Having a nice cup of herbal tea in the morning is a long-standing tradition among cultures all around the globe, and not just because of the immense taste. Herbal tea, for instance, has been consumed in Asian countries for thousands of years, much to the enjoyment & health benefits of the people. Hundreds of studies have been conducted to conclude just how & why herbal tea (and other green tea) seems to make such a difference in health & vitality.

Herbal tea is used as medicines for all types of purposes. An upset stomach can be relaxed by a cup of strong pepper mint tea. Sleeplessness can be overcome easily with a cup of “chamomile tea”. It is even thought that a variety of herbal teas, green tea among them, have the ability to shield our body from cancer. Just the act of brewing & drinking a cup of herbal tea can be relaxing, as the aromas delight the drinker & the warm liquid soothes the throat.

Some of the important medicinal uses for herbal tea can be classified as:

• Cardamom to improve digestion, reduce gas, and calm stomach cramps

• Dandelion as an expectorant or diuretic

• Ginger to ease stomach & menstrual cramps, improve circulation, relieve nausea, & alleviate cold and flu symptoms

• Lemon eases anxiety & relieves stomach upset

• Kava to relax muscles, reduces anxiety, promote urinary tract health, & promote sleep

• Yarrow to stimulate appetite, improves digestion, & relieves cold symptoms

• Cinnamon to calm upset stomachs, relieves menstrual cramps, and regulates blood sugar

• Fennel to soothe coughs, stimulate appetite, and relieve stomach cramps

• Licorice to sooth coughs & improves digestion, sore throats & ease menstrual cramps

• Rosemary to relieve cold symptoms eases headaches, improve circulation, & lessen joint pain

• St. John’s Wort to lessen anxiety, improve mood, & promote relaxation

• Sage improves digestion; relieve coughs & lung congestion, & to soothe the nerves

• Valerian root to encourage relaxation & sleep, calm the nerves & relieves stomach cramps,

• Burdock to clean the blood, regulate blood sugar, & for anti-inflammatory uses

• Rosehips to relieve headaches & prevent bladder infections

• Nettle to relieve diarrhea & constipation, sooth coughs, & supports the liver and kidneys

• Skullcap to relieve PMS symptoms and reduce anxiety

Green tea is possibly the most well-known & carefully studied class of “herbal teas.” With a broad range of scientific studies to back up the practice of thousands of years, sources ranging from Mayo Clinic to The Journal of the National Cancer Institute have found extraordinary benefits to Herbal tea and its components. In addition to potentially preventing cancer, Herbal tea has also been credited with lessening symptoms of arthritis, lowering the danger for heart disease, playing a role in healthy weight loss and preventing tooth decay.