Ancient Elixirs for Well-Being
In today’s quest for a healthier lifestyle, many opt for a more traditional route to wellness with a refreshing cup of tea. Rooted in Eastern medicine and ancient healing practices, herbs, roots, spices, and flowers can transcend beyond botany and into a health-promoting tea. Depending on the type of tea you choose to drink, it can help detoxify the liver, boost your immunity, and deliver nourishment for mind, body, and soul.
Characteristics of herbal root teas
There are a few primary differences between your traditional ‘leaf’ tea [green, black, oolong tea] and herbal [rooibos, flower] root teas [ginger, licorice, ginseng, dandelion].
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- True herbal root teas contain no caffeine, making them safe for all ages and appropriate at any type of day.
Much like water, most herbal root teas are near neutral pH, and provide immediate relief from dehydration.
Root teas are brewed - or steeped in water - for longer periods of time to extract maximum nutritional value from the plant.
Organic, high quality herbal root teas are free of additives and harmful chemicals, making them safe for pregnant women, nursing mothers, and children.
Teas as a form of medicine
Teas are an integral part of Eastern society and medical treatment. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, herbs and roots are used as part of a larger, more holistic form of healthcare, looking deeply at all elements within the body.
The issues showing on the outside are merely a manifestation of imbalance occurring on the inside.
In Ayurveda, one of the world’s oldest medical systems, herbal compounds, specialized diets, and exercise are intertwined within the quest to gain a deeper understanding of one’s self.
You are an active participant in your own journey towards healing and well-being.
These traditional - more natural - medical practices are rooted in herbalism, studying and documenting the effects of various plants for well over 3000 years. When combined with various treatments and lifestyle changes, plants can successfully control chronic pain, digestion problems, fertility issues, acne, and even mood-related disorders have been successfully controlled and treated. Because of these unique healing properties, many are classified as ‘adaptogens’.
Adaptogens are non-toxic plant-based materials known to fight stress, teach your body how to cope with external aggressors, and help bring balance back to the bodily systems.
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Mushroom powders and beauty tonics are the newest supplements on shelves, matcha tea has developed a cult-like following because of health claims in Japan, and scientific studies on green tea have shown incredible results including decreasing the risk of heart disease and heart attacks.
But modern medicine still lacks the data needed to concretely determine the efficacy of such herbs and roots. The good news, though, is that people are becoming more aware of this type of ‘functional’ medicine, and advocating for the use of these health-promoting ingredients within the Western diet.
Health benefits of herbal root teas
Herbal root teas have been used for centuries in Chinese and Ayurvedic healing traditions, specifically due to their adaptogenic benefits:
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1. Naturally detoxifying.
The liver is the main organ responsible for flushing the body of harmful toxins like drugs, chemicals, and excess sugar. Without a functioning liver, you might develop gastrointestinal issues, chronic fatigue, and jaundice, and are more likely to develop Type II Diabetes and liver disease. But nature offers powerful remedies to help keep this amazing organ full of vitality! Roots such as milk thistle, dandelion, turmeric, chicory, peppermint, and burdock are well known for their liver-cleansing abilities, and can easily be prepared as a delicious cup of tea.
2. Builds your immune system.
Warding off colds and viruses is all about keeping your immunity fit and ready for action! Incorporating a health elixir regularly - like an herbal root tea - gives your body a boost and helps it stay proactive against illness. Cinnamon, ginger root, and holy basil are very popular with Ayurvedic practitioners, and licorice root is currently being studied for its antibacterial, anti-fungal and anti-inflammatory properties.
3. Relieves digestive issues.
Carminative herbs - those found in popular digestifs like fennel, cardamom, and lemon balm - have long been used as after dinner treats to help relieve heartburn and indigestion. Herbal teas, in particular chamomile tea and dandelion root tea, can be good for people with irritable bowel syndrome because they are antispasmodic, while ginger teas can calm nausea.
We are all too familiar with the neon-pink Pepto-Bismol ads, but when is the last time you saw a commercial for ginger tea healing tummy troubles?
4. Assists in weight management.
Water is great, but we all crave flavor! No matter what type of tea you chose to enjoy, herbal root teas are a great no-calorie alternative. Depending on the weather or season, you can enjoy a cup hot or cold, and be creative by adding spices, flavorings, and mixing teas.
5. High in antioxidants, minerals & vitamins.
Supplements have been on the market for years, offering a solution for diets deficient in key nutrients. But it is far better to get your essential daily nutrients from natural food sources, like brewed organic teas, then a man made pill. Dandelion root tea helps boost heart health with its potassium content. Ginger tea is packed with antioxidants that protect from free-radical damage. And rosehips tea- the fruit of the rose plant - is one of the best plant sources of vitamin C, which benefits immunity and skin health, too.
