Using an herbal laxative tea can be safe if used responsibly and only when necessary. Some people struggle with occasional bouts of constipation and may use these types of tea occasionally to relieve their symptoms. Overuse can cause problems with the health, including a reliance on using laxatives and may lead to the inability to have a bowel movement at all without the use of a laxative. Responsible use is of the utmost importance, and people should check with their own health care provider before using herbal remedies to treat themselves for health conditions like constipation.

Types of Herbal Laxative Tea

There are many types of herbal laxative tea. One that is available commercially and is generally safe for use is Smooth Move, made by Traditional Medicinals. Smooth Move contains senna, which is a common laxative that is used often for occasional constipation. Senna used as a tea is more readily absorbed by the body and can be more effective than taking tablets. It is also available in capsule and extract form in addition to its loose leaf form, which is used in the herbal laxative tea.

The directions for the tea can be found on the box. When using loose leaf senna, the leaves should be steeped in hot or boiling water for ten to fifteen minutes and then be removed before consuming the herbal laxative tea. The active ingredients in senna are known as anthraquinones, and are found in the pods and leaves of the senna plant. Senna is considered a stimulant laxative, and should therefore not be used for longer than seven days unless directed by a health care provider. Side effects can include severe abdominal cramping, rash, weight loss and electrolyte imbalance. No herbal laxative tea should not be used by children, pregnant or nursing women.

Other Types of Herbal Laxative Tea

Casarca and rhubarb are similar to senna, in that they are also anthraquinones, or stimulant laxatives. An herbal laxative tea can be made from the bark of the casarca plant, but is quite bitter in taste and will need sweetening before use. The rhubarb used for laxative properties is not the same plant that grows in the common garden. Rheum palmatum is the herb used for its laxative properties, and the root is used in either capsule, extract or tea form. Like senna, casarca rhubarb should not be used for longer than seven days without the supervision of a health care provider. Casarca is also available in liquid extract and capsule form, which may be a better choice due to taste for those that prefer this herb.

The dried latex of the aloe vera plant may also be used as an herbal laxative. Though scientists do not understand why this herb works as a laxative, it has been used for centuries for its laxative properties. It is used orally instead of topically, as is the common use of the aloe plant. It can be made into an herbal laxative tea or it can be taken orally in capsule form.

Herbal Laxative Tea Warnings

People with intestinal problems like irritable bowel syndrome, diverticulitis and Crohn’s disease should not take any herbal laxative tea without the supervision of a doctor or other health care provider. Care should be taken to not use any stimulant laxatives for longer than seven days without medical supervision, as severe side effects can occur.

Use of an herbal laxative tea can be helpful for those suffering from an occasional bout of constipation.

Throat Coat Tea is a name brand licorice root tea made by Traditional Medicinals. The company markets the tea for singers and people that suffer from chronic sore throats.

Name brand aside, Throat Coat Tea is made from organic licorice root, slippery elm bark and marshmallow root. This tea does not have the same taste as the popular candy, but is naturally sweet in flavor. Each cup of Throat Coat Tea contains 760mg of licorice root, 80mg of slippery elm bark, 60mg of marshmallow root and 60mg of licorice root extract.

Singers seem to find Throat Coat tea particularly useful, often using the tea before singing and at the onset of cold symptoms. Most people find that their sore throats caused by colds and sinus problems are relieved by using the tea.

Throat Coat Tea and Licorice Root Tea Benefits

Licorice root can have many other benefits besides the one marketed by Throat Coat Tea. The root of the licorice plant has been used for centuries from places as far spread as China and Greece for digestive difficulties.

Folk remedies have including using the root in Throat Coat Tea for coughs and other respiratory ailments, menstrual cramps, relief of seasonal allergies and as a method of increasing the libido.

The licorice root used in Throat Coat Tea is classified in Chinese medicine as a neutral herb and is used to tone the qi, stop coughs, clear heat, reduce pain and as an antidote for other herbs. Even Chinese medicine recognized the properties that made licorice beneficial to soothe throats.

