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Health benefits of a tea.
Tea is awesome the best drink of health that has been used as medicine for centuries. It has many health benefits ranging from feelings of well-being to the weight loss and to cancer-prevention due to tea's anti-oxidant properties.
Green tea White Tea Black Tea Oolong Tea Pu-erh Tea Yellow Tea Herbal Tea
Many types of tea like green, black, pu-erh and oolong, are produced from the Camellia sinensis plant using different tea manufacturing methods, including enzymatic oxidation process by letting the freshly picked tea leaves to dry. The oxidation of tea is a natural chemical process in which atoms lose electrons and tea totally changes the flavor, aroma, color, form, and chemical structure. The longer the process of oxidation, the darker the tea color because of presence of tannins, dark chemicals absent in non-oxidized tea. This oxidation process may be stopped by either pan frying, like in green teas, or steaming the leaves before they are completely dried out.
White, yellow and green tea is non-oxidized and very light oxidized teas retain their original flavor. Oolong tea is partially oxidized or semi-oxidized, (could be Light (10-20% oxidation), Medium (20-50%) and Heavy (from 50 to 80% oxidation), made from semi- oxidized tea leaves have a slight yellow to brown hue and possess a subtle fragrant aroma. Black tea is fully oxidized, made from Black tea leaves have a dark red hue and a sweet aroma of malt sugar. Pu-erh tea is post-oxidized, started oxidation and stopped process and later oxidized again.
Black and oolong tea leaves are made from oxidazed leaves, which results in the EGCG being converted into other compounds that are not nearly as effective in preventing and fighting various diseases. Green Tea has less caffeine than Black Tea. Aged Black Pu-Erh Teas are lower in caffeine than younger Green Pu-Erh. Black tea generally has more flavor and caffeine than the others and keeps its flavor for several years.
You can reduce the caffeine level of any tea by using small teapots and multiple drinks with very short soaking times of just a few seconds. This increases the tea flavor and reduces the caffeine. The very first brew is for washing the leaves and washing away most of the caffeine which is highly soluble in water.
Green tea.
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Green tea made with withered/steamed or panfired (oxidase inactivation) mature fresh tea leaves, not fermented process which prevents the EGCG compound from being oxidized. As a result, green tea retains maximum amount of antioxidants and poly-phenols the substances, green tea's unique catechins, especially EGCG (Epigallocatechin gallate), a powerful anti-oxidant, more concentrated than in other teas. EGCG give green tea its many health benefits, helping to treat everything from headaches to depression, from influenza to cancer.
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Its antioxidant may interfere with the growth of cancer, prevent clogging of the arteries and reduce risk of stroke, improve good cholesterol levels, burn fat, counteract oxidative stress on the brain, reduce risk of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases and many other health benefits.
Health benefits of Green tea - for reference purposes only.
- It is an excellent source of a variety of vitamins, enzymes, amino acids, carbohydrates, lipids, sterols, polyphenols, carotenoids, tocopherols, caffeine, phytochemicals and dietary minerals.
- It is an excellent source of antioxidants. Its catechins, powerful antioxidants, hunt and fight free radicals that can damage DNA and contribute to cancer, blood clots, heart disease, and neurological degeneration, atherosclerosis.
- It burns fat and allows you to train longer. Its polyphenol increases the metabolism, increases levels of fat oxidation and the rate at which your body turns food into calories. Catechins, powerful antioxidants, increase the body’s ability to burn fat, which helps to lost weight and improves muscle endurance.
- It slows the rise of blood sugar after eating which helps control glucose levels. This can prevent high insulin spikes and resulting fat storage, which help process sugar better.
- It helps protect against cardiovascular diseases. It lowers the blood pressure; also it works on the lining of blood vessels, helping better handle changes in blood pressure. It may prevent formation of blood clots, the primary cause of heart attacks and strokes.
- It can reduce the risk of cancer; also it could kills cancer cells without harming healthy tissue around them. The antioxidants inhibit the growth of cancer cells. They might help protect against many cancers, including breast, esophageal, colon, colorectal, skin, lung, and oral cancers. It protects lungs, cleans them if you smoke.
