Lavender Tea and Anxiety

Lavender is a fragrant plant that is referred to in the Bible as nard or spikenard. It was used for centuries for all kinds of things from recovery after childbirth, to problems with digestion. It is still a popular herb in today's world. There are different kinds of lavender. Some kinds are considered weeds.

The most commonly used kind of lavender for healing purposes is Lavandula augustifolia. There seems to be very little research on lavender in tea form. According to folklore, a tea can be brewed from lavender that can be used for anxiety and stress. Lavender tea can also help with bloating and digestive issues. Lavender tea can be applied topically  for skin issues.

The area where the most research has been done with lavender is essential oil. Several studies have shown that lavender essential oil may be beneficial for anxiety and stress. It is used by aromatherapists to bring calm from anxiety and stress. Lavender oil can be used as a massage oil which is very soothing. Lavender can be added to the bath to bring restful peace.

Lavender tea is popular and can be found in most places that sell herbal teas. It can be found online. Lavender can be mixed with other herbs and teas to make a pleasant and calming beverage. Some popular combinations are lavender and green tea, lavender and chamomile, lavender and mint and lavender and white tea.

There is an almost endless list of herbs and spices that can be added to lavender tea. Put on your creative cap and experiment. See what you can come up with. Below is a recipe.

Lavender Tea

3 T fresh lavender flowers or 1 1/2 T dried lavender flowers
2 C boiling water
Honey or sweetener of choice
Lemon if desired

Put the flowers in an infuser or a tea pot. Add the boiling water and let the flowers steep 4-5 minutes. Strain and pour into cups. Serve with sweetener and/or lemon.

Sources:
Castleman, Michael, The New Healing Herbs, Rodale, 2009, p. 202
https://www.organicfacts.net/health-benefits/herbs-and-spices/lavender.html
http://medlicker.com/882-lavender-tea-benefits-side-effects
http://umm.edu/health/medical/altmed/herb/lavender

Check out my web site at www.valerielull.com  My book called Ten Spices for health and Longevity is now out in paperback.

Valerie Lull
Author
Ten Healthy Teas
Ten Spices for Health and Longevity
valerielull923@gmail.com

Cinnamon Tea and Blood Sugar Control

Cinnamon is a  popular spice that is used in teas, candies, chewing gum, cooking and baking. Cinnamon has been used as a traditional medicine in China for hundreds of years. In recent times cinnamon has been the subject of numerous research studies. Scientists have come up with some interesting results. The one that interested me was that cinnamon may be useful for the control of blood sugar.

In 2012 a study was done in China to see if cinnamon extract would improve fasting blood glucose in the treatment of type 2 diabetes patients. Sixty-six patients were recruited and divided into three groups. One group received high-dose cinnamon, the second group received low-dose cinnamon and the third group received a placebo. The researchers saw hemoglobin A(1c)levels and fasting blood glucose levels in both the high-dose group and the low-dose significantly reduced. The placebo group was unchanged. The researchers concluded that cinnamon supplements could significantly improve blood glucose control in Chinese type 2 diabetes patients. (1)

There are a number of studies that seem to indicate cinnamon lowers glucose levels, but there are also studies that show the opposite. A meta-analysis was done in 2011 that compared 8 clinical studies. They concluded that cinnamon intake results in a significant lowering of fasting blood glucose. (2) The general consensus is that more studies need to be done on cinnamon and glucose levels.

My take on all this is that cinnamon is a healthful spice; even if it is controversial about lowering blood glucose, it has other potential health benefits that make it worth taking. However, don't use it for self-treatment without first discussing it with your healthcare practitioner.

Cinnamon tea is delicious and  easy to make. Simply immerse a cinnamon stick in a cup of boiling water. Cinnamon tea in teabag form is available and cinnamon is often mixed with other things like cloves and ginger. It is often included in chai teas which make a delicious drink. Some folks like to add cinnamon to their cocoa.


