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Abstract

Herbal tea is essentially an herbal mixture made from leaves, seeds and/ or roots of various plants. As per popular misconception, they are not derived from the usual tea plants, but rather from what are called as ‘tisanes’. There are several kinds of tisanes (herbal teas) that have been used for their medicinal properties. Some of them being consumed for its energizing properties to help induce relaxation, to curb stomach or digestive problems and also strengthen the immune system. Some of the popular herbal teas are Black tea, Green tea, Chamomile tea, Ginger tea, Ginseng tea, Peppermint tea, Cinnamon tea etc. Some of these herbal teas possess extremely strong medicinal benefits such as, Astragalus tea, a Chinese native herb that is used for its anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties; which in many cases helps people living with HIV and AIDS. Demonstrating very few demerits, researchers continue to examine and vouch for the health benefits of drinking herbal teas.
Review on Herbal Teas
Chandini Ravikumar
BDS Student, Savitha Dental College, Chennai
Abstract:
Herbal tea is essentially an herbal mixture made from leaves, seeds and/ or roots of various plants. As per popular misconception, they
are not derived from the usual tea plants, but rather from what are called as ‘tisanes’. There are several kinds of tisanes (herbal teas) that
have been used for their medicinal properties. Some of them being consumed for its energizing properties to help induce relaxation, to
curb stomach or digestive problems and also strengthen the immune system. Some of the popular herbal teas are Black tea, Green tea,
Chamomile tea, Ginger tea, Ginseng tea, Peppermint tea, Cinnamon tea etc. Some of these herbal teas possess extremely strong
medicinal benefits such as, Astragalus tea, a Chinese native herb that is used for its anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties;
which in many cases helps people living with HIV and AIDS. Demonstrating very few demerits, researchers continue to examine and
vouch for the health benefits of drinking herbal teas.
Key words:Camellia Sinensis, tisanes, types, medical benefits, ability to cure various ailments, advantages, disadvantages.
INTRODUCTION:
Herbal tea, according to many, look like tea and is brewed
as the same way as tea, but in reality it is not considered a
tea at all. This is due to the fact that they do not originate
from the Camellia Sinensis bush, the plant from which all
teas are made [1]. Herbal teas are actually mixtures of
several ingredients, and are more accurately known
as‘tisanes.’ Tisanes are made from combinations of dried
leaves, seeds, grasses, nuts, barks, fruits, flowers, or other
botanical elements that give them their taste and provide
the benefits of herbal teas [2].
Unlike most other forms of tea, herbal teas do not contain
caffeine. They also taste great and are easy to drink. Most
herbal teas may consist of one main herbal ingredient or a
blend of herbal ingredients, intended to bring about a
specific purpose, such as relaxation, rejuvenation, relief
from a specific condition, amongst other things [3].
It is also important to understand that there are a huge
variety of herbal teas available in the market, each of which
is designed to have a specific therapeutic or medicinal
benefit. However, there are some general benefits that can
be obtained from most herbal teas, and these are as follows:
achieving a more calm and relaxed state of mind
supporting heart health
aiding with stomach and digestive problems
providing cleansing properties for the body
promoting energy and wellness
nourishing the nervous system
strengthening the immune system
providing antioxidants to the body
boosting energy levels and invigorating the body
relieving stress
helping to avoid colds
stimulating the internal organs
promoting a good night’s sleep
caffeine free and tastes great [4].
Image 1: Green tea
So what are the ingredients a cup of herbal tea usually
contains?
The thing is, there are many different herbs that can be
found in herbal tea, each with a different use and purpose.
Some common ones include:
Chamomile – is renowned for its calming properties
and is also said to be anti-inflammatory and anti-
spasmodic
Chrysanthemum – is sweet-tasting and is able to
reduce body heat resulting from fever. It also helps
protect against liver damage and neutralises toxins.
Cinnamon – is calming and helps to support healthy
circulation and digestion.
Ginseng – stimulates vitality and helps the body stay
healthy.