- It reduces bad (LDL) cholesterol in the blood and improves the ratio of good (HDL) cholesterol.
- Its catechin, the chemical antioxidant, are strong antibacterial and antiviral agents which effectively treating everything from influenza to cancer. They can fight and destroy bacteria and viruses that cause dental caries, some other dental problems and throat infections. Also it can improve bone mineral density and strength. It saves and promotes bone growth.
- It reduces stress and increases brain activity. It protected brain cells from dying and restored damaged brain cells which can lower risk of Parkinson’s disease. Polyphenols may help maintain the parts of the brain that regulate learning and memory.
- It might prevent and treat neurological especially degenerative diseases, like Alzheimer’s disease.
- Its theanine, an amino acid, provides a relaxing and tranquilizing effect, hydrating to the body, helping with depression.
- Due to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities it can also help with wrinkles and the signs of aging, it might provide protection from ultraviolet rays, can reduce sun damage.
Green tea isn't intended as a replacement for your medical needs. It’s more of an herbal remedy that improves your overall health.
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White tea.
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White tea is the least processed tea with the highest antioxidant levels and the most potent anticancer properties compared to other more processed teas. It is harvested early in the spring when the leaves are still in their bud form and made with steamed (oxidase inactivation) buds or young tea leaves, uncured and unfermented. White tea is superb tonic which has been found to work as well as prescription drugs, but without the side effects.
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Its powerful antioxidants give a great number of health benefits, from eases the symptoms of illness to promoting recovery. It protects against cancer, heart disease, stroke, and many other illnesses. White tea strengthens the circulatory and immune systems as well as bones and teeth, and builds healthy skin.
Health benefits of white tea - for reference purposes only.
- It has an abundance of polyphenols, the powerful antioxidants, protective nutrients, including ‘flavanoids’ that inhibit the growth of cancer cells and prevent the development of new ones, fights and kills cancer-causing cells, more than any other tea.
- It is a natural killer of bacteria and viruses. It helps strengthen the immune system fight off viruses and dangerous infection-causing bacteria, reduces your chances of catching a common cold or flu, it even helps people infected with HIV because of a more stronger immune system.
- It protects the heart and the entire circulatory system, it helps lower your blood pressure by thinning the blood, improving artery function, promoting strong and healthy blood vessels, and it guards against the ravages of stroke.
- It increases the good cholesterol and reduces the bad cholesterol by using ‘catechins’, a form of antioxidants, which are tons in white tea.
This helps prevent hardening of the arteries and blockage of blood flow.
- It may reduce blood sugar and help prevent and alleviate the symptoms of diabetes. It reduces stress and increases energy.
- It also has beneficial effects for sufferers of arthritis and osteoporosis, make greater bone density and strength.
- It rich of fluoride and other nutrients that kills and helps preventing the growth of bacteria which causes dental plaque, the chief cause of tooth decay, and bad breath. It helps to keep the teeth strong and healthy.
- More antioxidants help to increase your metabolism rate which in turn increases your calories losing rate and lose weight.
- Antioxidants in white tea helps keep the skin more rejuvenated by getting rid of free radicals in the skin which can damage the skin from staying out in the sun too long, from stress, and a poor diet. It help eliminate excess toxins and keep your skin clear from acne related lesions, promotes healthy and radiant skin.
White tea isn't intended as a replacement for your medical needs. It’s more of an herbal remedy that improves your overall health.
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Black tea.
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Black tea made with fully fermented mature fired dry and processed tea leaves, it is more oxidized than white and green tea and as a result it has the lowest caffeine content and more flavorful. Its flavor is retained several years longer than other teas. The primary processing of black tea includes blowing fresh leaves with air to remove their moisture and make them flexible, rolling leaves to break their cell walls and release the sugars needed for fermentation. Fermentation in a highly humid environment turns the leaves dark and develops strong flavor. Then drying.
