Herbal Tea Blends

Have you visited the section of tea of your local grocery store lately? If yes, you saw dizzying array of tea blends, brands and flavors. There is no doubt that herbal teas are a huge commercial success, and they have for centuries. tea lovers Many buy them for their smell and taste. Others expect the tea to be a healthier alternative to other beverages containing caffeine. Some buy them solely for the benefits drugs or effects on packaging.

The claimed health effects can include calming, soothing and relaxing. On the other hand, other tea blends high caffeine may promise more energy and concentration. Green tea is a top seller for its effects on health legendary. Is there a dark side to the company herbal booming?

Reading tea leaves

In the U.S., the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is responsible for evaluating food and drugs sold to the public. Herbal receive very little regulation. In general, herbal teas fall into a gray area between foods and drugs. Traditionally, the FDA has considered teas taken for the taste and aroma to be classified as foods. Another FDA "rule of thumb" was that every plant that is safe for consumption in food is supposed to be safe when taken as a tea. However, the FDA has taken a closer teas and their effects.

Are Herbal toxic?

It is a difficult question to answer, that the FDA is learning. The vast majority of commercial tea blends containing multiple ingredients in relatively low concentrations. These teas are perfectly safe to drink when used according to product instructions. Problems arise, however, when people prepare their own teas, deliberately concentrated commercial mixtures have an allergic reaction to ingredients of tea, or tea is incompatible with prescription drugs.

What is the problem?

The problem is consumer awareness. Many plants and herbs used in teas are specific and measurable medical properties. Caffeine is one of the best examples. It is an ingredient found naturally in two tea and coffee plants. The problems are possible when uninformed people have tried to treat with tea.

Examples

* Chamomile is reported by some to both relaxing and helps digestion. Plant chamomile is a member of the family same plant as ragweed, asters and chrysanthemums. People allergic to these plants should be cautious of chamomile tea.

* Tea comfrey has been associated with two cases of liver disease in the U.S. In one case the patient has abused the grass drinking nearly a dozen cups of tea of comfrey per day and the consumption of pills comfrey many. This dosage extreme herbal continued for over one year, resulting from liver disease.

* Tea Lobelia can cause vomiting, breathing problems, seizures, and lead to coma and death when used in large quantities.

* Aromatic sassafras tea in large quantities has caused cancer in laboratory rats. Oil of sassafras and safrole are the main chemical components of oil of sassafras. These components have been banned for decades root beer before. Although sassafras bark was banned any use of food extracts that contains no safrole is allowed.

Should you be afraid?

Commercial providers tea would never willingly put yourself in danger their customers. Commercially available blends of tea made from plants are expected to be very good to drink when prepared according to their guidelines. Similar to drugs, the problems with herbs appear when they are abused or taken in extreme concentrations.

These herbs, including those in commercial herbal teas can have medicinal effects. That's why you should always talk to your doctor before using preparations made from plants, esp.