Herbal teas are popular for the many medicinal qualities they are supposed to possess. It is believed the right blend can help with everything from easing a cold and indigestion to fighting infection and nausea.
When choosing an herbal tea remedy, make sure you pick the right one. While fruit flavoured teas – such as rosehip, apple, and orange – tend to be delicious, they are developed for their flavouring more than anything else.
We give you a list of Indian herbs and spices with medicinal and healing properties that are commonly used in herbal blends.
Ginger
Ginger is an excellent remedy in the early stages of an infection because, as a warming spice, it can promote a fever and hasten healing. Ginger’s warming effects are also said to relieve rheumatic aches and pains by widening the blood vessels and stimulating circulation.
Pepper
Pepper is one of the oldest known spices in the world. The use of black pepper goes far beyond stimulating your taste buds. Black pepper is known to stimulate the digestive system, expectorate coughs, and help clear the lungs of congestion. Black pepper is added to many other herbal formulations as an activator. A pinch of black pepper, or a few peppercorns to herbal teas, or to herbal formulas helps increase the warmth of the blend.
Amla (Indian Gooseberry)
The fact that almost all Ayurvedic preparations contain amla or gooseberries is not surprising. This humble fruit is known to be a rich source of Vitamin C. Its many health benefits include improving immunity, protecting your heart, control of diabetes and its complications, a great antidote for an upset stomach, and soothing the throat during a cough or cold.
Tulsi
The holy basil is the considered one of the most sacred herbs in India. It is also known as the “Queen of Herbs” because of its many healing properties. The health benefits of Tulsi are primarily due to its active ingredient, Eugenol which is present in the leaves. It also contains ursolic acid and carvacrol, both of which have anti-microbial properties.
An herbal tea made of Tulsi leaves is rich in antioxidants and helps the body fight free radicals that are responsible for causing various chronic degenerative diseases. Tusli is also loaded with anti-bacterial, antifungal and anti-inflammatory properties that can help in fighting infections as well as inflammations and allergies of the respiratory tract. For years, people in India have been consuming leaves of the Tulsi to reduce fever and beat stress.
Purple Fruited Pea Eggplant
Also known in Tamil as Thudvalai, this is a thorny creeper with bluish-violet flowers, more commonly available in Southern India. It has been used in traditional South Indian cooking for many years and is also an important ingredient in Siddha medicine. This herb used to treat the common cold, cough and asthma. Thuduvalai leaves help in reducing heat and gas related disorders in the human body.
QNET’s Nutriplus Celesteal range of herbal teas includes six different types of herbal infusions made from ancient Indian herbs and spices, blended with black tea, that promote better health, improve your mood, your skin, your sense of well-being and energy.
Nutriplus™ Celesteal Tea – Breathe Well pack is a blend of black tea with Basil (Tulsi), Pepper, Ginger, Indian Gooseberry and Purple Fruited Pea Eggplant. The Breathe Well blend helps in relieving breathing discomfort, promoting digestive health, and promoting blood circulation.