The Science of Throat Coat tea and Licorice Root

Ongoing scientific research is being done on the licorice root used in Throat Coat tea. Current research is looking at the herb as a remedy for digestive problems including stomach ulcers and constipation, weight loss and its use in treating pre-menstrual syndrome (PMS).

No research to date has conclusively found any health benefits to using the herb for any of these health conditions. Anecdotal evidence and traditional folk use is the only current evidence of any health benefits to the user.

Some completed research has found a few benefits to using licorice root preparations like Throat Coat tea. A small 2008 study from the journal General Dentistry found that licorice root applied topically helped canker sores heal much faster. In an animal study in 2009, scientists found they could halt the progression of some digestive tract cancers in mice by using glycyrrhizic acid, the main component of licorice root. Further human studies are still ongoing with licorice root.

Side effects of Throat Coat Tea and Licorice Root

Licorice root can cause high blood pressure, and should be avoided in people that suffer from blood pressure problems.

People that suffer from hypokalemia (low potassium) and those with liver, kidney or heart problems should not use licorice root or Throat Coat Tea. Women that are pregnant or breastfeeding should consult with their midwife or doctor before using the product as well.

Licorice root is an ancient remedy that has been used for a wide variety of health problems for centuries. New preparations like Throat Coat Tea can help people today, and research continues on the benefits of licorice root in general.

Using a cast iron kettle became popular in the 1700s during the industrial revolution when Abraham Darby discovered how to make them thinner and cheaper so that everyone could afford to own one. Its sturdiness and health benefits continue to make the cast iron kettle popular today, and many people choose to make their tea in cast iron for the added health benefits.

Cast iron is usually made of iron mixed with small amounts of nickel, carbon, silicon, sulfur and manganese. Using the combination of metals makes a cast iron kettle tough, hard, durable and strong. The combination also helps cast iron items to heat more evenly and gives them their unique ability to retain heat. Quality cast iron can be distinguished from low quality cast iron by its color: a quality cast iron kettle is uniformly gray, with no unevenness in color from area to area.

Enamel coated cast iron tea kettles are also available, but they do not have the health benefits of uncoated cast iron. While they are easier to clean, they may crack and chip and will then become unusable.

Health Benefits of the Cast Iron Kettle

Cast iron pots and kettles are known to release small amounts of iron into food and liquids that are cooked in them. Most people do not consume enough iron in their diet, and cooking in cast iron can help people to get more iron. A 1986 study showed that up to 7mg of iron per serving of food can be added, just by using cast iron, depending on the food.

Extra iron can be bad for some people, especially people who already get enough iron from food and those that have other health problems, such as hemochromatosis (iron overload). Anyone concerned about their blood iron levels can have them checked by their health care provider.

Cast Iron Kettle Tips

Cast iron needs to be seasoned before use. A cast iron kettle will often come pre-seasoned, and will not need re-seasoning unless rust develops. Seasoning can be easily accomplished by directions given by the manufacturer. Seasoning usually involves using cooking grade oil on the cooking surface of the kettle and baking it at a low temperature in the oven for several hours.

A cast iron kettle should never be put into a dish washer. Instead, clean the kettle with a stiff nylon brush and hot water. Avoid using detergents on the kettle.

Rust and corrosion may occur, especially if the kettle is placed in a dishwasher, and the kettle will need to be re-seasoned if a dishwasher is used. Rust spots that form can be sandpapered off or removed with steel wool. Any rust spots should be removed before re-seasoning the cast iron kettle.

More Cast Iron Kettle Tips

Use a pot holder when handling the cast iron kettle. The kettle may remain hot for sometime after boiling liquids within it.

Don’t put cold liquids into a hot kettle or it will immediately crack. Wait for the cast iron kettle to cool off before attempting any cleaning.

Red Clover tea is brewed from the blossoms of the Trifolium pratense plant. One or two teaspoons of the blossoms are steeped in boiling water for between five and thirty minutes and can then be sweetened to taste. Red clover is also available in powdered form, in tinctures, extracts and topical ointments and creams.

