Linden Flower Tea: The Magical Health Drink
Health is wealth; we have been listening to this phrase from our childhoods, but we could never be careless. However, the pandemic has made us a believer. So, why not try a drink which is beneficial for health and is soothing at the same time? Well, you can, and linden flower tea is just what you will love.
The linden flower tea has been a popular drink among people of various cultures for centuries. It is popular for its various health-beneficial properties, out of which the most popular is its potent sedative qualities.
In the article, we will tell you about some of the most interesting and surprising health benefits of linden flower tea.
Benefits Of Linden Flower Tea
The Linden tea is derived from the Tillia genus of the trees that are typically found in temperate regions. They are grown in Europe, Northern America, and Asia.
Tillia is a cordata which is a type of plant with small leaves and is considered the most potent variant of the Tilia genus. The flower tea made from the flowers of this tea has been popular in folk medicines across various cultures. It is known to relieve high levels of Blood pressure, soothe digestion, and help in calming anxiety.
For making this health-beneficial herbal infusion, the leaves, linden tree bark, and the flowers of the Tilia tree are steeped and boiled. These components are also used separately for their various medicinal purposes.
These are some amazing linden tea benefits for which you can sip on this potent drink:
Promotes Relaxation
To sit down and sip on a warm relaxing cup of tea can be a ritual in itself. However, the linden tea goes beyond your usual everyday cup of tea.
The sweet, steeped flowers of the tilia have been used in various cultures in the form of folk medicines. They are known for their properties of boosting relaxation while relieving the symptoms of anxiety. Some scientific studies also support these claims about the impacts of this flower tea.
A mouse study on the impacts of the tilia tomentosa bud extracts, which is also a kind of linden tea. In this study, it was seen that the tea had strong sedative properties and had relaxation effects on the mouse. After the study, it was concluded by the researchers that the extracts from linden mimicked the GABA activity. The GABA(GABA-aminobutyric) is a type of acid that works as a brain chemical. This chemical inhibits the excitability inside the nervous system of humans.
This is why the linden tea may help in the promotion of relaxation n humans acting in the form of GABA. However, more and detailed studies are required to assert these facts about this tea.
Help In Fighting Inflammation
Chronic inflammation in humans can contribute to various health problems like the development of type 2 diabetes. It is also known for the development of cancer in humans.
Antioxidants are the compounds that help in fighting inflammation as well as in fighting the free radicals which cause cancer. This is why they can help to lower the risk of various health problems in humans. Flavonoids which are a type of antioxidants are found abundantly in the tilia flowers. Other than this, tiliroside, kaempferol, and quercetin are also specifically linked with the linden buds.
Tiliroside is one of the most potent antioxidants which acts for scavenging cancer causing free radicals in the human body. These free radicals, if not controlled, can lead to problems like inflammation by damaging the cells through oxidative stress.
The other compound, Kaempherol, can also help in the fight against inflammation. Other than this, some scientific studies also prove that kaempferol can help in fighting cancer. However, the amount of these compounds in linden flower tea may vary according to the brand and the type of tea blend you use.
This is why drinking a cup of linen tea can be more than helpful in fighting these health problems. The good thing is that it is easy to make and easily available online for purchase.
Reduction In Mild Pain
The chronic pain is a problem for millions of people worldwide. According to a survey in 2016, more than 20% of adults in the US experienced chronic pain in one way or another. Interestingly, some types of antioxidants found in the linden tea can help in soothing and easing the pain.
In a mouse study, it was seen that giving 45.5 mg of the tiliroside in ratio to per pound; 100 mg per kilogram to the mice helped. It was seen that the mice with swellings in their paws and the pain had relief of up to 27% and 31% after intake of linden. This is with respect to their weight.
One more study of 8 weeks which involved 50 women participants suffering from arthritis, was conducted. The arthritis, which is characterized by stiff and painful joints it was seen that supplementing them with 500 g of the quercetin helped. Quercetin is a type of antioxidant that is found in linden tea in significant amounts. In the study, it was also seen that the tea also helped in the improvement of pain markers and symptoms of inflammation.
However, you should keep in mind that 500 mg of the quercetin antioxidant is a lot. In the United States, adults consume around 10% of this antioxidant in their daily diet on an average basis. Although the amounts of this antioxidant in the diet may vary according to the diet, a person takes on a daily basis. However, you should know that 80 milligrams or more are considered a high intake. So you should limit it after reaching the limit.
Diuretic Effects
The tilia or linden tree’s inner bark has been linked with the diaphoretic and diuretic effects in humans. A diuretic is a type of substance that encourages the human body to excrete more fluid. On the other hand, diaphoretic is a type of substance that helps in cooling down the fever by encouraging the body to produce more sweat. These two substances thus can help greatly for maintaining a healthy body.
The linden tea has been a popular drink in folk medicines for these effects. It is prescribed in folk medicine for its encouragement of sweating and helping effect productive coughs. Other than this, it is also a popular herbal tea for problems like minor colds.
In Germany, the use of linden tea up to 235 to 470 milliliters every day is approved for children above 12 years and adults. This is because of the sweat-promoting effects of the tea, which can help in keeping the body healthy.