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Once processed black tea eliminates all antioxidants exist in it. It is great tonic which has great number of health benefits and can work as well as prescription drugs, but without the side effects. Black tea may reduce the risk of heart attacks and stroke. It balances the cholesterol level, helps to fight bacteria and strengthens the immune system, helps moisturize the skin, hydrates the body, balances the hormone levels, which fends off stress, may protect lungs from damage caused by smoking. It has anti-inflammatory abilities, flavonoids, also fluoride which great for oral and bone health.
Health benefits of Black tea - for reference purposes only.
- It is ultra-low in sodium, fat and calories, which helps if you want to lose weight or control your weight.
- It lowers the risk of heart disease, helps maintain a healthy cardiovascular system, and protects the heart and the entire circulatory system against stroke. It is abundant in antioxidants ‘flavonoids’, preventing the oxidation of good cholesterol, hardening of the artery walls, reducing clots and blockage of blood flow, damaging in the bloodstream. Its strong antioxidants ‘polyphenols’ helps cardiac muscle function.
- Its powerful antioxidants ‘polyphenols’ helps preventing formation of potential carcinogens, cancer-causing cells, while good cells stay unaffected.
- It helps moisturize the skin; antioxidants may help keep your skin from being plagued by acne.
- Its phytochemicals helps make better thickness and strength of bones and connective tissues.
- Its tannins help to treat gastric and intestinal illnesses; they decrease intestinal activity and exercise an antidiarrheal effect.
- Its low amount of caffeine helps blood flow in the brain without stimulating the heart. It can reduce levels of the stress hormone and can help you to relax. It might increase your memory, may help protect against Parkinson's disease.
- It increases the energy, stimulates the metabolism, increases brain function and aids alertness. It’s ‘theophylline’ encourages the breathing system, heart and kidneys.
- It rich of ‘catechin’ antioxidants, ‘polyphenols’ and ‘tannin’, that are perform as antibiotics, kills and helps preventing the growth of bacteria which causes dental plaque, the chief cause of tooth decay; also polyphenols can help to keep in check the bacteria that cause bad breath. It helps to keep the teeth strong and healthy.
- It contains ‘alkylamine’ antigens, which helps strengthen the immune system. ‘Tannins’ are natural killer of dangerous infection-causing bacteria and viruses such as influenza, dysentery and hepatitis, it also helps suppress tumors. It helps to reduce your chances of catching a common cold or flu; it even helps people infected with HIV because of a stronger immune system.
- It extends the length of your life.
Black tea isn't intended as a replacement for your medical needs. It’s more of an herbal remedy that improves your overall health.
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Oolong tea.
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Oolong tea, also known as wu long tea, is a semi-green fermented tea, made of bruised partially oxidized panfired mature tea leaves. The fermentation process is halted as soon as the tea leaves start to change their color. The primary processing of oolong tea includes sunshine withering, tedding fresh leaves, rocking green, stir-fry green, rolling and drying. Oolong tea has wonderful flavors and aroma, the richest taste among all kinds of teas, which make it one of the most famous teas in the world. It is as strong and refreshing as black tea and also as clear and aromatic as green tea.
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Its health benefits are doubled because of combined the best qualities of non-oxidized green tea and fully oxidized black tea. It contains a full range of antioxidants, which give Oolong tea its many health benefits for helping in the fight against cancer, heart disease, eczema, diabetes and high blood pressure. It can lower bad cholesterol levels and used as a weight loss supplement. It can also be used as a non-toxic household cleaner, deodorizer, antiseptic, etc.
Health benefits of Oolong tea - for reference purposes only.
- It is rich in anti-oxidants and numerous polyphenolic compounds, which may prevent, or slow down the oxidation of cells, the process of producing free radicals causing start chain reactions which damage cells.
- It contains energetic minerals and vitamins including Vitamin A, B, C, E and K, calcium, manganese, copper, carotin, selenium, and potassium, folic acids, niacin amide and other detoxifying alkaloids.
- It can reduce and prevent fatness. Its polyphenol compound is dissolving triglyceride, control and increases the fat metabolism, blocks fat absorption and helps in weight loss.
- It may fight the aging of skin, treating skin problems such as rashes and eczema, a skin disease which causes skin to become red, flaky, and itchy.
- It may prevent cancer. Its polyphenol promotes apoptosis in cancerous growth cells and stop growth of new cancerous forms.
