Re: red bush tea (Rooibusch)

[Guest guest]

Rooibosch, or redbush tea is Aspalanthus linearis. I don't think its

horrible - I quite like it!

According to Bartram, its rich in vit C (although I wouldn't have thought

the dried herb was) and minerals and has an anti-histamine effect. He also

says its anti-spasmodic and assists digestion and kidney function. It's

often used as a caffeine-free, low tannin substitute for ordinary tea.

love, Sara

red bush tea (Rooibusch)

>

>

> I went down with a very serious bout of acute urticaria at the end of Feb.

> Less serious eruptions continue, although trivial in comparison with the

> beginning of the illness which included hospitalisation. I seem to have

> found a link between the severity of my symptoms and red bush tea. Purely

by

> chance, I found and decided to finish up a pack in my cupboard - and the

> urticaria improved. I subsequently stopped/started the tea twice more and

> there really does seem to be a link.

> I've not come across this as a remedy anywhere, and have searched the web

for

> more details on Rooibusch tea but without success. Is it know as a help

for

> chronic urticaria? If not, is there anything about it which might suggest

it

> as a cure?

> I don't know if you are able to reply to this mailing, but I thought I'd

pass

> on the information. If you were able to reply I would be very interested

to

> receive your comments.

> With thanks,

> White

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Rooibos tea is extremely rich in vitamin C and the best source of quercetin

available.

Very high doses of minerals like calcium, potassium, magnesium, manganese

and others.

It is the Vit C +Quercetin that makes it a valuable tool in allergies, as

they prevent mastocyte degranulation.

Dr. J. Rozencwajg, MD, PhD.

" The greatest enemy of any science is a closed mind "

red bush tea (Rooibusch)

>

>

> > I've not come across this as a remedy anywhere, and have searched the

web

> for > more details on Rooibusch tea but without success. Is it know as a

> help for

> > chronic urticaria? >

>

> Can't remember where, but I read that it has anti-histaminic properties,

and

> is a bit similar to Pau d'Arco ( it looks and smells quite similar to me

as

> well) - I do recommend it to patients with allergic problems, as an

> alternative to tea - its the nearest looking thing to tea, as it can be

> drunk with milk.

> Lots of people, including me, think it tastes rather pleasant - but I'm

sure

> there must be others who dislike it too ( or is it just you Nigel!) - no

> caffeine but some calcium ,although whether thats available or not is

> questionable - oh, just remembered, its in Bartrams under Rooibosch -

other

> minerals and vit C (?) as well apparently -'promotes digestion and assists

> liver and kidney function.....mild

antispasmodic.....fluoride.....cyclopine

> (?).........

> cheers, Maggie MacMillan

>

>

> List Owner

>

>

>

> Graham White, MNIMH

>

>

[Guest guest]

Dear Nigel, dear All

Rooibos/Rooibosch/ Bush tea

Asphalatus linearis also Cyclopia genistoides, Fam:Leguminosae

Although the tea was originally harvested and used by the Hottentots, a

south african mother, Annique Theron, is credited with discovering its

properties when in 1968 she found it soothed her baby's allergies. She went

on to investigate and document rooibos properties. Then south african

scientists began intensive research.

Daphne MNIMH wrote a good little article on rooibos in the Student

mag " Pot Pourri " in about 1986:

200 different varieties of specied in highlands (Cedar valley) of South

Africa. Cannot grow anywhere else. Small shrub, decumbent or erect, 2 m

tall, Leaves 1.5 -6 cm X 0.4 cm, glabrous, pale bright green, flowers few or

several in corymb-like racemules on branch tips. Petals bright yellow with

violet tinge.

Leaves harvested in high summer from 2 to 7 yr old bushes. After 7rs old

bushes destroyed. Leaves chopped by machines like tobacco cutters, spread

out in thick carpets and hosed with water. Carpet is battered and bruised,

more water added, more turning before being left in heaps to sweat - enzymes

ferment the plant material which changes from green to red and has a sweet

smell. pH rises as ammonia produced and material dried at once to prevent

too much ammonia in tea. There is no caffeine and little tannin.

Active constituents include Vit C (max. 15.7 g per 100g)Protein,

minerals(Mn,Mg,K, Fe, F(luoride), flavonoids including quercetin, (about 1.5

mg per cup of tea), luteolin, isoquercetin and rutin . Potters gives

constituents cyclopine, oxycyclopine, volatile oil, tannin. An advertising

article for rooibos states that " recent Japanese and south african

dermatological studies show anti viral properties " .

Actions: Antispasmodic, Antiallergenic,possibly Antirheumatic.

Uses: relieves hayfever,urticaria and eczema ( Daphne quotes personal

experience of relief of a total allergic rash disappearing within 10 min of

taking a strong infusion of rooibos tea; similarly with a child with

urticaria).

Couteracts allergic reactions to food including childhood diarrhoea, and

milk allergy problems in babies (tea infusion instead of water in the feed).

Releives cramps, aches and pains

To make: Daphne says make as you would indian tea preferably in steel teapot

or pan which can be used on hob. Infuse and use. Top up with hot water and

reheat on the hob. Second brew tastes more pleasant than first.

Old recipe from Hottentots - for rheumatism.

2 handfuls rooibos tea

1 handful raisens

1 handful hops

1 cake yeast

10 quarts water

sugar to taste

Boil tea , hops and raisens in water and strain. Add sugar and yeast and

boil 10 min. Bottle and leave 48 hr before being used.

Daphnes comments that boiling could inactivate yeast - need to experiment a

bit - maybe try a wine-making method.

Regards

Morag Chacksfield BSc, MNIMH

moragchacksfield@...

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