Jasmine Tea

Since January is National Hot Tea Month I will be devoting my next few blogs to the subject of tea. Tea is a popular beverage, second only to water and has many medicinal  advantages as well as being a tasty beverage to drink. There are endless combinations of tea and various flavorings and herbs and there are hundreds of variations on  herbal teas (also called tesanes). People have been fascinated with tea for thousands of years and it appears that they still are. Tea and Tesanes have become quite popular in the United States in recent years and the wave of popularity does not seem to be letting up anytime soon.

This week I thought I would talk about Jasmine Tea.The use of jasmine with tea in China and is mentioned in the official records of the Song Dynasty of the 13th century. It was mainly used by the royalty. Jasmine tea may have originated in Persia or India and came to China when the Buddhist religion was brought there.

 Jasmine tea is not considered an herbal tea because it is made with a base of green or black tea along with the jasmine leaves. The jasmine lends a touch of the exotic to the tea which scents the tea leaves and makes the drink highly enjoyable for some while others find the scent jasmine to be an acquired taste.

 Health benefits derived from the jasmine content of the tea include strengthening the immune system, preventing diabetes and reducing the risk of having a heart attack. Jasmine tea also helps to prevent cancer, reduce stress, help with digestion and lower cholesterol. It appears to destroy harmful bacteria and relieve inflammation. Jasmine promotes relaxation and helps reduce stress and anxiety and depression.

Jasmine tea has a high level of antioxidants. It is said to prevent cancer, heart disease, and useful for those with diabetes and is considered a use preventive for those who are pre-diabetic. Jasmine tea is good for gastrointestinal problems, joint pain, and weight loss

There are some things to keep in mind. Jasmine is not recommended for those that are pregnant, and in some people consuming it on an empty stomach may cause discomfort. Jasmine tea is a source of caffeine but there are many caffeine free versions available. While Jasmine tea is considered generally safe for culinary uses, you might want to consult your health professional before using it.

To learn more about teas and their health properties, check out my blog at www.valerielull.com. I wish everyone the best in this new year and hope you  have many pleasant tea drinking experiences.

Valerie Lull
Author
Ten Healthy Teas
www.lullval@clearwire.net

Holly

Ilex Aquifolium

Holly is a plant we use for decorative purposes of at Christmas time. The Romans used it in their feast to Saturn, and the druids considered it one of their sacred trees. They would wear sprigs of holly on their heads when they went into the forest. It is a plant that has many varieties; English holly, American holly, and Oregon holly are a fewof them. There are various medicinal uses for several varieties of holly.

The American Indians used holly to cause vomiting, and Yaupon tea, (several varieties of holly mixed together), was used in South America for ceremonial purposes as a "cleanser". They also used it for cardiac diseases. Holly was used in Europe to drive away evil spirits.

 Medicinal uses include coughs, edema, jaundice, digestive problems, joint pain, chest congestion, cleansing the bowels, stimulating the heart and increasing the flow of urine. Some species are used for heart disease, dizziness and high blood pressure.the leaves have also been used as a diaphoretic (makes you sweat) and catarrh, smallpox, pleurisy,

The leaves have been made into a tea, and the historic herbalist Culpepper suggests their use as a fomentation for broken bones. He also advocated their use for colic. Holly has also been used as a liquid extract. Holly contains caffeine. The caffeine content in the berries is higher than in the leaves.

Holly berries are considered unsafe to consume and can cause death, especially in children. They cause violent vomiting and diarrhea and this dehydrates the system and depletes the electrolytes. The spines on the holly leaves can puncture the mouth and digestive tract. For women who are pregnant or breast feeding, holly is not recommended.

If you want to use holly for medicinal purposes be sure to consult an herbalist or professional health care person and do not try to use it on your own.

Be sure to visit my website at www.valerielull.com. Have a great holiday!

