Herbs and Herbal Teas
Herbs have been important contributors to the quality of human life for thousands of years. Throughout history plants have served mankind as valuable components of seasoning, teas, cosmetics, dyes and medicines. The term herbs is used to refer not only to herbaceous plants but also to bark, roots, leaves, seeds, flowers and fruit of trees, shrubs and woody vines.
Recently there has been a resurgence of interest in the use of herbs. Various herbal teas are used in place of caffeine-containing beverages. Dietary recommendations encourage the use of herbal seasonings to flavor food as a way to cut down on the use of table salt.
Safe Herbs used in Seasoning:
Caraway
Cardamo
Coriander
Dill
Oregano
Garlic
Onion
Saffron
Sage
Sweet Basil
Thyme
Tumeric
Some view herbal products as natural remedies for the treatment of varied disorders and illness. Self-prescribed herbal preparations are widely used for a whole host of common conditions including insomnia, arthritis, colds, coughs, ulcers, allergies, constipation, infections, high blood pressure, intestinal disorders, premenstrual syndrome, headaches, fever, anemia, weakness, aging, stress, nervousness, sexual disorder, and indigestion.
A number of herbal products, such as aloe vera, blue-green manna and bee pollen, have been promoted as possessing special healing and health-promoting properties. One should always be wary of products that are sold as cure-alls, miracle food supplements of panaceas. While the fresh juice of aloe vera may promote wound healing when applied externally, the commercial gels, ointments and creams containing aloe vera have no therapeutic and cannot be retained over time. Furthermore, experiments are unable to verify that blue-green manna (algae) has any significant health-promoting properties. Likewise, it has not been proven that bee pollen has valid use as a general tonic, or that can help in weight reduction, stop premature aging or serve to improve ones athletic performance.
Unsafe Herbal Teas:
Arnica
Goldenseal
Morton tea
Snake root
Black cherry
Gordo lobo
Nutmeg
Tansy ragwort
Bloodroot
Groundsel
Oleander
Tonka bean
Buckthorn
Jimsonweed
Pennyroyal
Tu-san-chi
Burdock root
Kavakava
Periwinkle
Water Hemlock
Cohosh
Lobelia
Poke root
Woodruff
Comfrey
Mandrake
Sassafras
Wormwood
Elderberry
Melilot
Senna
Yohimbe
Foxglove
Safe Herbal Teas:
Alfalfa
Fenugreek
Hyssop
Rose Hips
Blackberry
Feverfew
Lemon Grass
Rosemary
Chamomile
Flaxseed
Orange
Sarsaparilla
Chickweed
Ginseng
Peppermint
Savory
Chicory
Gotu Kola
Psyllium
Slippery elm
Dandelion
Hibiscus
Raspberry
Spearmint
Echinacea
Hops
Red Raspberry
Valerian
Fennel
Horehound
Guidelines to Follow
1.Avoid buying unlabeled loose or bulk teas.
2.Be alert to the toxicities of certain herbs.
3.Refrain from considering herbal beverages as natural panaceas.
4.Read labels carefully, so that only prepackaged teas with safe ingredients are used.
5.Used moderate amounts of those teas with safe and effective constituents.
6.Drink no more thatn1-2 sups of tea per day on a regular basis, since the long term effects of drinking most herbal teas in large quantities is not known.
7.People who show allergic response to ragweed, asters, or chrysanthemums should avoid all teas containing marigold, yarrow and chamomile flowers.
8.Pregnant women should especially use caution in drinking any herbal tea since few have been thoroughly tested for safety. Before using any herbal tea, a pregnant woman should first consult with her physician. Likewise young children should be restricted in their use of herbal teas.