These effects of the linden flower tea may be a result of various plant compound combinations of this tea. Some of the popular combinations of this tea are quercetin, p-coumaric acid, and kaempferol. Various scientific studies have also proved the effects of linden tea intake on the body.
However, more study is required to assert the facts about the effects of linden tea on the human body.
Helps In Lowering Blood Pressure
The linden tea contains various components like rutoside, chlorogenic acid, and tiliroside. These components in medical science are popular for their properties of lowering blood pressure.
In a study on mice, it was seen that the tiliroside, which is a type of antioxidant found in the linden tea, impacted the calcium channel of the heart. Calcium plays a vital role when it comes to the muscular contraction of the heart muscles. In this study, the mice were injected with 0.45, 4.5, and 2.3 milligrams of the doses. The antioxidant compound was 1mg, 10mg, and 5mg in relation to the weight of the body.
In response to this compound injection in the mice, the systolic levels of the blood pressure decreased significantly. This is a good explanation of why linden tea is popular in folk medicines for the reduction of blood pressure levels. However, these impacts of the linden flower tea are yet to be understood to the full extent. This is why further scientific studies are needed in this regard.
One thing to know is that if you are suffering from any kind of heart disease like high BP, then never replace the medication with linden tea.
Help In Better Sleep
The quality of sleep and the duration of the sleep play a vital role in health and can have significant effects.
Linden tea has been a popular medicine to help in the promotion of better sleep. The reason for this is that the plant compounds in the linden tea have strong sedative properties. This is why it helps in encouraging sleep by promoting relaxation, which is essential for better sleep.
In a study on the mousse, it was seen that the extracts of the tilia tree originating from Mexico helped in sedation. The researchers believe that the compounds of the tea help in suppressing the central nervous system. This, in turn, can help in better sleep by promoting drowsiness in the body. However, more research is needed to assert its effects in humans for sleep quality improvement by linden flower tea.
Helps In Soothing Of Digestive Tract
Like any kind of hot tea, the Linden flower also delivers gentle hydration and heat to the body. This is why it can help in the soothing of the digestive tract, as water helps in the movement of the food through the intestines. For this reason, the folk medicines prescribed the linden tea for relief on various stomach discomforts.
A study on children with antibiotic-resistant diarrhea found the linden tea benefits this health condition. It was seen that it has a potent antibacterial type of properties. The compounds in the linden tea were sent to help in diarrhea for children suffering from this type of diarrhea. However, more extensive studies in this regard are needed to assert the facts about linden tea’s effects on the digestive tract.
Easy To Add In Diet
Like we told above that the linden tea helps in relaxation and thus in better sleep, it is a good idea to have a cup before bed. Other than this, you can also enjoy it with a wedge of lemon and a dollop of honey.
You can also steep some bags of the linden flower tea overnight and then use it in the form of ice tea. When you do this, remember to keep the bags in water at room temperature. This can be a great drink to soothe the body during scorching summer days. If possible, then one better thing is to steep the linden flower tea leaves in the water without the filter bg. This will help in retaining more antioxidants in comparison to the ones with filter bags, according to studies.
What Are The Downsides Of Linden Flower Tea?
According to the European medicines agency, the intake of linden tea in moderate amounts is safe. The agency defines 2 cups to 4 cups per day as moderate intake. However, the doctors and agency also warn against excessive intake of the linden flower tea.
A typical 235-milliliter mug of linden flower tea contains around 1.5 grams of the loose tea. Still, the amount of the intake which you can ingest after its infusion into the hot water varies. This is why it is a good idea to limit the intake to not more than three cups of linden tea on a per-day basis.
Though linden tea, in general, is considered safe for use, some people may have allergic reactions to the pollens or linden. This is why it is better to consult your health professional before starting the intake of this tea. However, you can also test its effects by starting from some minor amounts of intake.
Safety In Pregnant Women And Children
The linden tea has been a popular folk medicine that has been in use for various health benefits. In some cultures, it is also a popular drink for maintaining good health in children.
However, there is not enough evidence to scientifically back the claims of the linden tea benefits. This is why it is recommended not to use it as a regular drink, especially in children and pregnant women. Although you can take it into use with consultation with the doctors.
Long-term Can Lead To Heart Problems
The use of products derived from the tilia tree family is not recommended to be used by people who have heart disease. The reason for this is that the frequent use of linden flower tea has been linked to various heart diseases and damage to the heart in rare cases.
This is why you should only drink the linden tea in moderate amounts and avoid it if you have a history of heart disease. However, you can consume it after consulting your health care provider regarding its various effects on your health conditions.
Can Interact With Medications
People who are on any kind of medication which contains lithium should avoid linden tea. The reason for this is that consumption of linden tea may change the way a person’s body excretes lithium. This can lead to effects on doses of the medication as well as some side effects.
These are some linden flower tea benefits and side effects which you should know before consuming it. One thing to know is that it is a healthy drink, and you can take it with the advice of your healthcare provider.
Final Words
The flower tea is derived from the tilia tree flowers and has been popularly used in various folk medicines for many centuries.
Linden tree flowers are most prized for their various good effects on health. However, you can also use its bark and the leaves for steeping a delicious and fragrant beverage for soothing and relaxation.