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Rooibos (Rooibush) | | |
Rooibos, or the South African "Red Bush" is a compact shrub
inigenous to the West Cape of South Africa - diamond country! The
fermented and sun dried leaves make a blood-red, caffeine-free tea that is
highly nutritious and filled with minerals and antioxidants. Rooibos has
historically been used for allergies, hay fever, and asthma, as well as
for various skin conditions in topical applications. Research on animals
an in vitro has confirmed anti-mutagenic and antioxidant
properties, suggesting benefits for premature aging and suppressed
immunity. Studies have also shown that the antioxidant action of rooibos
is fifty times greater than that of most green teas!
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| Common Name | | | Rooibos (Rooibush)
| | | Botanical Latin Name / Classification | | | Aspalathus linearis
| | | Parts Used | | | Leaves and shoots
| | | Other Names | | | African RedBush, Bush Tea, Rooibush, Red Tea, Khoisan, Rooibosch,
Kaffree.
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| | | Description | | | Rooibos, an African slang word of Dutch origin (Dutch "fynbos"
means "fine tea") means "Red Bush." The rooibos shrub,
a compact shrub with bright green needle-like leaves, will only grow on
the diamond bearing Cedarberg Mountains of the Western Cape of South
Africa. Maturing to an average height of about three feet, this shrub
produces small yellow flowers in spring and thrives in hot, dry
conditions.
In the southern hemisphere, rooibos is manually
harvested in the summer, bruised and cut with tobacco machines, fermented,
dried, sifted, and then packaged. As with most teas, rooibos is grade
according to color, aroma, flavor, and cut length. However, since West
Cape is regarded as one of the best growing regions world-wide, a very
high percentage of rooibos tea earns the highest grade.
Reports of
this shrub as used for a beverage was first reported by the botanist, Carl
Humberg, in 1772. In the early 1900s, a Russian immigrant saw an
opportunity to create a successful business and 'mountain tea' hit the
market. It wasn't until the 1920s that the potential health and
agricultural benefits of rooibos were realized by a South African medical
doctor named Pieter le Frans Nortier.
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| | | Traditional Internal Uses | | | Rooibos, a shrub native to South Africa, produces leaves which are fermented and sun dried for use as a pleasant-tasting tea. This beverage, often blood red in color, soothes the gastrointestinal tract and provides comfort for conditions that include stomach cramps, colic, and diarrhea. Sout African pregnant women choose rooibos tea over other teas due the absence of caffeine.
Rooibos has traditionally been used to treat conditions such as allergies, hay fever, and asthma. Additionally, it has been used to treat vatious skin disorders and, in fact, it is often an integral herbal component in many skin-care creams and lotions. Rooibos is brewed and placed directly on infected areas on the body.
Rooibos contains antioxidants which can help slow the aging process and boost the immune system. It's also a great thirst quencher and is an excellent beverage for active people, including children.
The modern medical community, particularly Japan, has turned its attention towards the health benefits of consuming Rooibos. They have generated a great deal of research supporting its anti-viral, anti-spasmodic and anti-allergic properties. They have also discovered that Rooibos has fifty times the antioxidant action of green tea. Since roobos tea is much cheaper than most green teas, it makes an economical and, some would say, a superior alternative.
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| | | Traditional Topical Uses | | | Rooibos has been used to treat irritated skin and various dermatological
conditions. A pack, poultice, or even the brewed, mositened leaves
themselves may be applied directly on infected areas.
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| | | Indications | | | Primary Indications: Immunity / Immune Disorders, Infections, Skin Disorders, Acne, Eczema (Dermatitis), Gastrointestinal Disorders, Colic, Intestinal Disorders
Secondary Indications: Food Allergies / Sensitivities, Seasonal Allergies / Hay Fever, Sinusitis / Sinus Infection
Other Indications: Aging, Cancer / Cancer Prevention, HIV / AIDS Support
Primary Indications: Skin Itch
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| | | Actions | | | Anti-Allergic, Anti-Asthmatic, Anti-Inflammatory, Anticancer / Antitumor, Antimutagenic, Antioxidant, Antispasmodic, Antiviral, Immunoactive / Immunomodulatory / Immunostimulative
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| | | Constituents / Nutrients | | | Rooibos contains the minerals, copper, iron and potassium, calcium,
fluoride, zinc, manganese, alpha-hydroxy, and magnesium. Rooibos also
contains generous quantities of alpha-hydroxy acid, which is known to
promote healthy skin, and is a compnent in many anti-aging
formulas.
Rooibos is completely caffeine free and, unlike black tea
(Camellia sinensis), does not contain tannins that may interfere with iron
absorption. Rooibos is rich in flavonoids, polyphenols, and phenolic acids
(including aspalathin, (+)-catechin, isoquercitrin, luteolin, quercetin,
rutin, caffeic acid, ferulic acid, and vanillic acid). The polyphenol
aspalathin is unique to rooibos. The plant also contains oligosaccharides,
polysaccharides, and a variety of minerals, though at levels that are of
questionable clinical relevance.1
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| | | Pharmacological Summary | | | Preliminary studies show that rooibos has antimutagenic and antioxidant
properties.2 3 4 5 Studies have also shown some ability to prevent
radiation damage in animals.6 7 8 These results suggest that
the alleged anti-aging, anti-cancer properties of rooibos may be more than
folklore. In vitro and animal studies have revealed some antibody
production, as well as some anti-HIV activity.9 10 11 These findings
speak to the potential of rooibos as part of a treatment for
immune-suppressed people with conditions such as allergies, AIDS, and
infections. No clinical trials have yet been published on this herb,
however, so its efficacy remains confined to animal and laboratory
studies.
