Hibiscus tea is very common here in Mexico, but under the name agua de Jamaica. It is never served as a tea but cooled down and mixed with sugar like juice. I was very happy to read that hibiscus works just like cranberry, and maybe even better.
Agua de Jamaica is cheap, widely available here and easy to prepare with NO sugar. Not always easy to find cranberry juice with no sugar added.
Hibiscus Health | All About Herbs [www.allaboutherbs.com]
Agua de Jamaica is cheap, widely available here and easy to prepare with NO sugar. Not always easy to find cranberry juice with no sugar added.
·
Like cranberry, extract of Hibiscus sabdariffa prevents bacteria that cause UTIs from adhering to the linings of the urinary tract and bladder wall and may also possess bacteriocidal effects. Abundant in polyphenolic compounds, hibiscus may exhibit bacteriocidal (bacteria-killing) properties comparable to the antibiotic chloramphenicol—without the antibiotic’s side effect profile. When compared to cranberry in vitro, hibiscus had a stronger antimicrobial effect, particularly against Candida albicans.
Extension [www.lef.org]
The species Hibiscus Sabdariffa, is also known as Red Tea, China Rose, Red Sorrell, Roselle, Jamaica Tea, and Sudanese Tea. It was used by the Chinese to treat dandruff and stimulate hair growth. Making a tea and using it as a rinse for the hair works well. Hibiscus has also been used to treat hemorrhoids and wounds. For this the flowers are soaked in hot water and softened and put as a poultice where needed.
· Other benefits include preventing bladder infections and constipation if taken regularly.