When you want to calm down or perk yourself up, there is a tea for you. Here is a list of 5 common teas that you may want to start adding into your daily health routine:

1. GREEN TEA- Researchers from the University Hospital of Basel in Switzerland found that healthy people who agreed to consume a soft drink containing 27.5 grams of green tea extract exhibited more intense activity in brain areas linked to working memory. The health benefits brought about by green tea have been linked with their content of polyphenols, which are micronutrients with antioxidant properties. As antioxidants, these substances can protect against the action of free radicals, which induce the type of cellular damage consistent with aging.

2. CHAMOMILE TEA - If you’re feeling wired at bedtime, consider sipping a cup of chamomile tea to wind down. Since chamomile tea is an herbal tea that contains no caffeine, it can be a calming beverage before bed. Chamomile is in the daisy family and is widely used all over the world and is one of the oldest documented medicinal plants with a variety of healing properties. Chamomile tea may support immune health, which we could all use right about now. Drinking chamomile tea may also be beneficial for women experiencing premenstrual syndrome, according to a review published in December 2019 in the Journal of Pharmacopuncture. Researchers noted the tea’s anti-inflammatory and anti-anxiety properties.

3. PEPPERMINT TEA- Peppermint contains a compound called menthol that can help relax the intestinal tract and help relieve bloating. Some studies in animal models have shown that peppermint can specifically help relax gastrointestinal tissues.  Studies have shown that peppermint can ease chest pain and help people with esophagus disorders allowing them to better swallow their food, potentially by helping relax smooth muscle located in the lower esophagus. Because peppermint tea doesn’t contain any caffeine, it’s also a great option for a soothing drink before bed.

4. LICORICE TEA- This tea has been known to help calm eczema can cause itching, redness, scaling, and inflammation. Glycyrrhiza glabra extract, or licorice root extract, may be effective against bacteria that can infect the skin, according to a study in the Iranian Journal of Pharmaceutical Research. The study showed antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, which can cause skin infections, such as impetigo, cellulitis, and folliculitis. In this study, the researchers used extracts from the leaves and roots of the plant. A double-blind study found that an extract containing glabridin and glabrene, which are flavonoids present in licorice root, was effective in relieving stomach discomfort. The extract reduced nausea, stomach pain, and heartburn. Infection with bacteria called Helicobacter pylori can cause peptic ulcers in some people. Research suggests that a licorice extract may help kill H. Pylori bacteria. 

5. DANDELION TEA- Dandelion tea offers an alternative for people who want to stop drinking caffeinated beverages, such as coffee and black tea, or limit their daily consumption. Dandelion plant contains many natural anti-inflammatory and antioxidant compounds. Doctors believe that inflammation plays a role in many types of disease. Although there is no proven link between drinking dandelion tea and a reduction in inflammatory-related diseases, it is possible that the compounds in this plant could promote better health overall by reducing inflammation. According to a 2012 study in Nutrition Reviews, dandelion may reduce hyperlipidemia in rats. Hyperlipidemia is an abnormally high level of lipids, which include cholesterol, in the blood. The researchers noted decreases in the levels of both triglycerides and total cholesterol in rats who ate dandelion flower extracts. The theory is that dandelion extract has an inhibitory effect on pancreatic lipase, an enzyme that is key to digesting fat. Restricting this enzyme’s activity could alter the way in which the body absorbs fat. However, there is no proof of this occurring in humans. According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), people have used dandelion in traditional medicine for years, believing that it can treat health problems relating to the liver, gallbladder, and bile duct. According to the Nutrition Reviews study, dandelion root lessens the extent of liver damage in rats. Dandelion also has a history of use as a natural diuretic, meaning that the tea encourages both urination and reduced water retention in the body. Drinking more of any beverage will typically encourage fluid release because the kidneys maintain water balance in the body. An article in Virology Journalthat discusses the role of dandelion extracts and teas in traditional Chinese medicine notes its use as a treatment for urinary infections.

As always, check with your doctor or natural health practitioner before starting any herbal therapy.
Happy sipping!

-Dr. Nicole