therapeutic or medicinal  Cinnamon – is calming and helps to support healthy
benefit. However, there are some general benefits that can circulation and digestion.
be obtained from most herbal teas, and these are as follows:  Ginseng – stimulates vitality and helps the body stay
healthy.
 achieving a more calm and relaxed state of mind  Ginger root – is excellent for improving circulation,
 supporting heart health and is one of the best herbs for improving digestion,
 aiding with stomach and digestive problems nausea, lung congestion, and arthritis.
 providing cleansing properties for the body  Parsley – is a diuretic and helps with kidney function.
 promoting energy and wellness  Peppermint – is good for stress relief. It also helps
 nourishing the nervous system with stomachs and digestive issues and helps to
 strengthening the immune system freshen the breath.
 providing antioxidants to the body  Red Clover - use as a medicine for menopausal
 boosting energy levels and invigorating the body symptoms, cancer, mastitis, joint disorders, asthma,
 relieving stress bronchitis, psoriasis and eczema. It is not
 helping to avoid colds recommended for children, pregnant or breastfeeding
 stimulating the internal organs women.
 promoting a good night’s sleep  Rose hips – are a natural source of vitamin C and
 caffeine free and tastes great [4]. bioflavonoids. They are a liver, kidney, and blood
tonic, and are a good remedy for fatigue, colds, and
cough.

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 Sarsaparilla – promotes energy and healthy skin.  Chamomile is one of the most common herbal teas
 Slippery elm – helps to relieve stomach cramps and people drink. It has a mild sedative effect, so it’s
other gastrointestinal problems [5]. perfect to use as a sleep aid. It also soothes stomach
pains and acts as a gentle laxative. It helps alleviate
menstrual cramps: research indicates that chamomile
raises levels of glycine, a substance that calms muscle
spasms [9].
 Red raspberry leaf tea is good for women who are
pregnant or trying to conceive. It’s said to reduce
labour pains. It tones the uterus and pelvic muscles, but
does not stimulate contractions, so it won’t induce
labour or miscarriage.
 Astragalus tea is known to cure HIV and AIDS [10].
 Ginger tea is also good for nausea of any kind, from
morning sickness to motion sickness and anything in
between.
 Cardamom tea helps treat indigestion, prevents
Image 2: Black tea and its plant
stomach pain, and relieves flatulence. It’s also helpful
to drink a glass of cardamom tea if you are feeling
The following explains the advantages and disadvantages
nauseous. Cardamom tea fights pulmonary disease
of the consumption of herbal teas.
where lots of phlegm is present. It also works to relieve
coughs. Drinking a cup of cardamom tea is helpful for
ADVANTAGES:
women who experience mood swings during their
Herbal Teas are commonly consumed for its therapeutic
menstrual period.
and energizing properties, since it can help to induce
 Ginger is an energizer and a stimulator. Drinking
relaxation. Being able to aid with stomach or digestive
problems, herbal teas can help provide cleansing properties ginger tea both stimulates and soothes the digestive
to the body, and strengthens the immune system as well. It system. Ginger has been known to aid people
experiencing nausea. Arthritic people have found
is important to note that different herbs might have
ginger tea helpful since it has anti-inflammatory
different medicinal properties, which thus allows us to
properties.
make our own herbal infusions according to how we want
the cup of tea to benefit us [6]. The following are some of  Peppermint tea is goodto treat an upset stomach,
the different types of herbal teas and their benefits: especially when it’s combined with chamomile [11].
 Green tea is one of the healthiest herbal teas to drink. It  Herbal teas are generally known to cause soothing to
offers a whole lot of goodness such as: helping in the stomach and lower blood pressure and chances of
prevention of certain types of cancers, fighting tooth cancer [12].
decay and gum diseases, aids in weight loss, and so on.
Green tea is also available in ‘matcha’ form, which is DISADVANTAGES:
the ground up form of green tea leaves. Drinking of Some of the disadvantages of consuming certain herbal teas
green ‘matcha’ tea, is actually the consumption of are as follows:
whole tea leaf as it is ground up into a fine powder  Some of these teas are prone to contain potential
giving the person drinking it a whole list of good tea toxic chemicals like dyes, adhesive, flavour enhancers,
side effects . either from their area of growth or during manufacture [13].
 Bit of nettle and dandelion is added to a peppermint- Effects of green tea are as follows:
red raspberry leaf tea if you want to up your milk  Even though quite unusual and rare, allergic reactions
production while breastfeeding [7]. due to consumption of green tea are possible. Some of
 Black tea which is very low in its sodium, fat and them include difficulty in breathing and other
calorie content, is known to be bountiful in respiratory or throat affecting issues; swelling around
antioxidants. It also helps cure Parkinson’s disease and lips, tongue or face. In such cases, one should stop the
cardiovascular problems. consumption of green tea and seek emergency medical
care [14].
 Oolong tea, a famous Asian tea is known to cure Type
2 Diabetes when consumed on a daily basis. Further, it  Consumption of green tea for extremely long periods
also helps in weight loss when taken regularly. of time (in heavy quantities), have also proven to
beconnectedwith oesophageal cancer.
 Another good tea to drink is yerba matte tea. Yerba
matte good tea side effects include: reducing the risk of  Green tea are known to also cause other less serious
certain cancers and heart disease. It is full of vitamin side effects (although rarely), such as:
A, B1, B2, C, and the minerals magnesium, potassium, 1. Heartburn
calcium, iron, and riboflavin that many adults lack in 2. upset stomach
their daily diets [8]. 3. loss of appetite
4. constipation or diarrhoea

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5. nervousness, irritability, or anxiety

6. sleeplessness
7. irregular heartbeats
8. headache .
Such cases must be reported to the doctor at once, to check
for further discomfort of the patient [15].

Black tea is often a source of caffeine, hence, causes the

following reactions:
 Caffeine being a stimulant of the central nervous
system, sometimes causes insomnia in adults, children,
and infants. It also acts on the kidneys as a diuretic
(increasing urine and urine sodium/potassium levels, Image 3: Chamomile tea with the plant
and potentially decreasing blood sodium/potassium
levels), and may deteriorate urge incontinence. Black CONCLUSION:
tea, although not much, but its due to its presence of From this article, it can be concluded that scientific
slight levels of caffeine, can (very rarely) cause these evidence of the health and medical effects of herbal tea on
conditions when consumed. consumption provides digestion, mind relaxation and
 It is known to cause erosion of the dental enamel if prevention of cancer, amongst its other benefits. Although,
taken continuously [16]. there isno clear-cut evidence for the effects of its
 According to , ‘an increase in blood sugar levels may consumption, it is still believed that an overdose of herbal
occur after drinking black tea containing the equivalent tea may cause slight and rare medical issues. However,
of 200 milligrams of caffeine (4 to 5 cups, depending before the consumption of herbal teas or its ingredients, it
on tea strength and cup size). Caffeine-containing is advisable to talk to a professional who is knowledgeable
beverages such as black tea should be used cautiously about tea and its side effects, good and bad. Also, one can
in patients with diabetes.’ always do his/ her own research if in doubt too [20].
 Animal study reports that tannin fractions from tea In the meantime, an increase in the consumption of tea,
plants may increase the risk of cancer, although it is with a negligible calorie load, should be encouraged.
not clear that the tannin present in black tea has
significant carcinogenic effects in humans [17]. REFERENCES:
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