Rooibos tea originated in South Africa and is now popular in the United States because of its delicious taste and antioxidant properties. The rooibos, or redbush, plant was first used several hundred years ago to make tea and as a medicinal herb . An herbal infusion from the plant also has traditional uses as an medicinal remedy. Conditions treated with rooibos include asthma, hypertension, digestive disorders and cancer. Use herbs only with a doctor's guidance.
Description
Rooibos, Aspalathus linearis, is a 6-foot-high shrub native to South Africa. Over three centuries ago, local tribes in the Western Cape region discovered that the rooibos bush's leaves and stems made a delectable tea. The leaves and stems are picked, fermented and then dried. Rooibos tea contains no caffeine and fewer types of the phytochemical tannin that gives black tea a slightly sharp flavor. The Plants for a Future website notes that rooibos contains more fluoride than black tea and may prevent cavities. As with any herb, do not use without consulting your doctor first.
Traditional Uses
Rooibos is used to treat digestive spasms, vomiting, eczema and seasonal allergies. Rooibos tea is also valued as a tonic that promotes overall health. Other conditions traditionally treated with this herb are acne, insomnia, cancer and high blood pressure, according to the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. Ask a qualified health care practitioner whether rooibos tea is appropriate for your condition.
Antioxidant Properties
According to the MSKCC, rooibos contains abundant antioxidants. It is especially high in polyphenols called aspalathin and nothofagin. Research on animals and in vitro -- in glass, i.e., in test tubes -- demonstrates that it may be an ant-inflammatory and immune-modulating substance. Rooibos might also help those who have type-2 diabetes. Polyphenols show up in elevated concentrations in unfermented or green rooibos, writes Laurie Erickson in "Herbalgram." Although animal and in vitro research has been conducted, more studies are needed to ascertain its effects in humans.
Safety Considerations
If you have a hormone-sensitive cancer, do not use rooibos without a physician's guidance. There is evidence that the herb may influence estrogen levels. Chemotherapy patients should also use rooibos with care, as its antioxidant properties might impede the action of certain chemotherapy drugs, according to the MSKCC. In a study published in the 2007 issue of "Phytotherapy Research," no adverse reactions were reported from drinking a brew of rooibos.
References
- "Phytotherapy Research"; A Review of the Bioactivity of South African Herbal Teas: Rooibos (Aspalathus linearis) and Honeybush (Cyclopia intermedia); Diane L. McKay et al.; January 2007
- "HerbalGram"; Rooibos Tea: Research into Antioxidant and Antimutagenic Properties; Laurie Erickson; Summer 2003
- Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center: Rooibos Tea
- Plants for a Future: Aspalathus linearis
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