- Its polyphenol compounds fight and remove harmful free radicals that can damage DNA and contribute to cancer, blood clots and heart disease. It is saving our body from potential harm that these free moving cells may cause. Oolong Tea blocked oxidation by 50% in a period of over 15 days.
- Its antioxidants may prevent heart disease, reduce high blood pressure, includes decrease of cholesterol levels, may help keep cholesterol in check, protection of heart health, and may prevent cardiovascular disease.
- It is extending and improving our energy and extend our life.
- The high level of antioxidants prevents tooth decay, strengthens the teeth and forms the strong structure of bones, and boosts normal healthy growth of human body. It helps alleviate pain and other symptoms associated with bone problems.
- It is relieving physical and mental stress, making remarkable improvement in stress levels. The natural polyphenols help suffering depression, with bad mood, and nervousness problems.
- It is involved in strengthening of the immune system.
- It is improving brain power.
- It is lowering blood sugar levels and treating type 2 diabetic disorders as an herbal brew and as an appendage to other supplementary drugs.
Don’t forget, any over dosage of caffeine could be for someone more harmful than helpful, high doses of caffeine may cause some side effects, such as anxiety, increased heart rate and blood pressure.
Oolong tea isn't intended as a replacement for your medical needs. It’s more of an herbal remedy that improves your overall health.
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Pu-erh tea.
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Pu-erh tea made from fermented and aged leaves, created from maocha ("rough tea"), a mostly unoxidized green tea processed from a large leafs. This maocha either is immediately pressed into tea cakes to create Green or “Sheng”, raw, un-cooked, healthy pu-erh or it is put through an artificial aging process and fermenting stage after which the tea then dried and pressed into tea cakes to make Black or “Shou”, ripe, cooked, dark pu-erh.
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Both Green and Black varieties of Pu-erh are follow the same steps of Wilting/withering (sun fixation or a ventilated space to wilt and remove some of the water content) - Kill-Green (dry pan-fried using a large wok) - Rolling/Forming (rolling, rubbing, and shaped into strands through several steps to lightly bruise the tea) – Sun Drying and Steaming/Shaping. The Black variety has an extra step of Cooking (Piling/Heaping). Heaping the leaves in a pile to starts the natural fermentation process involving the application of heat and moisture, as well as the inoculation of the tea leaves with beneficial bacteria. During 30 to 40 days daily the leaves are turned, splashed with water, covered with cloth, and then left to ferment which creates heat and “cooks” the leaves. It will add a highly-prized depth and smoothness to the tea. Both varieties are then stored for aging. Pu-Erh Teas differ from other teas and derive their unique flavor by the technique of sun-drying the leaves after the Rolling/Forming step.
Pu-erh may increase metabolism, increase of internal energy, remove of toxins from the body, curing dysentery, weight loss, improving eyesight, lowering blood pressure and promoting blood circulation. It also increases of HDL-C (good cholesterol) and a decrease in LDL-C (bad cholesterol), protects connective tissue, has ability to eliminate free radicals within the body and fight cancer.
Health benefits of Pu-erh tea - for reference purposes only.
- It has high level of Vitamin C, full of pharmacological elements including Vitamins B1, B2 and E, potassium, phosphorous, calcium, magnesium, aluminum, lysine, arginine, histidine and cystine, linoleic and linolenic acids, zinc, sodium, nickel, iron, beryllium, sulfur and fluorides.
- It also contains antioxidants and other substances that might help protect the heart and blood vessels.
- It contains less amount of caffeine than in other teas, which works by stimulating the central nervous system, heart, and muscles.
- It contains small amounts of a chemical called Lovastatin, a prescription medicine used for lowering cholesterol, unlike other teas.
- It might lower certain blood fats called triglycerides as well as total and “bad” LDL cholesterol. It might also raise “good” HDL cholesterol.
- Aids digestion and fat break down commonly recognized in Traditional Chinese Medicine.
- It has been used commonly in Traditional Chinese Medicine in the treatment of arteriosclerosis, colds, bleeding and hepatitis.
