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Hibiscus is a plant known and liked for its nice appearance. However, hibiscus has not only aesthetic and decorative properties, but also medicinal properties and can be used in cosmetics. Most often it is served as a tea with a tart taste or in home-made compote mixes. What should you know about hibiscus?
Hibiscus – basic information
Hibiscus is, more precisely, the oxalicum hibiscus, i.e. a one-year-old shrub that can reach a height of up to 2,5 meters. The species of this shrub is common in Central and West Africa and Southeast Asia. Hibiscus is also found in tropical and subtropical countries of Central America, in Brazil, Australia, Florida and Hawaii. Hibiscus is also known as the Chinese rose or the Sudanese mallow.
Hibiscus flowers are large, expressive, trumpet-shaped and composed of five petals ranging in shades from pink through red to yellow. The width of the hibiscus flower ranges from 4 to 15 centimeters, and in its very center there is a column. The scent of hibiscus flowers is rather weak, but in return they have a very distinct, sour taste. For this reason, hibiscus has found application in the food industry.
Hibiscus – nutritional values
Hibiscus has become a popular plant in the food, medicinal and cosmetic industries due to its richness in active substances. The basic group of chemical compounds included in the composition of hibiscus are organic acids, including: citric acid, malic acid, tartaric acid, oxalic acid and hibiscus acid.
It is especially worth paying attention to protocatechic acid. This acid is distinguished by a strong antioxidant effect, which in the case of an excess of the so-called free radicals, allows you to create a better barrier that protects our body.
Moreover, hibiscus flower is rich in anthocyanins, polyphenols and flavonoids. Anthocyanins give hibiscus flowers a characteristic, intense color, polyphenols and flavonoids, while they are antioxidants that protect the human body against infections and prevent premature skin aging. Additionally, hibiscus is a natural source of vitamin C.
Do you want to know more about vitamin C for children? Check: Vitamin C for children – properties, dosage, natural sources
Hibiscus – health and slimming properties
Hibiscus is the flower of the Sudanese mallow. It has many properties that are valuable in medicine and cosmetics. Among other things, hibiscus has properties that regulate the level of LDL cholesterol in the blood, lower blood pressure, diuretic and strengthen the body’s immune system. Hibiscus also has anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties, and thus it can reduce fever or even fight cough. Thanks to the high content of vitamin C, hibiscus prevents the development of colds or even flu or supports faster recovery.
In addition, hibiscus has slimming properties, because it contains fiber that satiates or unsaturated fatty acids that are healthy and needed for the proper functioning of the body. Hibiscus tea affects digestion and helps to cleanse the body of toxins. Hibiscus also contains anthocyanins, flavonoids, polyphenol, and carotenes. As a result, it has a diuretic and laxative effect. It may even reduce the risk of kidney stones. The antioxidants contained in hibiscus not only prevent the skin from aging too quickly, but can also protect against neoplastic diseases. Thanks to its bactericidal properties, hibiscus tea helps in the fight against gastrointestinal infections, for example, it inhibits the growth of Escherichia Coli bacteria.
Hibiscus also exhibits cosmetic properties, inter alia, due to bactericidal properties. In many cases, inflammation of the skin in the form of purulent pustules is caused by a bacterial infection. Hibiscus tea will help heal these inflammations and prevent the spread of the infection. In addition, hibiscus contains natural AHA acids, which are often added to tonics to smooth the skin and remove dead cells or plugs in the pores leading to inflammation.
What natural teas can help you lose weight? Check: Teas for slimming – properties, types
Hibiscus tea
Hibiscus is one of the most commonly used ingredients in popular teas. Hibiscus tea is also a very popular product that is available in most herbal stores and often in supermarkets.
The recipe for aromatic hibiscus tea is very easy. A teaspoon of dried hibiscus flowers should be poured with hot water at a temperature of 90-95 degrees Celsius. Leave the infusion covered for about 10-15 minutes. After this time, the hibiscus infusion should be strained and the tea is ready to drink. To enrich the taste of hibiscus tea, you can add a little honey, raspberry or cranberry juice or lemon or orange slices to the infusion. A warming version of hibiscus tea will be an additional protection against infections on cold, winter and autumn days. It is worth noting that the dried hibiscus can be brewed twice. The second pour of hibiscus flowers allows you to get rid of the sour and tart taste.
Hibiscus along with chamomile, mullein, cornflower and calendula are part of the organic herbal tea – Flower Bouquet, which you can buy at Medonet Market.
What natural ingredients help you stay healthy? Read: Health straight from nature
Hibiscus as cosmetics for hair and skin
Hibiscus has also found wide application in the cosmetics market. It was especially appreciated by producers of skin and hair preparations. Hibiscus used externally and internally provides numerous antioxidants that slow down the aging process of the skin. One cannot forget about the important role of vitamin C, which is an essential ingredient in the production of collagen necessary for the production of collagen. Collagen is a protein responsible for skin tightness and reduction of wrinkles.
Hibiscus flowers soothe irritations and also have antibacterial properties. Chalices and glasses of hibiscus protect the skin against the formation of the so-called. spider veins. People who struggle with couperose skin can reach for cosmetics with hibiscus, because the plant strengthens the walls of blood vessels. Hibiscus can be used as a skin tonic or hair rinse. You can also find it in the Fruit Acid Peel Facial Peeling, which you can buy at a favorable price on Medonet Market.
How to take care of beautiful hair at home? Check it out: Homemade hair masks – recipes
Hibiscus and pregnancy
Many women ask themselves whether hibiscus teas can be drunk during pregnancy. Hibiscus flower is not included in the list of ingredients strictly prohibited in the diet of pregnant women, but the safety of this ingredient has not been confirmed either. The substances that are contained in hibiscus flowers may influence the contractile activity of the pelvic muscles. For this reason, doctors may advise their patients not to drink hibiscus tea during pregnancy. There are also suspicions that the hibiscus flower may reduce female fertility. Research does not confirm these reports unequivocally, but due to the fact that hibiscus components affect hormonal functions, it is assumed that they may make it difficult to get pregnant.
If you want to read more on how to get pregnant faster, read: How To Get Pregnant Fast? Fertile days, sex, well-being
Is hibiscus healthy for everyone? Contraindications
Hibiscus has numerous health properties, but there are also some contraindications to its use. Fortunately, there are relatively few of them. It should not be consumed by pregnant women or men at the peak of fertility, because hibiscus components interfere with the process of sperm production. Hibiscus also interacts with estrogen-based contraceptives. Hibiscus should also not be consumed by people who struggle with low blood pressure.
You can read more about contraceptive pills here: Contraceptive pills – action, types and side effects
Hibiscus — opinion
Hibiscus works very well for many diseases. However, hibiscus gains the best opinions as a means of cleansing the body of toxins and stimulating metabolism, inter alia, through a diuretic effect. As a result, it is great at removing excess water from the body. Consumed regularly, hibiscus tea has a positive effect on the level of cholesterol and normal blood pressure.
However, hibiscus tea works best in preventing colds and flu in the transitional periods or in winter. In addition to a high dose of vitamin C, it supports the immune system to work and lowers the fever, so the disease does not last too long.
Interestingly, the opinion that hibiscus reduces weight is not without reason, because it also works great in a slimming diet not only because it removes excess water from the body, but also accelerates digestion and fat burning.