Ginger root – is excellent for improving circulation,
and is one of the best herbs for improving digestion,
nausea, lung congestion, and arthritis.
Parsley – is a diuretic and helps with kidney function.
Peppermint – is good for stress relief. It also helps
with stomachs and digestive issues and helps to
freshen the breath.
Red Clover - use as a medicine for menopausal
symptoms, cancer, mastitis, joint disorders, asthma,
bronchitis, psoriasis and eczema. It is not
recommended for children, pregnant or breastfeeding
women.
Rose hips – are a natural source of vitamin C and
bioflavonoids. They are a liver, kidney, and blood
tonic, and are a good remedy for fatigue, colds, and
cough.
Chandini Ravikumar /J. Pharm. Sci. & Res. Vol. 6(5), 2014, 236-238
236
Sarsaparilla – promotes energy and healthy skin.
Slippery elm – helps to relieve stomach cramps and
other gastrointestinal problems [5].
Image 2: Black tea and its plant
The following explains the advantages and disadvantages
of the consumption of herbal teas.
ADVANTAGES:
Herbal Teas are commonly consumed for its therapeutic
and energizing properties, since it can help to induce
relaxation. Being able to aid with stomach or digestive
problems, herbal teas can help provide cleansing properties
to the body, and strengthens the immune system as well. It
is important to note that different herbs might have
different medicinal properties, which thus allows us to
make our own herbal infusions according to how we want
the cup of tea to benefit us [6]. The following are some of
the different types of herbal teas and their benefits:
Green tea is one of the healthiest herbal teas to drink. It
offers a whole lot of goodness such as: helping in
prevention of certain types of cancers, fighting tooth
decay and gum diseases, aids in weight loss, and so on.
Green tea is also available in ‘matcha’ form, which is
the ground up form of green tea leaves. Drinking of
green ‘matcha’ tea, is actually the consumption of
whole tea leaf as it is ground up into a fine powder
giving the person drinking it a whole list of good tea
side effects .
Bit of nettle and dandelion is added to a peppermint-
red raspberry leaf tea if you want to up your milk
production while breastfeeding [7].
Black tea which is very low in its sodium, fat and
calorie content, is known to be bountiful in
antioxidants. It also helps cure Parkinson’s disease and
cardiovascular problems.
Oolong tea, a famous Asian tea is known to cure Type
2 Diabetes when consumed on a daily basis. Further, it
also helps in weight loss when taken regularly.
Another good tea to drink is yerba matte tea. Yerba
matte good tea side effects include: reducing the risk of
certain cancers and heart disease. It is full of vitamin
A, B1, B2, C, and the minerals magnesium, potassium,
calcium, iron, and riboflavin that many adults lack in
their daily diets [8].
Chamomile is one of the most common herbal teas
people drink. It has a mild sedative effect, so it’s
perfect to use as a sleep aid. It also soothes stomach
pains and acts as a gentle laxative. It helps alleviate
menstrual cramps: research indicates that chamomile
raises levels of glycine, a substance that calms muscle
spasms [9].
Red raspberry leaf tea is good for women who are
pregnant or trying to conceive. It’s said to reduce
labour pains. It tones the uterus and pelvic muscles, but
does not stimulate contractions, so it won’t induce
labour or miscarriage.
Astragalus tea is known to cure HIV and AIDS [10].
Ginger tea is also good for nausea of any kind, from
morning sickness to motion sickness and anything in
between.
Cardamom tea helps treat indigestion, prevents
stomach pain, and relieves flatulence. It’s also helpful
to drink a glass of cardamom tea if you are feeling
nauseous. Cardamom tea fights pulmonary disease
where lots of phlegm is present. It also works to relieve
coughs. Drinking a cup of cardamom tea is helpful for
women who experience mood swings during their
menstrual period.
Ginger is an energizer and a stimulator. Drinking
ginger tea both stimulates and soothes the digestive
system. Ginger has been known to aid people
experiencing nausea. Arthritic people have found
ginger tea helpful since it has anti-inflammatory
properties.