(1) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22749176
(2) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21480806

Check out my website at www.valerielull.com  

Valerie Lull
Author
Ten Spices for Health and Longevity
valerielull923@gmail.com

Hibiscus Tea and Blood Pressure

Hibiscus is a beautiful flower that is transformed into a bright red tea that is often called red zinger. Another name for hibiscus tea is "sour tea". The Name Hibiscus means "Rose of China", even though Hibiscus was thought to originate in India.  Hibiscus is known and used in many cultures the world over. The ancient Egyptians used it to control diabetes, and it is the national flower of Haiti.

Hibiscus is popularly known as being useful for high blood pressure. A study done in 2010 seems to support this idea.  Sixty-five adults, who were not taking blood pressure medications, took hibiscus. The results showed a change in arterial pressure as compared to a placebo. The conclusion of the study was that the daily use of hibiscus tea, in an amount easily incorporated into the diet, lowered blood pressure in prehypertensive and mildly hypertensive adults.

Another study done in 2008 compared hibiscus tea with black tea in diabetics. The subjects of the study were given black tea or hibiscus tea for 12 days. The researchers concluded that hibiscus tea had positive effects on the blood pressure of the type II diabetic patients with mild hypertension. The black tea drinkers showed a slight increase in blood pressure. Scientists theorize that the polyphenols in the hibiscus are responsible for the beneficial results.

Hibiscus tea is readily available on the market and if you like gardening you can grow your own. Hibiscus tea is also high in antioxidants, minerals and vitamin C. Brewing hibiscus tea is very easy. You can get it in tea bags, or loose. Simply boil 1 cup of water for every serving you want and add 1 teaspoon of herb. Let it steep a few minutes and cool to a drinkable temperature.

As with any herbal preparation,  be sure to consult your healthcare practitioner before using hibiscus for therapeutic purposes.

http://www.hibiscusworld.com/history.html
hhttp://www.flowertemple.com.au/viewFlowerFromLibrary.aspx?fid=29&n=Hibiscus
http://culturemedicine.com/?p=92
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20018807
http://www.nature.com/jhh/journal/v23/n1/full/jhh2008100a.html

Be sure to check out my website at www.valerielull.com. I also have a facebook page called Ten Healthy Teas.  My book Ten Spices for Health and Longevity is now out in paperback. It is available at www.amazon.com

Valerie Lull
Ten Healthy Teas
valerielull923@gmail.com

Chamomile Tea and Your Thyroid

I have written about Chamomile tea before but there are so many good things about it that I'm writing on this subject again. Chamomile tea is traditionally used for many things. One of the most popular uses for the tea is to bring peace and calm to the drinker. Chamomile tea is good for many other things that the ordinary person may not be aware of.(1)

One thing that caught my eye was a recent study done in Greece. The researchers studied the effect of Greek herbal tea consumption on thyroid cancer. There are not many studies on tea and thyroid disease, so this new study is quite interesting. They studied three teas: sage tea, mountain tea and chamomile tea.

The researchers discovered an association between the consumption of chamomile tea and thyroid disease. It seems that the longer a person has been drinking chamomile tea, the stronger the protection from thyroid problems. The researchers found that thirty years of consumption reduced the risk of thyroid cancer development by 80%. The other two teas in the study  had a much weaker effect on thyroid disease development. Adjustments for smoking, alcohol and coffee were made but did not change the results.(2)

The researchers concluded for the first time that drinking herbal tea, chamomile in particular, protects from thyroid cancer.  These findings really impressed me and I have increased my consumption of chamomile tea. The tea can be gotten in tea bags or loose. Organic is preferred and it should be brewed with the purest of water.

If you want to start using chamomile tea for prevention of thyroid problems, or if you already have a thyroid disorder, be sure to discuss it with your healthcare provider; especially if you are pregnant. Side effects include allergic reactions. (3) Chamomile tea is easy to make. Take 1 oz.of herb, 1 cup of boiling water and pour the water over the herb. Let it steep 4-5 minutes, then drink. I let mine cool a few minutes before drinking.