Pu-erh tea isn't intended as a replacement for your medical needs. It’s more of an herbal remedy that improves your overall health.
Sheng pu-erh is often aged for 15 or 20 years, and can be aged for much longer for a deeper, richer, smother, more complex flavor. Shou processing takes about a year for harvested tealeaves to become 'ripened' or 'finished' pu-erh. Some 'ripened' pu-erhs are also aged for a flavor. Pu-Erh tea is drinkable after 3 months and after 5 years, starts to develop its unique aged taste. After processing, for both green and black varieties, the leaves are then left as loose leaves or compressed into the following shapes: Brick Tea (Juan Cha), Cake Tea (Beeng Cha), Bell Shape (Toa Cha) and Mushroom Shape (Maw Gu Toaw). Best to buy Pu-erh tea in spring, summer, autumn, cultivated from wild da ye or broad leaf tea trees from the Yunnan province of China.
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Yellow tea.
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Yellow Tea, the rarest of all types of Chinese Tea, is collected early in the spring when the leaves are still in their bud form. The buds have high levels of antioxidants and Yellow tea has a higher level of antioxidants than most teas. The unique step during production, a slow oxidation process ("sealed yellowing") of tea polyphenols such as catechin, makes both the leaves and the infusion smooth and bright yellow in color. It possessing delicate and wonderful flavors and aromas and does not have a specific grassy taste and smell of Green Tea while has more health benefits than Green Tea.
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It made from very lightly oxidized buds during its smothering process. The buds are then fried at high temperature to destroy the enzymes in the leaves to stop oxidation and then the leaves are wrapped in a special paper and stored in wooden boxes periodically refried and rewrapped in paper for about three days. Then leaves are slowly cooked: they are heaped and the mixture of heat and humidity causes the leaves to yellow. To accelerate this process, a damp cloth is used to cover the tea leaves thereby increasing the humidity and impeding air circulation. After this process part of the specific ‘grassy’ smell and taste is gone. Then leaves are drying by baking or roasting in the oven over 2-3 firings at low temperatures (120-90-75°C) with the leaves turned every 3-4 minutes until moisture content no more than 5%.
Yellow Tea has numerous health benefits and can help maintain and improve your health. It is much beneficial for the spleen and much easier on the stomach than other teas. It is good at correcting indigestion, stimulating appetite and helping losing weight. The natural substance which is effective in anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory is remained up to 85% in yellow tea after processing, making it having its own distinctive health benefits. Yellow tea rich in tea polyphenols, polysaccharide, vitamins and amino acids has special effect on preventing and curing esophageal cancer.
Health benefits of Yellow tea - for reference purposes only.
- It is full of Antioxidants - molecules which are capable of preventing, or at least slowing down the oxidation of cells. Oxidation can produce free radicals, which start chain reactions which damage cells and cause some diseases and signs of aging, including cancers, wrinkles, and dark spots.
- Its high levels of antioxidants promote dental health and the fight against the weakening of bones, it helps to alleviate pain in joints and other symptoms associated with bone problems.
- It is very effective in the fight against colon, prostate, and stomach cancers. Flavonoids, a type of antioxidant inhibit the growth of cancer cells and prevent the development of new ones. It is as effective as some prescription drugs, without the side effects.
- It can lower high blood pressure and maintain a healthy level. It has the ability to thin the blood and improve the function of arteries. It helps promote healthy blood vessels; also it can help lower the effects of a stroke and protects the heart and the entire circulatory system.
- Its catechins, powerful antioxidant, can increases the good, while decreasing the bad cholesterol. This helps prevent the hardening of arteries.
Yellow tea isn't intended as a replacement for your medical needs. It’s more of an herbal remedy that improves your overall health.
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Herbal tea.
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Herbal tea, tisane, or ptisan looks like tea and is brewed in the same way as tea, but it not actually a tea. It is an herbal drink made from mixtures of fresh or dried leaves, seeds or roots, grasses, nuts, barks, fruits, flowers, or other botanical elements other than the leaves of the Camellia sinensis, the plant from which all teas are made. It is a non-caffeinated beverage made from the infusion or decoction of herbs, spices, or other plant material that give them their taste and provide the benefits of herbal teas. Many tisanes are also consumed due to perceived medicinal benefits, for their physical or medicinal effects, especially for their stimulant, relaxant or sedative properties.