Red clover tea can be used for any number of health benefits. It has been used for centuries to help women with problems ranging from premenstrual syndrome to menopause, and has recently been found through research to have a number of other health benefits as well.

Red Clover Tea Folk Remedies

Red clover has been used for centuries for many purposes besides treating menopausal and premenstrual symptoms. It has also been used as a fertility herb for women, with the belief that the herb helps to restore the natural pH of the vagina to help make conception easier. It has also been used for respiratory illnesses, such as bronchitis and asthma. It is also used topically to help with rashes, eczema outbreaks and burns.

Red Clover Tea for Women’s Health

Women have been using red clover tea for many years to deal with menopausal symptoms such as hot flashes and vaginal dryness. A 2002 study published in Maturitas, a scientific journal that publishes research concerning mid life health, found that women that consumed red clover daily had a significant reduction in hot flashes, up to 44 percent.

Red Clover has also been found to help women prevent osteoporosis, or bone loss. A 2004 study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found women that consumed red clover tea for a year had a significantly lower loss of bone density than those that did not.

Red Clover Tea and Cancer

A 2009 study from Cancer Prevention Research found a link between red clover and a decreased risk of prostate cancer. This study was a “test tube” study and was not completed on humans, and more research needs to be done to determine a certain link.

Side Effects of Red Clover Tea

Because of the isoflavones, or hormone-like chemicals that are in red clover tea, it should not be consumed by anyone that is pregnant or breastfeeding. Women that have had breast or ovarian cancer also should not consume red clover tea. People taking Coumadin should avoid red clover as it does contain trace amounts of coumarin, from which Coumadin is derived. As with all herbs, people should check with a health care provider before treating themselves. It may be worth checking into red clover tea as a health supplement for all of its many health benefits.

Oolong tea benefits are extensive and among the best of all of the teas. The tea is grown worldwide, and is also known in China as Wu Long tea. As with most teas, oolong is grown from the leaves of the plant Camellia sinensis. Translated from Chinese, oolong literally means “black dragon tea,” probably named because of the shape and color of the tea leaves after processing.

Oolong tea has a unique production process among the many varieties of teas. The plant is first withered in direct sunlight before undergoing an oxidation process. The leaves are then curled or twisted in a specific manner depending on the manufacturer, and are then fermented. Fermenting times depend on the variety of oolong being made.

The flavor of oolong tea can vary widely and is highly dependent upon the processing that is done during manufacturing. Some oolong teas are as sweet as any herbal tea, while others have a more grass-like flavor like green tea. Wu Yi tea is one of the most famous varieties of oolong tea and is grown only in China. Other varieties of oolong are grown in India, Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, Malawi, Kenya and Nepal.

Oolong Tea Benefits

Different cultivations of oolong tea give different health benefits because of the differing amounts and styles of processing. Oolong tea does offer a unique combination of benefits not found in most other teas.

Polyphenols, or flavenoids, are found in most other types of teas and do confer many health benefits. Flavenoids have been found in many studies to help with wound healing and may also be helpful in preventing and repairing damage to DNA. Recent studies have shown that flavenoids may also be helpful with weight loss. A 2002 study published in the Chinese Journal of Integrated Medicine found that among the oolong tea benefits, it is helpful with fat metabolism. Unfortunately, this study did not show a significant weight difference between the test and control group, but does suggest that caffeine content may be what is helpful for weight loss among tea drinkers.

Other Oolong Tea Benefits

A small study published in Diabetes Care in 2003 found diabetics were better able to control their blood sugar if they drank more than 50 ounces (1500 ml) of oolong tea each day.

A new study from 2010 published in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health found that those that consume oolong tea regularly may have a decreased risk of heart disease. A 2007 study from the Osaka Institute for Health Care Science found animal triglyceride levels were decreased in animals that were given oolong tea, which may be why the population study of 2010 found a decreased amount of cardiovascular disease.

The same study from Osaka found that stress levels were reduced in animals by up to eighteen percent when they were given oolong tea.

Are the Oolong Tea Benefits worth any side effects?