(1) http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-and-supplements/lifestyle-guide-11/supplement-guide-chamomile

(2) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25842380        (3) https://nccih.nih.gov/health/chamomile/ataglance.htm

Be sure and check out  my website at www.valerielull.com  My book Ten Spices for Health and Longevity is now out in paperback. It can be purchased at www.amazon.com

Valerie Lull
Author
Ten Healthy Teas
valerielull923@gmail.com

Teas for Men's Health

Tea in America is often thought of as a  women's thing, but tea for men is becoming more and more popular. Many men who drink tea are connoisseurs of tea, run tea companies or are into natural medicine. Even herbal teas are catching on with the male population. For thousands of years Japanese men have been drinking green tea, and for centuries British men have been drinking black tea. Teas like black tea and oolong definitely appeal to the masculine in a man.

Many men like to work out in the gym. Did you know that green tea can enhance the workout and increase calorie burn by as much as 4%? The antioxidants in green tea help lower cholesterol and reduce heart attack risk by 11%. Green tea can enhance performance if you are into running. It can increase exercise endurance by 24%.

If a man is looking to lose weight green tea may be useful. Drinking green tea increases the metabolic rate which causes greater oxidation of fat and helps with weight management. With green tea there appears to be some protection against cancer. For men this would include prostate cancer. This is because of catechins in the tea, the most powerful of which is epigallocatechin gallate, or EGCG. In one large study it was found that men who had five or more cups of green tea a day had a reduced risk of prostate cancer when compared to men who drank less than one cup a day.

Men who are interested in ditching the coffee habit may find tea a good alternative. Black tea has less caffeine than coffee and while it is not as good as green tea, it still has some health benefits in it's own right. Many men see black tea as a more masculine tea, and others prefer oolong. Some like green tea. If drinking green green tea  is not appealing, one can always take supplements of green tea extract.

Sources:
http://www.menshealth.co.uk/food-nutrition/drink-recipes/6-reasons-to-drink-more-green-tea
http://www.menscience.com/Benefits-of-Green-Tea-to-Mens-Health_ep_155.html
Kurahashi N et al. Green tea consumption and prostate cancer risk in Japanese men: a prospective study. Am J Epidemiol 2008;167(1):71-77
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/craig-cooper/real-men-drink-green-tea_b_738955.html

Be sure to check out my website at www.valerielull.com. I am bringing out my book Ten Spices for Health and Longevity in paperback. Stay tuned!

Valerie Lull
Author/Herbalist
Ten Spices for Health and Longevity
valerielull923@gmail.com

Green Tea and Weight Loss

January is national  hot tea month. I am writing about teas and herbal teas this month. January is usually the month when everyone is trying to lose weight and live healthy after all the indulgent foods they've had over the holidays. One tea that has a reputation for being helpful with weight loss is green tea. Green tea has been hailed as being one of the healthiest beverages on the planet, and it has been used in Asian cultures for thousands of years.

There are many studies that have been done on green tea and weight loss. They seem to show that the combination of green tea, caffeine, and an antioxidant called EGCG  improve energy expenditure and weight loss in folks that are overweight and obese. Green tea can help with weight maintenance as well as with weight loss.

There is a substance in green tea called catechins. These catechins appear to help with weight loss. The most important of the catechins is EGCG (Epigallocatechin gallate). It works by increasing metabolism and slowing down the development of fat cells. The effect seems to vary with individuals. Most people can lose weight but there are some individuals that it does not seem to work for.

Green tea has been  shown to help burn fat especially during exercise. While green tea by itself can enhance fat loss, it works better when combined with exercise and a healthy diet. Green tea can be taken as a tea or as an extract. The extract can come in liquid or capsule form.

