Licorice tea is often used as natural medicine and it has been around for centuries. Licorice has received a lot of controversy as a healing herb. Critics saying that the herb's healing effects are not documented in research and they believe that it can have risky side effects. The advocates say that it does work, it is safe, and it has been successfully used as a natural medicine to treat a multitude of illnesses and disorders worldwide.

If licorice tea was that bad for us it would be regulated by now, so therefore it must be safe. Licorice appears on the list of "generally recoginzed as safe" food additives on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration list. Licorice powder and ground licorice root is a common additive to tea as well as gum and candy. The extract from licorice is also common in cough suppressants and is used as flavoring in lozenges.

The safety of licorice is of no concern, but it might be a good idea to read up about it to make sure that it is suitable for you. Because if you have any health issues or are on any medications, you will need to check with your doctor first to make sure that you do not get any reactions to the licorice. Like with any medication, using licorice tea as a natural medicine should be used in moderation.

Following are some of the benefits that can be found using licorice tea:

* Respiratory inflammation, cough and bronchitis * Sore throats * Skin inflammation * Arthritis * Constipation * Chronic gastritis, stomach inflammation and peptic ulcers * Viruses

Licorice tea is readily available from health food stores as well as some general stores. If you like you can make your own mixture by adding licorice sticks, licorice powder and ground licorice root together. Add these ingredients to some boiled water and allow the contents to infuse before drinking.

Licorice tea not only tastes very good but it also has the benefits of treating different health issues as a natural medicine. Licorice tea can be drunk hot or cold while still getting the soothing effect that you receive from drinking tea, it also have great medicinal effects. The ingredients for licorice tea can be purchased from health food stores, speciality grocery stores or you can order your licorice tea ingredients online.

Sue Kennedy shows you how easy it is to maintain a healthy lifestyle with natural herbal remedies. Her site provides plenty of accurate advice and information on a range of alternative therapies for the mind, body and spirit.

Posted under Tea

Green tea is great and now Bigelow makes it with pomegranate, so YES I highly recommend drinking it. I love it with a teaspoon of honey. Green tea is prepared from unfermented leaves, the leaves of oolong tea are partially fermented, and black tea is fully fermented. The more the leaves are fermented, the lower the polyphenol content and the higher the caffeine content. Green tea catechin and black tea directly act on the influenza virus and inactivate it. It appears that gargling with green or black tea is very effective in preventing influenza.

The Emperor Shen Nung from China in the year 2737BC discovered green tea. The glucose process is slowed down by the effects of green tea, this is especially important after meals. Green tea consumption frequently can burn calories by boosting the body's metabolism. The effects of green tea can lower cholesterol counts in the body.

Tablets are now being made from green tea to a wider market to increase better heath and benefits. However by creating the organic into powder form (pills) this created a more potent free radicals allowing survival of genes and cells creating a path of regulating mitochondrial function. Oolong tea is partially fermented where as black teas are fully fermented, however in the matter of green tea is unfermented. Green tea leaves are picked, cooked by steaming or fried in the pan (which can alleviate the fermentation enzymes), rolled up and they are dried.

Green tea extract is also available in capsule form. Three pills of green tea extract a day is a recommended amount, but this amount and its effects remain uncertain. Green tea can even help prevent tooth decay! Just as its bacteria-destroying abilities can help prevent food poisoning, green tea can also kill the bacteria that cause dental plaque. Green tea brewing time and temperature can vary with individual teas. The hottest brewing temperatures are'0F to'0F (81C to 87C) water and the longest steeping times 2 to 3 minutes.

Green tea inhibits several viruses, including viral hepatitis. And, while high stores of iron preclude successful treatment of hepatitis C, green tea lowers iron levels throughout the body and may have a direct anti-viral effect against certain strains of the hepatitis C virus. Green tea originates from a tea plant whose scientific name is Camillia sinensis. This plant is native to Asia, and black tea also comes from this plant. Green tea is able to provide people with these benefits because it contains certain vitamins in which it is particularly rich in EGCG or epigallocatechil gallate. This is a powerful anti-oxidant that inhibits cancer cell growth and kills present cancer cells without harming the rest of the healthy tissues in the body.

Green tea consumption at moderate doses may be associated with a reduced risk of type 2 diabetes in apparently healthy individuals by controlling postprandial hyperglycemias. Green tea is associated with many health benefits. Nowadays, it has been touted as one of the best products for weight loss too. Green Tea HP is offered by GrenX, a company committed to teaching its members to become the healthiest they can be. The company appears to be just as focused on building a network of distributors as they are on selling their green tea products.

Green tea is a Chinese traditional tea which they regard with reverence as to its health benefits. Now since modern time's green tea has found its way into the west. teasand coffee competition is due to a sudden rise in demand for tea of late. It seems the tea market is revolutionising now seeing a great health potential in providing tea to a wider market. Green tea is generally associated with an array of back grounds and cultures in Asia to the Middle East. As we know traditionally, black tea was more consumed in the west. From researches, green tea drops has antioxidant value more than a large bowl of fruits and vegetables because 7,800 units of antioxidant.

Want to find out more about green tea health benefits #1, then visit Dimpi Martin's site on how to choose the best on how to make your own green tea#2 for your needs.

Posted under Tea

Loose leaf tea has been used for thousands of years by many cultures for a variety of reasons. Enjoying a cup of tea at the end of a hard day has been the ritual for many. Sitting down with some Chamomile, Peppermint or Lemon Myrtle herbal tea, can ease a stressful day. The following are some of the most popular loose leaf teas used today.

HORNY GOAT Horny goat weed has been used in Chinese medicine for generations. It is said to increase libido in men and women, and improves erectile function in men. Although researches are unsure how this herb works, the plant has long been employed to restore sexual fire, boost erectile function, alleviate menopausal discomfort and allay fatigue.

GINSENG Ginseng has many uses including its ability to help people deal with physical and/or emotional stress. It can improve your mental performance and help to lift depression and fight off infections. It has also been known to improve your vitality and sex drive for both women and men. It has also been shown in studies to regulate the immune system and can assist in the prevention of colds and flues. In case studies it has also been effective in lowering sugar content in the blood and lowering cholesterol levels. CAUTION Ginseng should not be taken by pregnant or breastfeeding women. Also ginseng should not be taken when you have an acute infection such as a cold.(although it is used to prevent colds).

LEMON BALM As well as being the sweetest tasting herb Lemon Balm is also a great herb to alleviate stress. It is particularly good for indigestion where anxiety and tension play a part. As well as stimulating circulation making it a good herb to calm tension it can also be used for problems such as ibd and stomach ulcers.

BEARBERRY Bearberry also known as uva ursi is an effective herb against infections of the bladder, urethra and kidney. It is used to not only kill infective organisms, but also soothes inflammation and strengthens the tissue in these areas. Bearberry is also used to relieve the pain of urinary tract infections such as pyelitis, cystitis and urethritis.

HAWTHORN Hawthorn herbal loose leaf tea is renowned for its use in most cardiac and circulatory disorders. It is well known to improve coronary artery blood flow and improve blood flow too the extremities. Many of the active constituents found in Hawthorn exhibit potent antioxidant properties. Hawthorn is also useful for high blood pressure, hypertension and angina. CAUTION With serious conditions such as angina, heart failure and high blood pressure, it is wise to seek medical advice when mixing medication and herbs. Please seek advise from your doctor or herbalist or both.

Learn more about herbal tea. Stop by Herbal Tea The Natural Way.com where you can find out all about loose leaf tea and what they can do for you.

Posted under Tea