Applications of Chrysanthemum

Applications of Chrysanthemum
Chrysanthemum tea is prepared in the same way as traditional tea. The dried flowers are infused with hot water for over 10 min, and the tea is ready to serve.

For clinical usage, the chrysanthemum is boiled either alone or together with various other herbs, according to the prescriptions to suit a specific clinical purpose.

Based on traditional usage, in addition to use as a tea, C. morifolium is used for the common cold, fever, migraines, conjunctivitis, eye, irritation, hypertension, ulcerative colitis, vertigo, ophthalmia with swelling and pain, etc.

As a mixture with other herbs, it has been claimed to be able to relieve migraines and eye irritation, improve vision, and cure keratitis.

The curing rates of ulcerative colitis and hypertension are reported to be more than 90% and 80% respectively.

Apart from the above traditional usages, there are also reports of other usage, such as antitumor activities.

Chrysanthemum water extract was found to significantly inhibit growth of transplanted tumor in nude mice, suggesting that the water-soluble components of chrysanthemum may have potent chemopreventive effects.

Although chrysanthemum is considered to be a “mild” herb and almost with no side effect in traditional medical practice, adverse effect has been reported with its flowers, and leaves may cause skin dermatitis.

In contrast there was no report that drinking chrysanthemum tea could cause respiratory or alimentary tract irritation.
Applications of Chrysanthemum

Herbal Beverages in America

Herbal Beverages in America
Drinking herbal beverage is popular in America for several reasons. Herbal teas provide opportunities to have a low calories beverage or a healthy caffeine-free alternative to coffee. Other tea may provide a medicinal affect. These herbal beverages may contain extracts from the bark, roots, seeds, flowers, leaves or fruits or trees and shrubs. Today, the herbal tea industry has become a multimillion-dollar business.

It was common for American Indians to use herbal preparations to treat various ailments and illness. For example, a tea made from Yarrow leaves was used to cure stomach disorders, to treat hemorrhaging, and break a fever. Bee balm was prepared as a tea by the Oswego Indians to treat colic, colds, fevers, stomachaches, nosebleeds, and insomnia. Witch hazel was used to treat rheumatism, hemorrhoids, backaches, cuts, insect bites and bruises. Wild yam was used to treat gastrointestinal (GI) problem and relieve labor pains, and slippery elm was used as a soothing laxative. Various Native American tribes used motherwort to treat gynecologic disorders, whereas a tea made from goldenseal root was used as a general tonic.

After Europeans came to America, other herbal teas were used for various purposes. For example, hop tea was useful to induce sleep, passionflower was used to treat insomnia and peppermint tea was successfully used to relieve nausea and indigestion. In addition willow bark was used for muscle aches and pains and to treat fevers, and white oak bark was used as a gargle for sore throats and to relieve skin problems.

To avoid consuming caffeine-containing beverages, some people choose cereal-based beverages. These originally develop from roasted cereals and molasses. Years ago, these coffee substitutes were popular. Because these beverages stimulate gastric acid secretion, person who develop peptic ulcer should not consumes the roasted cereal beverages in an empty stomach.
Herbal Beverages in America

Herbal Teas

Herbal Teas
People have been consuming herbal teas for as long as they have known how to heat water – since well before recorded history. Unlike green, black and oolong teas, herbal teas can be made from virtually any plant, and from any part of the plant, including roots, flowers, seeds, berries or bark. These are some herbs, such as Echinacea, ginkgo leaf, saw palmetto and milk thistle, which are not effective at healing when taken in tea form because their active components are not water soluble, and the concentration needed for medicinal potency is so high it can be obtained only from an extract, pill or capsule.

Different herbal teas, which sometimes contain thousands of beneficial active compounds, have their own distinct healing uses. Herbal teas are very good for relieving mild to moderate ailments such as upset stomach, sore throat, coughs, stuffy nose and insomnia.

Many herbal teas are available in tea bags form. They can also be prepared from the raw herbs. To make an herbal teas gently crumble leaves and flowers and break roots and bark into pieces and place them into ceramic or glass container. Cover the herb part with boiling water and allow them to steep.

Most herbs should be steeped for four to six minutes, although some herbal teas, such as chamomile, need to be steeped for fifteen to twenty minutes in a covered container in order to deliver their full therapeutic. Other herbs, such as ginseng roots, can be boiled. Astragalus can be lightly simmered for several hours. In fact, in Asia, ginseng root, astragalus, dong quai and other herbs are added to chicken broth to make a tonic soup that is both food and medicine.
Herbal Teas,