Bigelow's Mint Medley tea is a caffeine-free herbal blend of dried peppermint, spearmint, lemon peel, rose hips and hibiscus, according to the Bigelow Tea website. These herbs are traditional herbal remedies in their own right and provide considerable health benefits. Research demonstrates that hibiscus, for instance, acts as an anti-inflammatory and antioxidant. Many herbs contain active ingredients, and their safety is not assured in all users.
Peppermint
Particularly known as a digestive aid, peppermint tea is also a soothing remedy for sore throats and coughs, according to "Growing and Using the Healing Herbs" by herbalists Gaea and Shandor Weiss. In the summer, Americans enjoy cooling off with iced peppermint tea. Peppermint also contains healthy and beneficial volatile oils, which manufacturers use to make perfume, toothpaste, bath products, medicine and candy. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
Spearmint
Three members of the mint family stand out as herbal remedies: pennyroyal, peppermint and spearmint. Gums, candy and toothpaste flavored with spearmint are easily found, but it is not used much as an herbal remedy anymore. Previously, spearmint had been employed for centuries to enhance food and purify a household's space, and it was thrown on the floor at parties so dancers could crush and release its sweet smell. Spearmint has a weaker medicinal action than peppermint, and the Weisses recommend it to promote healthy digestion for children, invalids or the elderly. Ask your physician which herbal remedies are appropriate for you.
Rose Hips
After a rose blooms and dies, a small globular fruit called a rose hip or rose haw is left. According to registered dietitian Winston Craig, rose hips possess anti-inflammatory properties that appear to relieve knee and hip arthritis. They also contain powerful phytochemicals known to thwart heart disease and cancer, including carotenoids, sterols and other polyphenols. In addition, Craig says that rose hips contain pectin, which imparts the health benefit of cardiovascular disease protection. In World War II, residents of Great Britain picked rose hips to make a children's vitamin C supplement. These little red or orange fruits have more vitamin C per weight than oranges. Consult a qualified health-care professional before using rose hips to treat any disorder.
Hibiscus
The aromatic flower of the hibiscus bush imparts a stunning fuchsia hue to tea and is a healthy addition to your diet, too. Hibiscus has been studied extensively as a remedy for high blood pressure with positive results, according to herbalist Michael Castleman in "The New Healing Herbs." In a 2011 article in "Drug and Chemical Toxicology," scientists report that both test-tube and animal research showed hibiscus anthocyanins, a type of flavonoid, having antioxidant effects. Ask a qualified health-care practitioner whether hibiscus is appropriate for your condition.
References
- "Growing and Using the Healing Herbs"; Gaea and Shandor Weiss; 1992
- Bigelow Tea: Mint Medley Tea
- Vegetarian Nutrition; Rose Hips; Winston Craig; 2011
- "Drug and Chemical Toxicology"; Antioxidant and Drug Detoxification Potentials of Hibiscus Sabdariffa Anthocyanin Extract; T.O. Ajiboye et al.; April 2011
Member Comments