Rooibos 100 g, 50 g, 25 g

Rooibos – 100 g ($14.99), 50 g ($9.99), 25 g ($6.99)

Benefits:
Rooibos is an antiviral, anti-anxiety, and anti-allergy agent. Rooibos is used in the treatment of syphilis to stop generalized inflammation and pain, although it is not a treatment for the disease itself. It has a beneficial effect on age-related mental decline. Rooibos is also used as a milk substitute for infants who are prone to colic.

This herb is considered to have considerable antispasmodic activity. There is growing evidence that it contributes to a reduction in heart disease and other ailments associated with aging.

HIV/AIDS. Two Japanese studies have shown that rooibos has activity against HIV. Compounds called complex polysaccharides, found in rooibos, prevent HIV from binding to its target cells. However, in this case, the polysaccharide had to be chemically extracted from the leaves and is not found in tea made by steeping the leaves in water. There is no evidence that rooibos tea fights the HIV virus.

Insomnia. Rooibos tea is a bedtime favourite among South African herbalists, consumers, and even physicians. It is likely that rooibos helps to induce sleep both directly, by affecting the metabolism of acetylcholine in the brain and preventing excessive firing of the neurons that cause wakefulness, and indirectly, by blocking hormonal reactions that cause inflammation and pain.

Recommended Use
Rooibos is available as a tea. Like black tea, it inhibits the absorption of iron from food, although rooibos has a lesser effect on iron absorption than does black tea. People with iron-deficiency conditions should avoid both beverages. In one study, rooibos leaves as a tea demonstrated estrogenic activity, so patients with hormone-sensitive cancers should use caution before using it. Some reports of liver toxicity have been reported, so speak to your doctor before using rooibos if you have hepatic issues. Rooibos may interfere with many chemotherapy drugs. There is no information available on the use of rooibos during pregnancy.

Botanical Name: Aspalathus linearis
English: Rooibos tea, Red bush, Rooibosh . Also, known as: Rooibos tee, Bossie tee
Habitat: Western Cederberg region of South Africa.
Origin: South Africa
Harvested: Cultivated
Parts Used: Leaves

General Information:
Aspalathus linearis is erect to spreading, highly variable shrub up to 2 m high in its natural state, while the height of cultivated plants varies from 0.5 to 1.5 meters, depending on the age of the plant, as well as the climate and soil conditions in the area of production. Its young branches are often reddish. Near the soil surface, the stem subdivides into a number of strong offshoots, followed by delicate side branches each bearing, singly or in clusters, soft, needle like leaves. The leaves are green and needle-like, 15-60 mm long and up to about 1 mm thick. They are without stalks and stipules and may be densely clustered. The yellow flowers, which appear in spring to early summer, are solitary or arranged in dense groups at the tips of branches. The fruit is a small lance-shaped pod usually containing one or two hard seeds.
Rooibos leaves are harvested in summer, cut or chopped and are left to ferment. During the fermentation of the rooibos leaves, some chemicals are oxidized by enzymes resulting in the typical red color and flavor of rooibos. Unfermented rooibos tea is also used and contains more antioxidants. Unfermented rooibos tea has a yellow color rather than the red color of fermented rooibos.
Rooibos is grown only in the Cedarberg area and around the villages Clanwilliam and Citrusdal, which are situated to the north of Cape Town in South Africa. Efforts to cultivate rooibos in other areas or countries with similar climates have failed. Apparently, rooibos needs a very specific climate and soil to grow. Rooibos tea has always been very popular in South Africa. To make the popular rooibos tea, the dried rooibos leaves are boiled in water and is often consumed with milk. Rooibos tea is much appreciated because it does not contain caffeine and is low in tannins. This fragrant, caffeine-free tea is the national drink of South Africa. There are a variety of forms and types including, red, black, red-brown and grey rooibos with one of the red types, being the one we’ve come to know and appreciate as our rooibos tea.

How to use:
We make these suggestions to help you get the best benefit from the herbs that you’re choosing to improve your health. Also we make these ideas and recommendations so that consuming them easier and better fit into your lifestyle by adding them to the food that you already eat.
For the full health benefit, it is best to consume (or use the whole herb in poultices) the whole herb. All of the compounds in the herb act best together, as nature intends. Extracts draw out the most prominent beneficial compounds and may concentrate them. What is not extracted can be helpful in ways that we do not yet understand.

Cut Pieces or Powdered Herb:
There are different ways to use cut pieces or powdered herb.
Food Preparation: You can add powdered or pieces of herb (if the pieces you buy are bigger than you like, a coffee or herb grinder will quickly reduce) to any yogurt, smoothie, apple or other sauces, spreads, salads or other foods more familiar to you that don’t use heat. Heat can be damaging to the beneficial compounds in the herb. Other options like oatmeal, scrambled eggs, pasta sauce, soup, cookies and anything else that fits your lifestyle, but minimizing (by adding near the end of cooking) the heat is helpful.
Also, for children, you can mix powdered herb with honey or glycerin to make paste. The thicker the paste, the more potent and herbal in taste. The sweet taste of honey and glycerin will help medicine go down. The resulting liquid is called an electuary.
For seeds in general, but especially small seeds, it’s best to grind these to break the protective hulls a short time before consumption. This makes all the benefits available, rather than some remaining locked inside the hulls that are unbroken by insufficient chewing.
To make adding herbs even easier, you could add a week’s worth of your chosen herb(s) to an amount of, for example, yogurt that you would eat in a week. Mix thoroughly and eat this each day of the week. So you make once /week and just eat each other day.
Hot Infusion: The basic method for dried herbs and flower is, take 2-3 tablespoons of dried herb in a cup or teapot. Pour hot water over it and cover it with lid for 10-30 minutes. The heat from making tea can degrade some of the beneficial compounds in the herb. This method minimizes this effect. For the full health benefit, it is recommended to consume what is left over after making tea.
Decoctions: Decoctions are suitable for roots, barks, large seeds & berries, and other dense material. The simple way to make decoction is, in a saucepan, add 1 tablespoon of dried herbs to 1 cup of water, Bring the water to boil, reduce heat and simmer for 30-60 minutes with the pot covered. Squeeze out as much as liquid as possible. Best practice is to drink the liquid and also consume the solid material that remains. Herb pieces can also be used.
Powdered Herb:
There are different ways to use powdered herb.
Capsules: HerbsCrafters makes capsules guaranteed to be filled with the pure herb with no filler or any other products. You can also use powdered herb to make your own capsules at home. These capsules are best taken with liquid to aid in digestion and absorption and to ensure it doesn’t stick in your throat.
Poultice: Poultice can be made with an herbal powder and liquid (mostly water) to form a paste which is then applied to the skin. This method is very helpful for skin conditions.
Herbal shot: Powdered herb can be mixed with water, fruit juice or other liquid to make herbal shot.

Tips:
You can sweeten your herbal decoctions with bit of honey, natural fruit juice, stevia leaves powder or licorice root powder.

Precautions:
You should consult with a qualified healthcare practitioner before using any herbal products, particularly if you are pregnant, nursing, or on any medications.
All information on this website is for educational purpose ONLY.
This information has not been evaluated by Health Canada.
This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.