Peppermint tea is goodto treat an upset stomach,
especially when it’s combined with chamomile [11].
Herbal teas are generally known to cause soothing to
the stomach and lower blood pressure and chances of
cancer [12].
DISADVANTAGES:
Some of the disadvantages of consuming certain herbal teas
are as follows:
Some of these teas are prone to contain potential
toxic chemicals like dyes, adhesive, flavour enhancers,
either from their area of growth or during manufacture [13].
Effects of green tea are as follows:
Even though quite unusual and rare, allergic reactions
due to consumption of green tea are possible. Some of
them include difficulty in breathing and other
respiratory or throat affecting issues; swelling around
lips, tongue or face. In such cases, one should stop the
consumption of green tea and seek emergency medical
care [14].
Consumption of green tea for extremely long periods
of time (in heavy quantities), have also proven to
beconnectedwith oesophageal cancer.
Green tea are known to also cause other less serious
side effects (although rarely), such as:
1. Heartburn
2. upset stomach
3. loss of appetite
4. constipation or diarrhoea
Chandini Ravikumar /J. Pharm. Sci. & Res. Vol. 6(5), 2014, 236-238
237
5. nervousness, irritability, or anxiety
6. sleeplessness
7. irregular heartbeats
8. headache .
Such cases must be reported to the doctor at once, to check
for further discomfort of the patient [15].
Black tea is often a source of caffeine, hence, causes the
following reactions:
Caffeine being a stimulant of the central nervous
system, sometimes causes insomnia in adults, children,
and infants. It also acts on the kidneys as a diuretic
(increasing urine and urine sodium/potassium levels,
and potentially decreasing blood sodium/potassium
levels), and may deteriorate urge incontinence. Black
tea, although not much, but its due to its presence of
slight levels of caffeine, can (very rarely) cause these
conditions when consumed.
It is known to cause erosion of the dental enamel if
taken continuously [16].
According to , ‘an increase in blood sugar levels may
occur after drinking black tea containing the equivalent
of 200 milligrams of caffeine (4 to 5 cups, depending
on tea strength and cup size). Caffeine-containing
beverages such as black tea should be used cautiously
in patients with diabetes.’
Animal study reports that tannin fractions from tea
plants may increase the risk of cancer, although it is
not clear that the tannin present in black tea has
significant carcinogenic effects in humans [17].
SIDE EFFECTS OF CHAMOMILE TEA:
A person suffering from allergic reactions to plants of
the Composite family (a large group including such
flowers as daisies, ragweed, asters and
chrysanthemums), one should be cautious about using
chamomile. While there have been isolated reports of
allergies caused such as, skin rashes and bronchial
constriction; most people can use this herb with no
problem.
Pregnant individuals are advised not to consume
chamomile tea as it can stimulate uterine contractions.
Also, chamomile has a blood-thinning effect, so if one
is already taking blood thinners, they are advised not to
drink this tea [18].
Other types of tea:
Sassafras tea contains close to about 80% of a toxic
compound called safrole. Studies have revealed that
large amounts of safrole intake can increase the risk of
liver toxicity. If one is pregnant or breastfeeding, it is
advised not to consume sassafras tea. Consumption of
the sassafras tea by healthy non-pregnant individuals
should be used sparingly [19].
Recent studies reveal that peppermint tea might lower
testosterone, especially for men and affect fertility
[20].
Also, it may be noted that not all herbal teas pose risks on
consumption. Some of them do, that too very mildly and
rarely, which are explained above.
Image 3: Chamomile tea with the plant
CONCLUSION:
From this article, it can be concluded that scientific
evidence of the health and medical effects of herbal tea on
consumption provides digestion, mind relaxation and
prevention of cancer, amongst its other benefits. Although,
there isno clear-cut evidence for the effects of its
consumption, it is still believed that an overdose of herbal
tea may cause slight and rare medical issues. However,
before the consumption of herbal teas or its ingredients, it
is advisable to talk to a professional who is knowledgeable
about tea and its side effects, good and bad. Also, one can
always do his/ her own research if in doubt too [20].