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| | | Research | | | "Rooibos: The Healthy Tea"
"Rooibos: Nature's Answer To Thinning hair?"
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| | | Precautions / Contraindications | | | None documented.
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| | | Interaction with Medications | | | None documented.
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| | | Possible Side Effects | | | Rooibos tea is widely considered very safe for human consumption, although
this has not been scientifically determined in humans.13
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| | | Preparation | | | Rooibos Tea: Add 1 to 4 teaspoons (5 to 20 grams) of rooibos to 1
cup (240 mL) of water. Allow to steep for up to ten minutes. Drink three
cups daily, at or between meals.12
South African Fruit
Cooler
Ingredients
1 tsp. of Rooibos tea or
one tea bag
1/2 fresh orange
1 tsp. sugar - if needed
1 glass
filled with ice
Directions
Boil water.
Pour
boiling water over Rooibos tea and steep 2- 5 minutes.
Pour tea into a
glass filled with ice.
Squeeze 1/2 orange and stir.
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| | | References | | | 1. Duke JA, Bogenschutz-Godwin MJ, duCellier J, et al. Handbook of
Medicinal Herbs, 2nd ed. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press, 2002.
2. Standley
L, Winterton P, Marnewick JL, et al. Influence of processing stages on
antimutagenic and antioxidant potentials of rooibos tea. J Agric Food Chem
2001;49:114-7.
3. Van Gadow A, Joubert E, Hansmann CF. Comparison of
the antioxidant activity of rooibos tea (Aspalathus linearis) with green,
oolong and black tea. Food Chem 1997;60:73-7.
4. Inanami O, Asanuma T,
Inukai N, et al. The suppression of age-related accumulation of lipid
peroxides in rat brain by the administration of Rooibos tea (Aspalathus
linearis). Neurosci Lett 1995;196:85-8
5. Sasaki YF, Yamada H, Shimoi
K, et al. The clastogen-suppressing effects of green tea, Po-Lei tea and
Rooibos tea in CHO cells and mice. Mutat Res 1993;286:221-32.
6.
Shimoi K, Hokabe Y, Sasaki YF, et al. Inhibitory effect of rooibos tea
(Aspalathus linearis) on the induction of chromosome aberrations in vivo
and in vivo. ACS Symp Ser 1994;547:105-13.
7. Shimoi K, Masuda S, Shen
B, et al. Radioprotective effects of antioxidative plant flavonoids in
mice. Mutat Res 1996;350:153-61.
8. Komatsu K, Kator K, Mitsuda Y, et
al. Inhibitory effects of Rooibos tea, Aspalathus linealis, on
X-ray-induced C3H10T1/2 cell transformation. Cancer Lett 1994;77:33-8.
9. Kunishiro K, Tai A, Yamamoto I. Effects of rooibos tea extract on
antigen-specific antibody production and cytokine generation in vitro and
in vivo. Biosci Biotechnol Biochem 2001;65:2137-45.
10. Nakano M, Itoh
Y, Mizuno T, Nakashima H. Polysaccharide from Aspalathus linearis with
strong anti-HIV activity. Biosci Biotechnol Biochem 1997;61:267-71.
11. Nakano M, Nakashima H, Itoh Y. Anti-human immunodeficiency virus
activity of oligosaccharides from rooibos tea (Aspalathus linearis)
extracts in vitro. Leukemia 1997;11(Suppl. 3):128-30.
12. Pierce A.
The APhA Practical Guide to Natural Medicines, NY: Stonesong Press Book,
William Morrow & Co., Inc., 1999.
13. Duke JA, Bogenschutz-Godwin MJ,
duCellier J. Handbook of Medicinal Herbs, 2nd ed. Boca Raton, FL: CRC
Press, 2002.
Our thanks to the following information resources:
Vitacost.com, Botanical.com, Africantea.com, Ageless.co.ca, and
Rooibosusa.com.
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| | 3 total products | | | Rooibos (Rooibush) (Read all about Rooibos (Rooibush).)
Botanical Latin Name: Aspalathus linearis
Plant Part: Leaves and shoots | |
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Rooibos (Rooibush) - Health - Rooibush (Rooibos) Tea
25 tea bags
$10.00 US
Was: 10.87 US
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Rooibos (Rooibush) - Health - Rooibush (Rooibos) Tea
50 tea bags
$14.92 US
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Rooibos (Rooibush) - Health - Rooibush Tea
50 tea bags
$13.94 US
Was: 14.37 US
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These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Products are intended to support general well being and are not intended to treat, diagnose, mitigate, prevent, or cure any condition or disease. If conditions persist, please seek advice from your medical doctor.
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