The only known side effects of drinking Oolong tea are from caffeine consumption. Caffeine can cause problems for people that are sensitive to it, and can cause a rapid heart rate or high blood pressure in some. Check with your doctor to make sure tea consumption is a safe choice. The oolong tea benefits can be worth the risk of the side effects of caffeine for most people.

Wu Yi tea, pronounced “woo yee,” is essentially oolong tea that is grown in a particular region of China, specifically Mount Wuyi in the Fujiyan Province. Mount Wuyi is now a world heritage site, certified in 1999 by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. Many types of teas, no fewer than 22, are grown in Fujiyan Province. These teas may or may not be true Wu Yi teas. About 80 percent of the teas grown in the area are oolong teas, the rest are green and black.

True Wu Yi tea is of very high cost and very high quality if it is actually grown in the Fujiyan region. Da Hong Pao is considered one of the most important of the Wu Yi teas, as there is a legend that the mother of a Ming Dynasty emperor was cured of illness by drinking this tea. Three of the four original bushes are said to still be in use for Da Hong Pao Wu Yi tea today.

Benefits of Wu Yi Tea

Wu Yi has been marketed as a fat burner. A study conducted by the University of Geneva and published in 1999 in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition showed a reduction in body mass among a test group that drank one serving of oolong tea each day. Very little other research has been conducted to prove the fat burning properties of oolong tea and none are known to have been conducted on Wu Yi tea itself.

Polyphenols, molecules present in Wu Yi tea, are anti-oxidants, known to help with metabolism and DNA damage. While Wu Yi tea does contain them, polyphenols are present in all types of tea. The action of polyphenols is likely where the claims of fat burning come from for this tea. Oolong teas, of which Wu Yi tea is a type, do contain the highest concentration of polyphenols of any type of tea.

The Truth About Wu Yi Tea

While there are no known scientific studies on Wu Yi itself, there is plenty of anecdotal evidence, especially on the Internet. Several websites cite people who rave about the weight they have lost while drinking Wu Yi tea. It is unclear if these are real claims or if there is some sort of marketing going on. Contrary to the claims on many websites, Oprah Winfrey and Rachel Ray have NOT endorsed this product, nor has there been any mention of either celebrity using the product, other than Oprah’s mentioning that she drinks tea to curb hunger pangs.

Wu Yi can be either green tea or oolong tea depending on how it is processed and the type of plant it comes from.  Both processing types confer plenty of other health benefits besides weight loss. Da Hong Pao is an oolong tea, while Wu Yi Jin Mei is green tea. Oolong tea is oxidized, and the oxidation process is what is thought to be important in breakdown of fat. Wu Yi tea is also marketed as wulong tea and wu long tea, a combination of Wu Yi and oolong.

Bottom Line: Does Wu Yi tea help with weight loss?

The truth is there is no scientific evidence that it does. It does seem to be worth a try as there are no side effects other than caffeine content. Excess caffeine can cause sleep disturbances and sometimes heart arrhythmias, but these are unlikely if tea is consumed in moderation. Wu Yi tea may help with weight loss, or it may not, but there does not seem to be much harm in trying it out for yourself.

Brewed since the time of the ancient Egyptians, there are many chamomile tea benefits. The tea is brewed from parts of the plant Matricaria recutita, also known as manzanilla or German chamomile, a cousin of the daisy and sunflower. Though there are many types of chamomile, German chamomile is the type usually used in teas and herbal remedies.

Chamomile tea can be brewed from the fresh or dried plant. The active ingredient in the tea is bisabolol, a known anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial. Chamomile tea benefits can last for up to two weeks after drinking the tea. Studies have shown the breakdown products of tea are still in bodies of tea drinkers up to two weeks after last drinking the tea.

Chamomile Tea Benefits

While there are many chamomile tea benefits, perhaps the best studied is its use as a sleep aid. There have been numerous studies done documenting the effects of chamomile as a calming and sleep inducing agent. In 2006, Phytotherapy Research published a review of the literature showing that the calming effects of chamomile can be used for anxiety as well.