In the meantime, an increase in the consumption of tea,
with a negligible calorie load, should be encouraged.
REFERENCES:
[1] A. Kumar, A.G.C. Nair, A.V.R. Reddy, A.N. Garg 2005. Analysis of
essential elements in Pragya-peya—A herbal drink and its
constituents by neutron activation. Journal of Pharmaceutical and
Biomedical Analysis. 37 (4): 631–828.
[2] Lindsay Goodwin, n.da. What are Herbal Teas / Tisanes / Herbal
Infusions?
[3] Aoshima, H; Hirata, S; Ayabe, S., 2007. Anti-oxidative and anti-
hydrogen peroxide activities of various herbal teas. Food Chemistry
103 (2): 617–622.
[4] Anonymous, 2008. Herbal tea benefits.
[5] Anonymous, 2011b. 10 Most Popular Herbal Tea Types and Their
Benefits
[6] Anonymous, 2011a. Introduction to Herbal Teas.
[7] Kate. W. Seldman, 2011. Herbal Teas: Perfect Introduction to
World of Natural Medicine
[8] Naithani, V; Nair, S; Kakkar, P., 2006. Decline in antioxidant
capacity of Indian herbal teas during storage and its relation to
phenolic content. Food Research International. 39 (2)181.
[9] Serafini, M. et al., 2011. Herbal Medicine: Bimolecular and Clinical
Aspects. Chapter 12. 2nd edition. Boca Raton (FL): CRC Press.
[10] Baba et al., 2009. Studies of anti-inflammatory effects of Rooibos
tea in rats. Paediatrics International, 51(5), pp.700–4
[11] Anonymous, 2012. An Introduction to Herbal Tea.
[12] Nelson. D, 2012. Two Separate Studies Find Herbal Teas Really
Are Good For You
[13] Anonymous, 2007. Advantages and disadvantages of drinking tea
(green, oolong, black etc.) … why drink tea?
[14] Koch et al., 2012. Impact of steam pasteurization on the sensory
profile and phenolic composition of rooibos (Aspalathus linearis)
herbal tea infusions. Food Research International.
[15] Monson, K. et al., 2013. Green tea side effects.
[16] Mary. R., 2008. Between the Leaves.
[17] Brunton, P.A. and Hussain, A., 2001. The erosive effect of herbal tea
on dental enamel.
[18] Gary Whittaker, n. da. Side Effects of Herbal Tea.
[19] Parker.K.T., 2011. WHAT IS SASSAFRAS TEA GOOD FOR?
[20] Annette Phillips, 2011. Herbal Teas Everyone Should Avoid.
Chandini Ravikumar /J. Pharm. Sci. & Res. Vol. 6(5), 2014, 236-238
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Ayurvedic herbal formulations are a good source of several nutrient elements essential for metabolic processes. Pragya-peya, a herbal drink and its 12 herbal constituents have been analyzed for 7 minor (Al, Ca, Cl, Mg, Na, K, P) and 15 trace (Ba, Br, Co, Cr, Cs, Fe, Hg, La, Mn, Rb, Sc, Se, Th, V, Zn) elements by instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA). The method involves thermal neutron irradiation in a reactor followed by counting at several intervals. Also Cd, Cu, Ni and Pb contents were determined by atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS). Elemental data were validated by simultaneously analysing reference materials (RMs) such as mixed Polish herbs (INCT-MPH-2) and peach leaves (SRM-1547). Sample homogeneity was tested by analysing samples from three different batches collected at different intervals. Pragya-peya has been found to be especially rich in several nutrient elements such as Ca, K, V, Fe, Mn, Se and Zn whereas no single constituent is enriched in all the nutrient elements. Concentrations of elements are discussed vis-a-vis their medicinal/therapeutic uses. Several elements such as Na, K, P, Ca, Fe, Co, and Zn seem to be well correlated in 12 constituent herbs.
