Consumer, heal thyself. At least that’s what many new mass-market herbal-remedy teas seem to suggest. With Ancient Healing Formula Stomach E-Z Tea, Detox A.M., Mama Bear’s Echinacea Cold Care and PMS Tea on supermarket shelves, could it be that natural, risk-free relief is right next to the Lemon Zinger?
Well, maybe. None of these teas can directly claim to treat or relieve illness-the Food and Drug Administration prohibits unsubstantiated health claims-although their names do imply a certain effectiveness.
Their actual benefits can vary, says Mindy Hermann, a dietitian based in Mt. Kisco, N.Y. “Some herbs do have medicinal qualities,” Hermann says, “but unlike pharmaceuticals, `nutraceutical’ teas are not standardized or regulated.”
That means they could contain only trace, ineffective amounts of a beneficial herb, or a too-large, toxic dose. (In fact, certain herbal-remedy teas warn consumers to contact a poison-control center in case of “accidental overdose.”) And although small doses of supplemental vitamins in teas aren’t dangerous, they aren’t necessarily effective medicines: For example, vitamin C tea may not relieve cold symptoms, nor will vitamins B6 and B12 in Celestial Seasonings Tension Tamer Tea alleviate tension.
Relying on a pot of tea rather than a medical practitioner’s advice could allow a serious medical condition to go untreated. Before you start brewing, check a reliable source like “The Honest Herbal,” by Varro E. Tyler, for accurate information about the effects of different herbs. And let your palate be your guide too. Although herbal, woodsy flavors might appeal to some tastes, they could leave others longing for Lipton, or at least a spoonful of sugar to help the medicine go down.
