Six unusual teas that can help with everything from coughs to ageing skin

The UK is proud to be a tea-drinking nation, but saying that, our experience of tea is actually quite limited to the small variety found in our local supermarkets.

Of course there are different kinds of teas we all know about, such as black tea, green tea and lemon and ginger, but there are many more herbal teas out there that aren’t as mainstream.

Six of these teas are listed below, and they all come with a wide range of health benefits from preventing cancer to fighting neurological diseases that are worth finding out about.

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1. Linden tea

Linden tea is made out of an infusion of leaves, flowers and bark of tilia trees, and is mainly grown in North America, Europe, and Asia. As well as helping you to relax, it’s perfect for treating high blood pressure and promoting better digestion.

Researchhas found the tea mimics the behaviour of a brain chemical known as gaba-aminobutyric acid (GABA), which inhibits excitement in the nervous system, thus producing a calming effect. The tea is also known to reduce inflammation and soothe pain.

2. Daisy tea

According to experts atWebMD, wild daisy tea has a number of health benefits from treating coughs and bronchitis to dealing with kidney and liver disorders. It can also be used to treat inflammation and pain.

Daisy tea can even help with skin diseases, as the presence of saponin chemicals in the flower helps skin cells produce more collagen. In addition to that, wild daisy tea is also known to act as a blood purifier as it cleanses the blood stream.

3. Liquorice Root tea

You might have just assumed liquorice is used as a flavouring in sweets, but it can also be used to make tea. It’s really easy to make too. All you need to do is pour a cup of boiling water over some liquorice root and leave it to brew for about five minutes.

As well as being a good remedy for a sore throat, liquorice root tea works well for treating liver disease and severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) infections, according to experts atWebMD. Likewise, it’s also great at combating hepatitis C, HIV, coxsackievirus and flu viruses, in addition to providing gastrointestinal relief and reducing acid reflux.

4. Rosehip tea

Rosehip tea is made from the small bulge at the base of the petals of a rose flower and has a tendency to leave a sweet, tart aftertaste in your mouth after drinking it. People drink rosehip tea to help boost immunity, heart health and weight loss, and slow down skin ageing.

Its antioxidant properties also help ward off type-2 diabetes and cancer. Additionally, rosehip has been found to be a great source of vitamin A, C and E, and is known to help reduce joint pain, according to experts atHealthline.

5. Sage tea

Sage comes from the same family as mint and is commonly used as a spice, but can also be consumed as a tea to treat inflammation and promote better bone health and blood circulation. It’s also good for your skin and can be an effective remedy for bad breath.

Carnosol, camphor and rosmarinic acid are among many anticancer compounds found in sage, and research cited byHealthlineshows it is highly effective in preventing thyroid cancer. The tea is also said to lower blood sugar levels and improve brain health, as well as provide other health benefits.

6. Olive leaf tea

Olive leaf tea is made out of the leaves of an olive tree and has been a popular hot beverage in the Mediterranean particularly since the time of the Ancient Greeks. It’s packed full of nutrients and antioxidant properties, as well as anti-inflammatory, antiviral, and antimicrobial properties.

A 2019 study inNutrition Researchalso found that prediabetic adults who drank olive leaf tea three times a day for three months had better blood sugar levels than those who didn’t. Experts have also noted that olive leaf tea can help fight against Alzheimer’s disease, dementia and Parkinson’s disease.

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