Book
The global popularity of herbal supplements and the promise they hold in treating various disease states have caused an unprecedented interest in understanding the molecular basis of the biological activity of traditional remedies. This volume focuses on presenting current scientific evidence of biomolecular effects of selected herbs and their relation to clinical outcome and promotion of human health. This book also addresses the ethical challenges of using herbal medicine and its integration into modern, evidence-based medicine. Drawing from the work of leading international researchers in different fields, this book contains an in-depth scientific examination of effects of individual herbs, as well as their use in the treatment of important diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, dermatologic disorders, neurodegenerative disease, and diabetes. Due to the strong associations among oxidative stress, ageing, and disease, the powerful antioxidant properties of herbs and spices are also examined. The herbs featured are some of the most widely used remedies and cover a wide range, including flowering herbs, fruits and berries, roots and rhizomes, and fungi. To help bring a new level of quality control to the production of herbal extracts, the use of mass spectrometry and chemometric fingerprinting technology in the authentication of herbs is also presented. As the need for effective, affordable health promotion and treatment increases, especially in the growing ageing population, there is demand for rigorous scientific examination of herbal medicines. This timely and comprehensive volume addresses this need and is an important text for medical professionals and researchers, as well as those interested in herbal or complementary medicine.
Article
The effect of steam pasteurization of fermented rooibos leaves and stems on the sensory characteristics and phenolic composition of infusions was determined. The extent to which this processing step changes the sensory profile and whether compositional changes influence taste and astringency of the beverage was determined. These were achieved by examining the changes in the concentrations of soluble solids (SS), total polyphenols (TP) and 14 individual non-volatile monomeric phenolic compounds, as well as the changes in 17 aroma, flavor, taste and mouthfeel attributes of rooibos infusions. Steam pasteurization significantly reduced the SS, TP and aspalathin contents, as well as the “total color” (area under the curve: 380 to 520 nm). Neither the intensities of the taste attributes, sweetness and bitterness, nor the levels of individual phenolic compounds changed significantly, except that of aspalathin which were significantly reduced. A small but significant decrease in the astringency of rooibos infusions was observed. The intensities of most of the aroma and flavor attributes decreased significantly as a result of steam pasteurization. “Green” and “caramel” notes exhibited the largest reductions in attribute intensity. The prominent “green” flavor of unpasteurized rooibos was frequently changed to a “hay-like” flavor after steam pasteurization.
Article
The changes in the stability of antioxidant capacity with time and its relation to the phenolic content were evaluated in eight Indian herbal teas. These herbal teas are claimed to be antistress, immunomodulator, anti-aging, anti-inflammatory, appetizer, stimulant, blood purifier, energizer, antidepressant, antidiabetic, rejuvenative, analgesic, antiviral, nervine, diuretic, antihypertensive and memory enhancer. Antioxidant capacity was determined over a period of 15 months from the date of their procurement using assays for SOD mimetic activity, LPO inhibitory capacity and total thiol content, which decreased positively with time. Total phenolic content was determined spectrometrically according to the Folin-Ciocalteu method and calculated as gallic acid equivalents (GAE). Herbal teas with higher phenolic content showed a comparatively less decline in antioxidant capacity. The SOD mimetic activity values in control samples (at the time of procurement) were seen to be in the range of 54.63–93.64 units/min/mg of extract which after 15 months of storage decreased upto 7.4-folds in some samples. LPO inhibitory capacity was observed upto 96.75% in herbal tea E at the time of procurement which dropped to 63.85% inhibition of MDA formation/5μl of extract after 15 months. In case of total thiol, the values were seen in the range of 0.55–1.71mg/g and after 15 months it was from 0.12 to 0.21mg/g. In all these cases high antioxidant activity was seen in the samples with higher phenolic content which also showed comparatively less decline in antioxidant capacity after considerable storage time. The results have significance, as most of the herbal teas available in the local markets in India do not carry any information regarding the period of use without decline in its beneficial effects.
