Health Benefits of Red Bush Tea

Red bush tea has its origins in Africa. Rooibos (the Afrikaan word for red bush) tea comes from a bushy shrub found in Cederberg, which is a province located near Cape Town in South Africa. The needle-like leaves are collected and chopped, then allowed to ferment. After this fermentation process, the leaves are dried, and then they are made into red bush tea. There are many reports of the health benefits of red bush tea, including allergy, hypertension and insomnia treatments.

Use in South Africa

• Traditionally, rooibos tea has been used in South Africa for many years to treat allergies, asthma and general nervous conditions. It has also been used frequently in this country to treat infantile problems, such as colic, stomach cramps and general sleep disorders. The treatment of skin conditions, such as general irritation and allergic reactions of the skin, also includes the use of red bush tea in South Africa.

Other Reported Health Benefits

• The range of reported health benefits of red bush tea is varied. There have been studies that show a decreased breakdown of the protective lining of the brain (lipid peroxidation) in lab tests on rats. This finding suggests to some researchers that there may be a connection between the use of red bush tea and protecting against degeneration of brain cells that may lead to disorders, such as Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease.

Reported Beneficial Elements

• There are several known elements in red bush tea that have specific health benefits. These include alpha hydroxy acid and zinc, which are helpful in the treatment for general skin disorders, such as acne, rashes, eczema and sunburn. Red bush tea also has high levels of copper, magnesium and potassium, which all have many beneficial effects in general including the prevention of high blood pressure and embolisms (blood clots).

Other Elements

• While there are currently no known studies on humans that relate to these health benefits and others, there have been studies performed on lab animals, suggesting that red bush tea does have high levels of antioxidants and flavonoids, which have known health benefits. According to the International Food Information Council Foundation, antioxidants are beneficial in fighting the degenerative effects of free radicals on bone and cell tissue. Antioxidants are now recommended for use in general degenerative conditions, such as osteoporosis and heart disease.

More Information

• Red bush tea is currently being studied as to its beneficial effects in relation to carcinogenetic disease. Carcinogens are chemicals that cause a breakdown in cell production, resulting in cancerous cell growth. Red bush tea is also being studied for its affect on the HIV5 virus. Some findings have indicated that red bush tea promotes the growth of interleukin-2, which is able to recognize the HIV virus and help to destroy it. The verification of these findings and their effect on human conditions are still pending.