Valerie Lull
Author
Ten Healthy Teas
Lullval@clearwire.net

Ivy

Hedera helix

At this season of the year people hear the old song "The Holly and the Ivy...". This comes from the old Druid belief that the holly represented male and the ivy female.  Yet few people know that ivy has medicinal values. There are several kinds of ivy, English ivy, Ground ivy, American ivy, to name a few. Ivy is a climbing vine and attaches itself to fences, walls, buildings, and trees. The ivy plant can live to be 100 years or more. It is often depicted as a crown on the head of the Greek god Bacchus, god of wine, because of it's traditional properties in treating drunkenness. Ivy is also in the same family as ginseng. 

English ivy is an herb and it has medicinal properties. It is used for problems like muscle spasm, gout, joint pain from arthritis, chronic bronchitis, gallbladder and tuberculosis. Its main use is for the reduction of swollen membranes of the nasal passages as an expectorant, which means that it breaks up chest congestion. It is also used on the skin for burns, cellulitis, infectous parasites, and phlebitis.

English ivy is also used for itching and sunburn and recent research seems to show antifungal properties. It can be used as a external wash for sores, cuts, burns and dandruff. For bee and wasp stings the fresh leaves can be crushed and rubbed into the area. There have been some animal studies suggesting that English ivy may have anticancer and antioxidant properties. Commission E, a German agency that is the equivalent of our FDA, approved ivy leaf extract for treating bronchitis and congestion of the respiratory system.

There are several studies showing that English ivy contains flavonoids that act as anti-inflammatories. They can reduce histamine which is a chemical in the body that causes inflammation. The flavonoids in ivy are rutin, kaempferol and quercetin.  

This herb is used mainly as an extract, though some sources describe a tea that can be made from it. It also can be used as a compress with salt water or as a tincture. Some authorities say English ivy should only be used as an extract, and others suggest using it as a tea. Either way I'd advise extreme caution because most experts regard English ivy as a poison when taken in large quantities and should not be used without the guidance of an expert professional. Not much is known about using English ivy for pregnant and nursing moms, so for them it is best to avoid using it.

My book Ten Healthy Teas makes an excellent gift item for the holidays. Go to my website at www.valerielull.com.  Your comments on this blog are welcome. Have a happy holiday season.

Valerie Lull
Author
Ten Healthy Teas
Lullval@clearwire.com  
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Mistletoe

Viscum Album

During this season of the year mistletoe brings up pictures of happy couples kissing underneath it. This custom came from the Celts who had priests called Druids. They put mistletoe over the doors of their houses because it was considered sacred and fighting was not permitted under it.

 Mistletoe is a parasitic plant that grows in trees. It is also considered an herb and has been used in Europe for medicinal purposes for hundreds of years. The berries, leaves and stems are the parts of the plants that are used. Some of the conditions it has been used for are epilepsy, hypertension, infertility and arthritis.

 

Mistletoe, for medicinal uses, is probably best known for its use with cancer. There is not much scientific evidence for this, though there is anecdotal evidence. The use of mistletoe in the United States was brought to public attention by the celebrity Susanne Somers who took it to treat her breast cancer. 

In folk medicine, European mistletoe was used for cardiovascular disease. It is also reportedly an antispasmodic, and good for asthma, the immune system, epilepsy, hiccups, hemorrhoids, headaches and menopause. It has also been used to help ease the effects of chemo and radiation treatments in cancer patients. A tea can be made from it for treating hypertension.

Mistletoe has side effects and is not generally recommended in this country for cancer treatment because there is very little scientific evidence that it works. It seems to kill cancer cells in the lab but not in people in real life. It is definitely contraindicated if a woman is pregnant or nursing. 

Mistletoe is considered toxic, especially the berries. Used in small amounts it is possibly safe, but side effects are vomiting, cramping and diarrhea. Because of the lack of good evidence it is extremely important that you work with a health care professional if you desire to try it. It is not recommended for auto-immune diseases like multiple sclerosis, lupis and rheumatoid arthritis. Do not take mistletoe if you are taking blood pressure medicine.

My book Ten Healthy Teas makes a great, inexpensive gift item for the holidays. Go to my website at www.valerielull.com for more information.

Valerie Lull
Author
Ten Healthy Teas
Lullval@clearwire.net