Benefits Of Mulberry Leaf Green Tea

The black mulberry, or Morus nigra, produces an edible sweet fruit in mid-summer that attracts wildlife and produces tasty jams and jellies. The leaves of the mulberry bush are harvested for their reputed medicinal benefits. Green tea, or Camela sinensis, is popular in holistic medicine and alternative health circles and together, mulberry leaf tea and green tea make a pleasant beverage with potential health benefits. The FDA does not regulate herbal remedies, however, so there is no guarantee of effectiveness, purity or safety. Consult a medical professional before using herbal teas to treat medical conditions.

Mulberry Leaf Benefits

According to the "PDR of Herbal Medicines," mulberry leaf contains flavonoids, and a tea prepared from mulberry leaves may have mild laxative effects. The leaf may also be beneficial in treating mucus membrane inflammation in the respiratory system, although clinical studies supporting those claims are lacking. Mulberry leaf is available in health food stores in tea form and in liquid extract form.

Green Tea Benefits

The Camelia sinesis plant produces black tea and green tea, but the processing for each is slightly different, resulting in a higher amount of polyphenols, or antioxidants, in green tea, according to the "Gale Encyclopedia of Alternative Medicine."

Green tea may inhibit cancer cells in some parts of the body, including the stomach, colon, prostate, mouth and skin. Additional potential benefits include lowering cholesterol and preventing clogged arteries. Green tea may also reduce tooth decay and gum disease and inhibit the bacteria that cause strep throat.

The popularity of green tea makes it easy to find, and grocery stores stock green tea alongside other tea varieties. Despite the many health claims, studies are necessary to verify the effectiveness of green tea.

Potential Combined Benefits

Considered safe for use by most people when used individually, the combination of mulberry leaf and green tea may result in the added benefit of causing the malabsorption of carbohydrates. In a 2006 study, conducted by NatureGen in San Diego, California, a combination of the extracts from green tea, black tea and mulberry tea were given to subjects before testing their breath hydrogen levels to detect malabsorption. Because malabsorption of carbohydrates causes foods containing carbohydrates to pass through the digestive system without being absorbed, the combination of these teas may be beneficial in weight loss. More studies are necessary to confirm these results.

Precautions

Pregnant women and nursing mothers should not drink either tea or a combination of these teas, unless directed to do so by their physicians. In addition, do not drink mulberry leaf green tea if you have an ulcer or if you take any medications, until talking to your doctor. Drinking green tea may result in restlessness and sleeplessness due to the presence of caffeine.