The Health Advantages And Disadvantages Of Herbal Tea

The herbal tea is different to normal tea in that it is an infusion of herbs and is not made out of leaves of the tea bush. Herbal tea may be prepared out of fresh or dried leaves, seeds or roots, most often by pouring boiling water over the parts of the plant and letting them steep for a few minutes.

Some Herbal Teas can be Dangerous to Your Health

In the case of seeds and roots, it is also possible to boil them on a stove after which they may be strained and sweetened, according to your own personal taste. There are also herbal tea bags being sold by many companies for infusion, if you prefer.

There are very many different types of herbal tea and these include that of: Anise tea, Bissap, Catnip, Chamomile, Chrysanthemum, Citrus, Echinacea, Essiac, Fennel, Ginger, Hibiscus, Honeybush, Gentian, Horehound, Kava, Labrador, Lapacho, Lemon, Licorice, Lime blossom, Mate, Mint, Nettle, red Raspberry, Rooibos, Rose hip, Sage, Sassafras, Skullcap, Thyme, Tulsi, Valerian, Vetiver, Wong Logat, Woodruff, Yarrow, Yuen Kut Lam Kam Wo Tea (from Hong Kong) and Tan Ngan Lo Medicated Tea.

Herbal tea is often drunk for both physical and medical effects and their stimulant, relaxing and sedative properties are highly appreciated by tea drinkers all over the world. However, in spite of the fact that most herbal teas are safe to drink, some do have toxic or allergenic effects and the most worrying are: Comfrey, which contains alkaloids which may permanently damage the liver; Lobelia, which contains toxins that are considered to have the same effect as nicotine; and Pineapple Weed, which can cause violent allergies causing anaphylactic shock and even death.

Even Hercule Poirot, the famous detective from Agatha Christie’s novels was known to be an avid herbal tea and hot chocolate drinker and in many stories drank herbal tea to soothe his nerves as well as to recover from the ill effects of weather.

The use of herbal tea is as old as the hills and has been imbibed somewhat since writing first evolved and has been in use for centuries, at first primarily for medicinal purposes and later to enjoy and relish. There are many health benefits that can be derived from drinking herbal tea, even though not all herbal teas are healthy.

Drinking herbal tea is one way to avoid the ill effects of drinking especially caffeine laden beverages and sometimes spices may be added to get that extra zing, or even for a particular medicinal benefit. From the many studies conducted on the effects of drinking herbal tea it has been found that this tea’s polyphenols can actually lower the risk of gastric, esophageal and skin cancer, simply by drinking four to six glasses each day.

Rising Cost of Healthcare

The cost of healthcare treatment in worldwide continues to rise rapidly, an no where is this more demonstrably true than in Hong Kong. At current rates of medical inflation, Hong Kong will soon rival the USA as the worlds most expensive location for medical care.

Hong Kong is currently experiencing a high level of economic buoyancy, having been quick to recover from the global financial crisis of 2008 2009, and this is driving more and more people to seek a higher standard of private healthcare. As a result of this increased demand, the availability of high quality private medical treatment has become limited, and this in turn has served to increase the overall costs of private healthcare in Hong Kong.

Unfortunately for healthcare consumers, these increased costs of medical treatment are now being passed down in the form of increased medical insurance premiums.

Hong Kong is currently listed as the second most expensive place in the world to receive medical treatment after the USA, and the costs associated with medical treatment in Hong Kong are likely to continue to rise in the short term.

A standard general practitioners (GP) consultation in the USA will cost a federal average of US$100 approximately. By contrast, a patient choosing to utilize the private healthcare system in Hong Kong will often be charged over US$100 simply for walking through the door. The Matilda hospital, for example, has an average GP consultation charge of US$ 102, while the Sanatorium hospital prices are typically closer to US$153 for the same services.

It is true that the number one cause for personal bankruptcy in the USA is an inability to pay costly medical bills, and when examining the cost associated with a number of typical medical procedures it is easy to see why a large portion of the population has a difficult time affording quality healthcare. The average cost associated with a Routine Maternity delivery, for example, will be an estimated US$ 7,600 in America in many cases a significant portion of a familys annual income. That same procedure in a Hong Kong hospital can cost between US$ 7,197 to US$ 8,500. While it is understandable that medical fees will trend upwards over time, it is also clear that the rise of these costs is getting slightly out of hand.

While President Obama has made significant process towards the reformation of the American Healthcare system, there are still some fairly major issues to be addressed not the least of which is the actual cost of medical services rather than the insurance coverage for the same.

Herbal Remedies For Eczema

It is a Greek word which means ‘to boil’. It is an inflammatory and chronic skin disorder leading to boils, rashes, and eruptions on skin. The most common form of eczema, atopic dermatitis, occurs among small children and infants. In over 90 percent of cases, eczema is seen to occur in children below 5 years old. There are many available home remedies for eczema. These include prescription drugs, dietary changes, and herbal remedies.

1. Symptoms of eczema can be aggravated if the skin is exposed to hot and dry air, especially that of the indoors. So, to counter this problem, use a humidifier and keep the moisture levels in your home up and adequate. Not to mention, do not forget to keep the unit clean, as it may harbor the growth of bacteria and fungi.

2. Teas made from Chinese herbs are also commonly used to treat eczema. The combination of herbs varies and depends upon the severity of the eczema and the suspected cause of the eczema. Some of these herbs used for herbal teas include include fang feng, tian men dong, gan cao, shi gao, yi yi ren, ku shen, sheng di huang, zhi mu and mu dan pi. The Chinese herbs chuan xiong and huang qin can also treat scalp eczema. Long dan cao may be added to herbal teas to treat ear and facial eczema. Drinking Erka Shizheng herbal tea twice a day helps treat severe eczema in children.

3. A natural home remedy effective in controlling eczema is spearmint leaf juice. Grind spearmint in a mortar and pestle to make a paste. You can then apply this paste directly to the affected skin or the paste can be diluted with water. Coconut oil is also used in treating eczema. In its purest form, coconut oil has moisturizing properties that helps prevent the irritation from spreading and prevent the skin from cracking. Simply add this oil to the affected areas and get immediate relief.

4. Face packs made of various fruits and vegetables rejuvenates the skin and makes it smooth and silky. Mud packs are also effective in case of eczema.

5. Rough, tight, scratchy clothes or those which are of wool, would be the worst things to go for a while you are suffering from an eczema attack. Wearing cool and smooth-textured clothing such as those made of cotton, is one of the smartest ways to get eczema relief.

6. According to a study by researchers at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, preliminary studies have shown five raw Chinese herbs to be effective in treating eczema. The study appeared in the British Journal of Dermatology. The five herbs found include flos lonicerae, Japanese honeysuckle; cortex moutan, or root bark of peony tree; herba menthae, or peppermint; cortex phellodendri, or amur cork-tree bark; and atractylodes rhizome.

7. Another home remedy for eczema is taking your vitamins diligently. Vitamins A, B, and C help in the reproduction of skin cells. Vitamins do not reduce the outbreaks, though. They do help your skin heal much faster than usual. Vitamin-rich foods include oily fish, fresh fruits, and fresh vegetables.

8. Almond leaves which are found all over the United States can be used to cure this inflammatory disorder. A paste of almond leaves and water on the affected region is very effective in curing eczema.