2017年1月21日 星期六

9 Amazing Health Benefits Of Chamomile Tea

Chamomile, meaning ‘ground apple,’ has been imbibed for centuries in the Roman Empire, during Egyptian rule, and in ancient Greece. Prized for its special flavanoids, chrysin, chamomile (Matricaria recutita, or Matricaria chamomilla) offers numerous health-boosting benefits. Here are 9 amazing health benefits of chamomile tea that every foodie should know about.
  • 1. Treats Cuts and Wounds – Chamomile tea was used by the Greeks, Romans, and Egyptians as a salve for wounds to expedite healing. In a recent study, rats given chamomile flavored water healed faster than those who were not given the elixir. It worked especially well for burn wounds. This is because Matricaria chamomilla has anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and antioxidant effects.
  • 3. Antibacterial – The antibacterial effects of drinking chamomile tea can help to prevent and treat colds while protecting against bacterial-related illness and infection.
  • 4. Calms Muscle Spasms – One study from England found that drinking chamomile tea raised urine levels of glycine, a compound that calms muscle spasms. Researchers believe this is why chamomile tea could prove to be an effective home remedy for menstrual cramps as well.
  • 5. Soothes Stomach Ache – Further adding onto chamomile benefits, the herb is a wonderful for soothing an upset stomach. Helping to soothe and relaxe the muscles and lining of the intestines, chamomile can help with poor digestion and even those suffering from irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
  • 6. Promotes Sleep – Drinking chamomile tea soothes the nervous system so that you can sleep better. It has been used as a solution for insomnia for centuries.
  • 7. Natural Hemorrhoid Treatment – Chamomile ointment can help to relieve hemorrhoids.
  • 8. Fights Cancer – It’s very likely that chamomile tea can help reduce cancerous cells, although research is still ongoing to see exactly how chamomile reverses abnormal cellular growth.
  • 9. Promotes Healthy Skin – With it’s anti-inflammatory and anti-septic properties, chamomile helps in clearing up skin irritations such as eczema, acne, and allergies.
Chamomile is known as a ‘tisane’ is any non-caffeinated herbal concoction made by pouring hot water over the leaves, stems, and roots of plants. You can make your own chamomile tea with other plants like lavender or tulsi to vary the flavor, or drink it alone.
There are many applications for dried chamomile including tinctures and essential oils though the easiest and most often used is an infusion or tea. For stomach ailments, muscle spasms, and help in falling asleep, use about one tablespoon of dried herb per cup of water. Pour boiling water over the herbs and allow to steep for about 5 minutes. Strain and enjoy.
http://naturalsociety.com/9-amazing-health-benefits-of-chamomile-tea/

洋甘菊解鬱

春天是人體肝氣最旺盛之時,最適合飲用疏肝解鬱的花茶,更有助紓緩情緒。中醫師指出,中醫學有「芳香開竅」的理論,可透過花茶的香氣放鬆繃緊情緒,曾有失眠患者飲用花茶後得以改善睡眠質素,半夜不會驚醒,但提醒花茶雖然藥性較輕,仍要根據體質飲用,由於大部份花茶偏涼性,若無法分辨體質,可加入偏溫兼有健脾作用的陳皮。
記者:伍雅謙
註冊中醫師彭明慧表示,花茶有紓緩及預防效用,用作藥療及食療均可,單一花種已可用作茶飲,其中田七花、合歡花及玫瑰較多用以入藥。

睡前兩小時飲用

大部份花茶均有靜心、助眠及解鬱功效,可根據體質選擇溫性或涼性的花茶,譬如寒性體質的失眠人士,可飲用玫瑰、桃花及千日紅,其中玫瑰除有解鬱寧神及活血去瘀等功效,更可紓緩女士經痛及來經前胸部脹痛
熱性體質則可選擇洋甘菊及金盞花,洋甘菊可緩解情緒,並有鎮定皮膚的功效,金盞花則可紓緩因精神壓力引致的胃痛。
體質偏寒者若要飲用涼性花茶,可加入生薑、圓肉及黑糖,減低涼性;
體質熱性者,則可將偏熱花茶加入涼性花茶同飲,如玫瑰配合歡花或杭菊,減低熱性。若不了解自己的體質,因花茶大部份屬涼性,可在花茶加入三分之一至半塊陳皮同焗,陳皮偏溫,可保護脾胃,任何體質人士也適合飲用。
彭指,曾有40歲女士,已有3、4年受失眠困擾,即使入睡也淺眠易醒,並有乾澀、脷苔較黃、大便不暢及少許經痛,屬肝鬱症狀,獲處方安神養血的中藥後,症狀有緩解,但為免病人要經常飲用中藥,建議轉飲用由洋甘菊、玫瑰花、合歡花及薄荷配搭的花茶調理。病人飲用2、3日花茶後,半夜已不再驚醒,由每日飲花茶至現時一周只需飲用3、4天。
不過,彭指,花茶最好在入睡前兩小時飲用,以免攝取太多水份影響睡眠,又指因大部份花茶均偏涼性,孕婦、體質虛寒、容易疲勞、胃潰瘍、容易腹瀉、脾胃虛寒、四肢冰冷等人士也不太適合喝花茶。玫瑰、洛神花及紅花等具有活血功效的花茶,女士來經期間及孕婦也最好避免飲用。

第一泡避農藥倒掉

在沖泡花茶時,彭稱,應用80℃以上的熱水沖泡1分鐘後,將第一泡茶水倒掉,避免喝到殘留農藥。花茶可反覆沖泡,但需趁熱喝,不宜冷藏飲用或飲隔夜茶,每日也不應飲用多於3錢(約10克)的花茶份量。要判斷花茶品質,彭提醒可從花茶的顏色及氣味着手。一般花草在乾燥後顏色會較淡,例如玫瑰會偏暗紅,若色澤太艷紅最好避免購買,沖泡出來的玫瑰花茶,也不會呈粉紅色,而是偏琥珀色。若花茶有濃烈刺鼻的氣味如硫磺味及酸味,或沖泡時有異味,也不應飲用。
喝茶降血糖 這3種最推薦
(注意:在將這些飲品融入日常飲食之前,建議先向專業人士諮詢。)

1.人參茶

據國外網站《Steptohealth》報導,人參含有人參皂甙,這種物質能增強胰島素的敏感性,故有幫助降低血糖的功效。

怎麼喝?
每天取人參適量,泡一杯人參茶飲用,持續三個月即可。
之後請停喝一個月,經過專業醫療評估後可再次飲用,但不建議持續超過9個星期。

2.洋甘菊

洋甘菊是具有多種療效的一年生草本植物,除了用來改善失眠外,也能幫助調節血糖水平,並抑制導致糖尿病併發症的酵素。

怎麼喝?
每餐飯後飲用一杯洋甘菊茶,每天三杯。

3.綠茶

綠茶富含兒茶素、β-胡蘿蔔素、維生素C和維生素E,因此具有很好的抗氧化效果。此外,綠茶含有的多醣可輔助降低血糖,適合有高血糖問題的人群飲用。

怎麼喝?
每天喝3~5杯綠茶,一般持續兩個月即可有效改善。但不要在空腹的時候飲用。

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