Green tea can be used in tea bags, or as loose tea. Loose tea is often recommended because you don't always know what chemicals have been used in making the tea bags.Various other substances can be added to enhance the taste. Below is the formula for making green tea.

1 green tea bag,  or 1 oz. loose green tea
1 cup hot water
Pour water over tea and steep 3-5 minutes depending on how strong you like it.
Drink and enjoy!

Feel free to leave comments below. I appreciate your feedback.

Sources:
https://umm.edu/health/medical/altmed/herb/green-tea
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19597519
http://authoritynutrition.com/green-tea-and-weight-loss/
http://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/health-benefits-of-green-tea
http://ajcn.nutrition.org/content/70/6/1040.long
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2010/04/29/green-tea-extract-effective.aspx

Be sure to check out my website at www.valerielull.com  I'm coming out with a paperback edition of my recently published ebook, Ten Spices for Health and Longevity. Look for it in the near future.

Valerie Lull
Author
Ten Healthy Teas
valerielull923@gmail.com

Teas For Women

January is National Hot Tea Month, so I am devoting the month of January to posts about tea. There are the camellia sinensis teas (black, green, white and oolong) and there are herbal teas. I'm a fan of both. This week I am writing about herbal teas for women. Women have unique needs and there are many healthful teas that can help. Teas can influence, mood, hormones, anxiety and sleep. Sometimes a few minutes for ones self with a nice cup of tea can give that boost to help a woman get through her day. Here are some suggestions.

Peppermint Tea
This one is a very popular tea and has many uses. It is often used to calm the digestive system, soothe an unsettled tummy and relieve gas. I remember my grandmother giving me peppermint tea for menstrual cramps. Some women have used it for morning sickness. Be sure to check with your doctor before self-treating with peppermint.

Ginger Tea
Ginger tea is another tea that has been used historically for menstrual cramps and morning sickness. It is popularly used for nausea and vomiting. I like it because it has a warming and calming effect on cold winter mornings. You can buy a piece of ginger root in the supermarket and prepare it by grating it and boiling it in water for 10 minutes, strain it and drink it or you can buy it in tea bags. Some folks add a little honey. The use of tea by pregnant and nursing women is controversial, so be sure to consult your healthcare provider.

Raspberry Leaf Tea
According to tradition and folklore raspberry leaf tea has been used for its benefits during pregnancy. It is good for the female reproductive system, toning the uterus and the pelvic muscles.Traditionally, midwives say it leads to shorter, easier labor. It is said to be helpful for PMS, and also during menopause. If you wish to use raspberry leaf tea during pregnancy, be sure to consult a midwife or doctor first.

Red Clover Tea
This tea is popular among women for things like menopause symptoms or breast tenderness. It is also used for PMS. There are other medicinal properties. Red Clover has been used in folk medicine for cancer prevention, high cholesterol, cough, and asthma. It is also used on the skin for sores, and burns.The role of cancer prevention with red clover tea is very controversial. Be sure to talk to a healthcare provider before use.

These teas can be bought in bulk, or in tea bags. Loose leaf teas are probably better because often it is not known what chemicals were used in making the tea bag. Organic teas are also preferable to regular teas that have been sprayed with pesticides.

Sources:
http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-supplements/ingredientmono-705-peppermint.aspx?activeingredientid=705&activeingredientname=peppermint
http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-and-supplements/ginger-uses-and-risks
http://www.healthline.com/health/food-nutrition/ginger-tea-side-effects
http://wellnessmama.com/5107/raspberry-leaf-herb-profile/
http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-supplements/ingredientmono-309-red%20raspberry.aspx?activeingredientid=309&activeingredientname=red%20raspberry
http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-supplements/ingredientmono-308-red%20clover.aspx?activeingredientid=308&activeingredientname=red%20clover

Check out my web site at www.valerielull.com. I wish everyone a great new year.

Valerie Lull
Author
Ten Spices for Health and Longevity
valerielull923@gmail.com