In 2005, the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry published a study showing the benefits of chamomile tea as an immune booster. The study found increased levels of hippurate, a known antibacterial, in chamomile tea drinkers. The same study also showed that drinkers of chamomile tea have increased blood levels of glycine, which relieves muscle cramps, including menstrual cramping.

More chamomile tea benefits

Another chamomile tea benefit is the regulation of blood sugar. The University of Toyama found in 2008 that daily consumption could help prevent complications from diabetes from hyperglycemia. While not a cure for diabetes in itself, the tea seems to be able to prevent some of the problems that are related to diabetes when blood sugars are not well maintained.

A 2007 study conducted by the University of the West Indies showed significantly better wound healing when the tea was ingested in animals. While further study needs to be done to determine if wounds will also heal better in human subjects, chamomile does appear to speed up wound healing considerably in animals.

Chamomile tea may also be a promising remedy to help to prevent cancer. A 2007 Case Western Reserve University showed chamomile may have some anti-cancer properties, but needs further study. Other studies have also shown the tea to be helpful in aiding digestion and to be helpful for those that suffer from hemorrhoids.

Summary of Chamomile Tea Benefits

From regulating blood sugar to improved wound healing, there are multiple benefits of chamomile. The tea can be used as much more than a sleep aid, and may even help to prevent cancer. While further research still needs to be conducted, there appear to be many chamomile tea benefits for everyone.

Because of the many chai tea benefits, Western culture has modified and adopted chai tea as its own from the traditional Indian beverage. The word “chai” in India simply means “tea.” The drink westerners refer to as chai is known in India as masala chai, a mixture of tea, spices and milk. The spices used in traditional chai tea are the same as those used in Ayurvedic medicine, giving the tea many health benefits.

Ayurvedic medicine has been practiced in India for hundreds of years, with each herb providing a specific benefit to the user. Chai tea usually has pepper, cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, fennel and ginger, each giving the drinker a specific health benefit. Black tea itself is known to have multiple health benefits, and the combination of the tea with the spices gives multiple chai tea benefits.

Chai Tea Benefits

Black tea is known to have antioxidant properties. There have been numerous scientific studies showing the benefit of antioxidants in tea reducing free radical damage to DNA. A recent study conducted by the Indiana University School of Medicine showed that all teas have multiple antioxidant effects, no matter which kind of tea or whether it has gone through processing to remove caffeine.

Ayurvedic medicine has been shown to help with many different health issues. The chai tea benefits from the specific spices used in the tea have many different beneficial effects, mostly on digestion. The Pacific College of Oriental Medicine recently published a study outlining the many benefits of chai herbs and spices on digestion.

The most useful of the chai tea benefits

Ginger is one of the main ingredients in the chai spice mixture, with known benefits to reduce nausea. Ayurvedic medicine says that ginger improves circulation and regulates blood sugar. In a study recently commissioned by the National Institutes of Health, ginger was also found to have anti-inflammatory properties. The effects of ginger are some of the most useful of the chai tea benefits.

Cardamom is another of the main ingredients and is considered a “warming” spice. This spice is used in Ayurvedic medicine to decrease mucus and calm lung disorders. Cinnamon has been shown to have a calming effect and to aid in digestion. This herb is used in Ayurvedic medicine to increase vitality. Pepper stimulates digestion and is known by practitioners to improve circulation and decrease sinus congestion. Cloves are used to stimulate digestion. Fennel is used to calm nerves and improve mental alertness.

Black tea itself is a known stimulant, as it does contain some caffeine, and is used to improve alertness. Though there is much less caffeine in tea than in coffee, it is still present in small amounts, particularly in black tea. Those with sensitivity to caffeine should not consume black tea that has not undergone a decaffeination process.

Chai Tea Benefits

The health benefits of chai tea are many, particularly for improving digestion. Western medicine and scientific studies are also pursuing research to find further chai tea benefits.

