Alterative herb Aspalathus Linearis: The medicinal plant of the past with bright future
Alterative herb Aspalathus Linearis is native to the Western Cape Province of South Africa. It grows in these small areas of South Africa and for this reason if you happen to see them in any other part of the world be sure it was imported from here.
Rooibos plant is a bush like a member of the Fabaceae family. Its leaves have an earthy flavor that most of the people in the world like. It also has a subtle natural sweetness and a hint of natural vanilla flavor which makes it the perfect companion for making tea.
Rooibos Tea is an herbal tea made from the leaves of the rooibos bush or red bush.
Rooibos tea is caffeine-free and that’s why most people like enjoying it even at night because it will certainly not affect their sleeping cycles. The tea can as well be enjoyed at any other time of the day. It can be enjoyed hot or cold and all the benefits will still be retained.
History of alterative herb called rooibos
The history of alterative herb rooibos is rooted in the western regions of South Africa. It was initially harvested by the Khoisan-the indigenous occupants of this place. The leaves were harvested from Aspalathus Linearis plant for centuries and used as a remedy to a couple of health conditions.
Although the rooibos tea history nearly died with the dwindling of the Khoisan, a botanist Carl Homberg rediscovered it and reintroduced it for use. This drink was marketed by a Russian Immigrant Benjamin Ginsberg. He considered it as an herbal alterative to some of the most common health problems.
In World War II when importing tea was nearly impossible, this plant served as an alternative and was shipped around the world. In the late 1960s, a South African mother published a book with several health benefits of rooibos tea. This opened new doors for the harvest, manufacturing, importing and consumption of this alterative herb.
Its powerful ingredients
One reason why rooibos tea is used for treating and reversing certain conditions is its content of vital minerals. Some of them are calcium, iron, alpha hydroxyl acid, magnesium, and zinc.
It also contains high levels of vitamin C and several useful antioxidant properties such as Aspalathin. This compound offers additional health benefits to the body.
The tea also contains polyphenols that help to fight free radicals. Polyphenols also help to keep the body healthy and keep it in the perfect condition to tackle the day.
Health benefits of rooibos tea
Rooibos tea is known for its numerous health benefits – It has the ability to cure several health conditions and also suppress the symptoms of other sicknesses. Let’s dive into some of the most common health benefits of rooibos tea.
Cancer protection
Research shows that alterative herb Rooibos if consumed in the right amounts can help to prevent cancer. It contains quercetin. Quercetin is a plant-based natural compound that is included in many of the capsule cancer prevention medication. This compound enhances cell health and growth. It also helps in battling radical cells.
The other health benefit of this compound is to repair your DNA. In the case of a cancer patient, it causes cell health in cancerous cells and inhibits the growth of tumors.
This compound can as well help produce antibodies that strengthen your immune system.
Diabetes prevention or control
If you consume rooibos tea frequently, then you may be safer from diabetes. This tea contains some of the compounds that help to keep diabetes in check.
A recent Tokyo study shows that some compounds found in rooibos tea such as polyphenols work better to regulate blood sugar and also increases glucose tolerance in diabetic mice. However, there is still a need for more studies to support the claims.
Polyphenol and Aspalathin help to increase glucose uptake and suppress the increase in fasting glucose levels that can otherwise lead to blood sugar spikes in diabetic individuals.
Pain alleviation
This tea can as well help to reduce pain. It has some anti-inflammatory properties that work to reduce inflammation and feelings of ache and pain.
Rooibos tea contains anti-spasmodic compounds that help to reduce abdominal pain. It can help to reduce period pains, backache, and joint pain.
It can help to treat the painful symptoms of arthritis as well. It is also high in vitamin C. Vitamin C helps to restore collagen and connective tissue in the joints.
Helps with weight loss
Almost everybody on earth wants to maintain the perfect shape and size. For this reason, the majority of fat people are looking for commercially available medication to help them shed off some significant amount of fat.
However, most of the commercial weight-loss medications are not effective and they also pose a potential health risk. For this reason, people have begun to seek natural home remedies for weight loss such as the use of alterative herb rooibos to lose weight fast and safe.
Just like other teas, this one is a great way of enjoying a delicious beverage without packing on the pounds. Each cup of rooibos tea contains about 2-4 calories. For this reason, you can consume this tea without having to worry about weight gain. It also contains some powerful properties that can help you lose a lot of weight fast.
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Heart health
There’s no better way of improving heart health than taking natural remedies. Rooibos tea is a very powerful natural alternative to help your heart grow stronger.
A study conducted by the College of Korean Medicine reveals that rooibos tea has some positive effects on heart health. The research shows that rooibos alterative herb helps to keep hormone levels balanced and also inhibits the excess release of hormones from the adrenal gland. This is what prevents hypertension and high blood pressure.
The tea contains Nothofagin and Aspalathin. These two chemicals calm inflammation in the vascular system and act as a vasodilator.
Skin benefits
Drinking rooibos tea has uncountable benefits to the whole spectrum. It contains alpha hydroxyl acid which is one of the most beneficial ingredients when it comes to your skin health. This compound can aid in your skincare routine. It also helps to reduce wrinkles and keep your face looking young.
A recent study conducted by Chuarienthong P, el at. Int. J Cosmet Sci. 2010 shows that persistent consumption of rooibos tea records a 10 percent improvement in the look of fine lines and wrinkles.
This tea also offers a soothing effect which reduces skin irritation and redness that result in the more even-toned skin. Zinc contained in rooibos tea has shown some potential in treating certain skin conditions.
In addition, this tea contains superoxide dismutase which has anti-aging properties. These properties work to slow down the development of wrinkles. This enzyme also helps in the growth of new skin cells. It works alongside several other antioxidants to fight free radicals that could otherwise accelerate the aging process.
However, there is still some open space for more research to establish the real benefits of rooibos tea in regards to skincare.
Bone strength
This is another rooibos tea benefit. We had already established that this tea contains minerals such as manganese, calcium, and fluoride which can greatly help your bones grow strong. They produce increased osteoblast call activities which are essentially responsible for building strong bone mass.
The good thing about rooibos is that it contains two additional compounds that help your bones grow stronger. It contains Luteolin and Orientin. These flavonoids increase the mineral content of the bones.
Manage allergies
This tea contains a bioactive flavonoid known as Chrysoeriol. This has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. It also works as a bronchodilator which helps to reduce the feeling of wheezing and coughing especially those that are caused by allergic retinitis and asthma.
It also contains Quercetin. This flavonoid helps to prevent allergies from triggering by blocking mast cells. These cells are responsible for triggering the release of histamine which eventually triggers allergic reactions.
In simple terms, this tea works as an antihistamine. For this reason, it helps the body stay calm and not react to the medication and other allergy-causing agents. However, you should note that this is not a replacement to the already available anti-histamine medication but it can help you greatly manage allergic reactions.
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It also aids in digestion
Just like other teas, rooibos tea aids in streamlining digestion. There are several people out there who are in deep struggles with digestive problems.
This tea helps to solve the effects of some increased incidences of Celiac Disease, Chronic stomach upset and acid reflux. Although scientists attribute the majority of the digestive problems to poor diet, there are sometimes when natural remedies such as taking rooibos tea can help improve the condition.
It contains several minerals and nutrients that are anti-spasmodic. They help to reduce stomach pains and other digestive tract problems.
A recent study that was published in the Basic and Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology journal revealed that compounds contained in alterative herb Rooibos such as Quercetin, Orientin, and Vitexin help to relax the digestive system and relieve feelings of discomfort.
The study also shows that tannins contained in rooibos tea had the potential to reduce symptoms of diarrhea.