The benefits of chrysanthemum tea

Chrysanthemum morifolium Ramat is a perennial flowering plant widely cultivated for use in a tea infusion and as a popular beverage due to its desirable taste and aroma.

As a mixture with other herbs, it has been claimed to be able to relieve migraines and eye irritation, improve vision, and cure keratitis.

The essential oils in chrysanthemum include borneol, camphor, and cineole, as well as other aromatic compounds. The flavones are considered valuable for promoting circulation; they may also have a role in protecting the lens of the eye in diabetic patients (by inhibiting the enzyme aldose reductase). The essential oils have antimicrobial activity and may explain the use of chrysanthemum for treating skin infections; the herb is considered especially useful for inhibiting staphylococcus.

Apart from the traditional usages, there are also reports of other usage, such as antitumor activities. Further, it has reported health benefits as chrysanthemum flowers possess anti-inflammatory, anti-pyretic, sedative, anti-arthritic,and anti-hypertensive effects.

The curing rates of ulcerative colitis and hypertension are reported to be more than 90% and 80% respectively. Chrysanthemum water extract was found to significantly inhibit growth of transplanted tumor in nude mice, suggesting that the water-soluble components of chrysanthemum may have potent chemopreventive effects.

It was also proved to be effective to inhibit the agglutination of blood platelet and promote the myocardial blood circulation and white cell phagocytosis, and therefore it was used to treat many diseases such as furuncle.

Although chrysanthemum is considered to be a “mild” herb and almost with no side effect in traditional medical practice, adverse effect has been reported with its flowers, and leaves may cause skin dermatitis.

Chrysanthemum flowers have also been demonstrated to produce various types of flavonoids, phenolic acids, and lignans, which have exhibited diverse biological activities such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antitumor, neuro-protective, and anti-allergic activities.

The properties and concentrations of such constituents are responsible for the functional characteristics of chrysanthemum.

The benefits of chrysanthemum tea

Health benefits of ginseng tea

Ginseng is the world’s most widely used herbal medicine, a consequence of its popularity in Asian, especially Chinese medicine.

It is the root of plant Panax ginseng, used for preparation of ginseng beverage.  The genus name Panax, comes from the Greek word for panacea, or cure well. Ginseng is a powerful energy tonic and the most well-known oriental herb.

The best know are Panax quinquefolius (American ginseng) and P. ginseng (Asian ginseng).

Ginseng which is known since ancient times tonifies the lungs and stomach and strengthens the spleen. It is also shown to have anti-stress capabilities.

Many studies have shown that ginseng has antioxidants and liver protecting properties, as well as being the immune-system booster.

In Chinese medicine, ginseng is considered the most important for strengthening Qi, the vital energy of which the universe is comprised. In human studies, there was a visible benefit in terms of physical and mental performance.

It was also known to reduce blood sugar levels in Type II diabetics. American ginseng, which is considered less potent than Asian ginseng, is considered a cooling herb that benefits the respiratory and digestive systems.

Most of ginseng’s medicinal properties are attributed to compounds called ginsenosides.

To make ginseng tea, simmer 1 teaspoon of the dried and sliced or powdered root in 1 cup of water for 10 minutes. Strain. Drink 1 or 2 cups per day.
Health benefits of ginseng tea

Why drinking coffee is good for your health?

Drinking coffee reduces the risk of several cancers, rheumatoid arthritis and possibly Alzheimer’s disease.

In a study of 8000 Japanese American men, it was found that people who did not drink coffee were three to five times more likely to develop Parkinson’s disease during the next 24-30 years than those who drank at least 28 oz of coffee daily.

A cup of coffee (200mL) contains about 181 mg of caffeine. The most important acute effect of caffeine in coffee and it predominant metabolites is the blockade of adenosine A1 and A2A receptors. This leads to activation of a variety of neurotransmitter system and finally to the well-known effects on improved arousal, vigilance and attention.

Caffeine has the potential to improve cognitive functions that are timed such as reaction time, decision making, or cancellation tasks.

Caffeine relieves drowsiness, helps in the performance of repetitive tasks and improves the capacity for work. Drinking coffee on a regular basis can reduce the risk of developing depression. Habitual coffee consumption also appears to be associated with a lower risk of type 2 diabetes.

Some studies show that cardiovascular risk also decreases with coffee consumption. Using data on more than 27,000 women ages 55 to 69 in the Iowa Women’s Health Study who were followed for 15 years, Norwegian researchers found that women who drank one to three cups a day reduced their risk of cardiovascular disease by 24 percent compared with those drinking no coffee at all.

Coffee contains many chemical that exhibit antioxidant properties. Phenolic compounds and phenolic melanoidins are major antioxidant compounds in coffee.

The antioxidants found in coffee have been found to inhibit inflammation and thereby reduce risk of cardiovascular and other inflammatory disease in post-menopausal women.

In males, consumption of 8 or more cups of coffee a day reduce d the risk of cerebral infraction (stoke) when compared to non-coffee drinkers.

A study published in January in The Journal of the American College of Cardiology, for example, suggests that the amount of caffeine in two cups of coffee significantly decreases blood flow to the heart, particularly during exercise at high altitude.
Why drinking coffee is good for your health?