The western culture has adopted chai tea as its own from the tea known as masala chai in India, now creating its own chai latte recipe. The history of masala chai goes back to the early 1900s, when the British heavily promoted the drink there. Today, each family has its own chai latte recipe which usually includes loose leaf black tea and some combination of cardamom, cinnamon, pepper, cloves, ginger and fennel. Chai tea can also be made with green tea, but is traditionally made with black.

What is in a Chai Latte Recipe?

In a chai latte recipe, the herbs used in chai tea come from traditional Ayurvedic medicine, and each herb has its own medicinal properties with many health benefits. The ratio of each herb is different from region to region in India, and even from family to family. As with many things, the combination of spices is up to individual taste and can be adjusted accordingly, allowing each person to find their own favorite chai latte recipe.

Chai Latte Recipe

2 tsp grated fresh ginger root
1 whole star anise, broken
1 tsp grated orange peel
4 cinnamon sticks, broken to about 1 1/2 inches each
1 tsp cardamom seeds
10 whole cloves
5 whole black peppercorns (white can also be used)

5 c. water
1/4 c. black tea leaves
1 tps vanilla
1/4 c. honey or granulated sugar
3 c. skim milk

Directions:

1. Put first seven ingredients in cheescloth or reuseable tea bag and close tightly.
2. Place bundled ingredients in a teapot or pot with the water.
3. Bring water just to boil and reduce heat to simmer.
4. Add tea leaves to pot and simmer for 15 minutes
5. Remove spice bag from pot.
6. Strain remaining liquid from pot into serving container to remove tea leaves.
7. Add vanilla, honey and milk to serving container then serve hot. You may also pour tea over ice

Makes 8 servings.

Traditional Garam Chai Latte Recipe

1-1/2 c. water
1/2 inch crushed ginger
3/4 c. milk
3 tsp. tea
Honey or sugar to taste

Directions:

1. Add ginger to water and bring to boil. Reduce heat to medium and simmer, covered, for five minutes.
2. Add tea leaves, milk and honey or sugar (if desired)
3. Bring pot to boil then remove from heat
4. Strain tea into cups and serve

Makes 2 servings.

Create your own family tradition and recipe by adding any of the Ayurvedic spices to your chai latte recipe to see which you like best.

There are many health benefits of white tea. All tea comes from the same kind of plant, known as Camilla sinensis, and different types of teas are made from different parts of the plant. White tea is made from unopened leaf buds and from newly opened leaves. Different types of white tea have different ratios of buds to leaves, with the more expensive brands using a higher ratio of unopened buds.

The Main Benefits of White Tea

One of the main benefits of white tea is that it is the least processed of all of the teas. The only processing of white tea comes from the steaming of the buds to open them before they are dried for packaging. This decreased processing increases the amount of polyphenols, also known as antioxidants, in the tea, which were found in a study in 2000 to protect the body from the damage done to DNA by free radicals. A 2009 study conducted by the School of Life Sciences at Kingston University found that the increased antioxidants also improved skin collagen and elastin. A 2003 study conducted by Case Western University showed that white tea applied topically can decrease DNA damage on the skin.

More Benefits of White Tea

Numerous additional benefits of white tea have been discovered in the recent past and have been documented in scientific studies. A 2001 study conducted by Oregon State University found white tea drinkers had a decreased risk of colon, stomach and prostate cancer. In 2004, a study conducted at Pace University found the tea improved natural immunity with antibacterial and antiviral properties. The same study also showed that those drinking the tea had a decreased amount of dental plaque, which may also be due to trace amounts of fluoride found in the tea.

Additional Benefits of White Tea

Another one of the interesting benefits of white tea is its ability to improve metabolism. While there is only a small amount of caffeine found in the tea itself, chemicals found in the leaves have been found to break down fat cells more easily. While the improved fat breakdown was demonstrated in a 2009 study, it is not yet entirely clear if white tea can be used to help with weight loss as further study needs to be conducted.

While more study is still being conducted, there are clear benefits of white tea. The improvement of skin has been one of the best studied benefits to date, and the tea can clearly help with preventing further damage. Improved metabolism and natural immunity are also benefits to be enjoyed, among the many other benefits of white tea.