Article
Herbal teas, i.e., extracts of herbs, are popular because of their fragrance and antioxidative activity. Since the antioxidative activity comes mainly from polyphenols, total polyphenol concentrations and 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical-scavenging activities in herbal teas were measured and compared. Levels of H2O2 in the teas were also examined, since the production of H2O2 in beverages such as coffee and green tea, has been reported. Only a small amount of H2O2 was detected in the herbal teas just after their preparation with hot water. However, H2O2 was gradually produced during incubation at 25 °C after extraction with hot water, especially when the teas were incubated in phosphate buffer at pH 7.4. To examine the anti-H2O2 activity of herbal teas, various teas were added to a catechin-enriched green tea, which produce much H2O2, and they were incubated at 25 °C for one day. Addition of hibiscus and thorn apple tea decreased the production of H2O2 in the catechin-enriched green tea, possibly because of a lowering of the pH of the mixture.
Article
Rooibos tea is known to be caffeine free with abundant flavonoids. Aspalathin and nothofagin, the main flavonoids contained in Rooibos tea, have stronger anti-oxidative activity than other flavonoids. As oxidative stress can induce inflammation, the anti-inflammatory effects of Rooibos tea were investigated using a rat colitis model. Seven-week-old Wister rats were divided into two groups: one group given Rooibos tea, and one given water. After four weeks of breeding, serum superoxide dismutase (SOD) levels were determined using the Electron Spin Resonance analysis. Urine 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) concentrations were also determined as reflections of DNA damage using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Furthermore, rats were administrated dextran sodium sulfate (DSS), which is known to induce colitis in rodents, with or without Rooibos tea to evaluate its anti-inflammatory activity. Clinical symptoms, hemoglobin, serum iron and SOD levels were compared between the groups. There were no significant differences in bodyweight gain or laboratory data between the groups. The serum SOD levels were significantly increased, and urine 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine levels were significantly decreased in the Rooibos group compared with the controls (P < 0.05 in each). After DSS administration, the serum SOD levels were significantly higher in the Rooibos group compared to the controls (P < 0.05). As a result, a decreased hemoglobin level, observed in the control group, was prevented in the Rooibos group after the DSS challenge. Rooibos tea may prevent DNA damage and inflammation by its anti-oxidative activity in vivo. As Rooibos tea is free from caffeine, routine intake may be safe and useful in reducing oxidative stress in children.
Article
The aim of this study was to determine whether conventional black tea and a herbal tea were capable of eroding dental enamel. A further aim was to investigate whether herbal tea of the type tested eroded dental hard tissues to a greater or lesser extent than conventional black tea. Three groups of 21 teeth were exposed to a conventional black tea Typhoo (Group A), a herbal tea Twinings Blackcurrant, Ginsing and Vanilla (Group B) and water, which acted as a control (Group C). Sequential profilometric tracings of the specimens were taken, superimposed and the degree of enamel loss calculated as the area of disparity between the tracings before and after exposure. Conventional black tea and herbal tea, of the type tested, both resulted in tooth surface loss. Tooth surface loss, which resulted from exposure to herbal tea (mean 0.05mm(2), s.d. 0.02), however, was significantly greater (P=0.00) than that which resulted from exposure to conventional black tea (mean 0.01mm(2), s.d. 0.00) and water (mean 0.00mm(2), s.d. 0.00). It was concluded that herbal tea and conventional black tea of the type tested result in erosion of dental enamel. The erosive effect of the herbal tea of the type tested was five times more severe than that of the conventional black tea tested. The cumulative effects of regular consumption of herbal tea of the type tested are likely, therefore, to be of clinical significance.
What are Herbal Teas / Tisanes / Herbal Infusions?
  • Lindsay Goodwin
  • Da
Lindsay Goodwin, n.da. What are Herbal Teas / Tisanes / Herbal Infusions?
10 Most Popular Herbal Tea Types and Their Benefits
  • Anonymous
Anonymous, 2011b. 10 Most Popular Herbal Tea Types and Their Benefits
Herbal Teas: Perfect Introduction to World of Natural Medicine
  • Kate W Seldman
Kate. W. Seldman, 2011. Herbal Teas: Perfect Introduction to World of Natural Medicine