Products
Herbal teas are available in pharmacies and drugstores, specialty tea stores, and grocery stores, among other places.
Structure and properties
Herbal teas are a group of teas that contain fresh or dried, crushed or whole plant parts. These may come from one or more plants. Blends are referred to as herbal tea blends. Typical examples of plants include peppermint, lemon balm, chamomile, verveine (verbena), nettle, thyme, mallow and cornflower. Our extensive list of drugs can be found here. In the narrower sense, herbal teas are made exclusively from the herb, leaves, fruits and flowers of a herbaceous plant. Vegetables, culinary herbs and spices may also be included. However, lime blossom tea, for example, is also counted as an herbal tea, even though it comes from a tree.
Effects
Herbal teas have health-promoting properties.
Fields of application
Herbal teas are consumed in the narrow sense only as a beverage, as an aromatic stimulant and for refreshment. They are distinguished from medicinal teas, in which a pharmacological effect is in the foreground. So, for example, from a laxative tea with senna, which is drunk for the treatment of constipation. The quality of medicinal teas is defined by the pharmacopoeias. In the narrower sense, only teas made from the plant parts of the tea plant are called “tea”, for example, green tea or black tea.
Dosage
Herbal teas are usually prepared as an infusion, that is, they are left to brew for 3 to 10 minutes. Subsequently, the tea bag is removed or strained.
Adverse effects
Possible adverse effects include digestive problems and allergic reactions.