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Herbal teas contain no caffeine; have lower antioxidant values than true teas, great fragrance and taste, have a specific therapeutic or medicinal benefit, and are easy to drink. Herbal tea may be designed of one herbal ingredient or it may be a mixture of herbal ingredients, designed for different use, to get a specific therapeutic or medicinal result, such as relaxation, rejuvenation, relief from a specific condition, amongst other things. Some of them made of lemon myrtle, guava, and oregano teas have antioxidant properties comparable to black teas. Mint and peppermint tisanes had significantly stronger ferrous ion chelating ability than true teas.
General therapeutic or medicinal benefits that can be obtained from herbal teas are including: helping with stomach and digestive problems, providing cleansing functions, achieving a more calm and relaxed state of mind, relieving stress, strengthening the nervous and immune system, helping to avoid colds and flews, helping with a good night’s sleep. Herbal teas also may support heart health, promote and boost energy, provide antioxidants to the body and stimulate the internal organs.
Herbal teas are all the rage for the many medicinal qualities they are supposed to possess. It's claimed they can help with everything from easing a cold and indigestion to fighting infection and nausea. For example:
- Allspice helps to soothe the common cold and relieves upset stomachs.
- Anise Seed helps to soothe a cough and improve bronchitis, helps digestion and freshens with the breath.
- Chamomile is famous for its calming properties as a relaxant helping to promote sleep, it has a host of anti-inflammatory and anti-spasmodic attributes that help relieve and ward off mild sleeplessness and a variety of sicknesses.
- Chrysanthemum is able to reduce body fever and helps protect against liver damage and neutralizes toxins.
- Cinnamon is calming and relaxing, and helps to support healthy circulation and digestion.
- Elderflower is a traditional cure for colds which helps to clean the nasal passages of catarrh. It is also a good diaphoretic encouraging the body to sweat.
- Fennel is a digestive aid with anti-spasmodic properties, good for constipation, colic and flatulence and helps to soothe upper respiratory problems, to clean the kidneys and body of impurities.
- Ginger Root is widening the blood vessels and increasing blood flow, and is one of the best herbs for improving digestion, nausea, lung congestion, arthritis and rheumatic aches. It is an excellent remedy in the early stages of an infection, it can promote a fever and hasten healing.
- Ginseng stimulates energy and helps the body stay young and healthy.
- Hawthorne is strengthens the heart and increases blood flow.
- Hibiscus is helping to reduce high blood pressure and soothe menstrual pains.
- Lemongrass is calming and relaxing.
- Lemon Verbena is a digestive aid helping to break down fats in the digestive tract.
- Nettle is a good source of iron which produces red blood cells, essential for energy. Also it reach in calcium and silica are important for building bones, hair and teeth.
- Parsley is a diuretic and helps with kidney function.
- Pau d'arco is anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial fighter against bacteria, fungi, yeasts (including Candida albicans), viruses (including herpes simplex types I and II, influenza virus, poliovirus and retroviruses) and parasites.
- Peppermint is good for nausea, vomiting and stress relief; it helps with stomach and digestive issues by breaking down fat in the digestion system and relieve nausea, it helps to freshen with the breath.
- Raspberry Leaf helps with colds, sore throats, canker sores and diarrhea; it may also keep nails, bones, teeth and skin healthy.
- Red Clover helps with menopausal symptoms, cancer, mastitis, joint disorders, asthma, bronchitis, psoriasis and eczema.
- Rose Hips are a natural source of vitamin C and bioflavonoids and good for fatigue, colds, and cough. They are also a liver, kidney, and blood tonic.
- Sarsaparilla helps to promote energy and healthy skin.
- Slippery Elm helps to relieve stomach pains and other gastrointestinal problems.
- Thyme helps an effectively treat colds; act as a good decongestant for the chest.
Herbal teas aren't intended as a replacement for your medical needs. It’s more of an herbal remedy that improves your overall health.
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